Friday Sermon: The importance of parents

This week’s sermon stresses the honourable status of parents in Islam.

The parent-child code of behaviour is unique and rules governing it were laid down by divine command.

“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or more attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say, ‘my Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood’,” it says in the Quran.

Muslims are eternally indebted to their parents. It will never be possible to repay them fully for all they’ve done, particularly mothers who went through the pain and suffering of child birth.

Islam holds parents in high esteem that even if they tell you not to obey Allah’s command, you are still to treat them with kindness.

Allah says in the Quran: “But if they strive to make you join in worship with Me things of which you have no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice [and consideration].”

It’s obligatory in Islam to show kindness, respect and obedience to parents at all times. Several Quranic commandments and sayings of the Prophet reiterated that references to parents have been made at least 15 times in the Holy Quran.