How to respect your parents(Parents in the Quran)

By Muhammad Danial

Allaah mentions that human beings must recognise their parents and that
this is second only to the recognition of Allaah Himself. Throughout the
Quran, we notice that parents are mentioned with appreciation and respect,
even if they are senile. In the Quran, there is a very beautiful description of
how parents are to be treated; Allaah Says (what means): "And your Lord
has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good
treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say
not to them [so much as] 'uff' [i.e., an expression of irritation or disapproval]
and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them
the wing of humility out of mercy and say: 'My Lord! Have mercy upon them
as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" [Quran 17:23-24] and Allaah
says what means: "And We have enjoined upon man goodness to
parents" [Quran 29:8 & 46:15]
The demand for recognising parents is made more emphatic when Allaah
Says (what means): "And [recall] when We took the covenant from the
Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them]: 'Do not worship except Allaah;
and to parents, do good'" [Quran 2:83]
Allaah again emphasises in chapter An-Nisaa' that children should be kind
to their parents. He says what means: "Worship Allaah and associate
nothing with Him, and to parents do good..." [Quran 4:36]
In Chapter Al-An'aam, Allaah reemphasises that people should be kind to
their parents; He says what means: "Say: 'Come, I will recite what your
Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything
with Him, and to parents, good treatment...'" [Quran 6:151]
Islam has endorsed respect for parents by their children, even if the parents
are non-Muslims. If parents strive to convert their children to non-Islamic
beliefs, the children should not obey them, but must still maintain goodness
towards them. In this regard, Allaah says what means:"And We have
enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him,
[increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is two years.
Be grateful to Me and your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if
they endeavour to make you associate with Me that of which you have no
knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with
appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in
repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about
what you used to do." [Quran 31:14-15]
Final Remarks:
We hope and pray that all of us will respect our parents while they are alive and after
their death. One can honour his parents through the following methods:
1. Performing daily Du'aa' (supplication) for them.
2. Giving charity on their behalf.
3. Instituting a perpetual charity on their behalf, such as a mosque, an Islamic Centre,
an Islamic library, an Islamic hospital, an orphanage, etc.
4. Performing Hajj on their behalf, or asking someone to do so.
5. Distributing Islamic literature on their behalf.
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