Increase the Length of Your Life

"And your lord has ordered that you worship none but him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them a word but address them in terms of honour, and lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy". And say: "My lord! Bestow on them your mercy as they did bring me up when I was young." - (Part 15: Surah 17 Al-Isra)

The most striking opening of an ayat, which starts with the obedience of Allah and thereafter to be dutiful to your parents. This verse is clearly indicating towards the importance of obedience to the parents and fulfilling the orders laid by the lord of the universe himself.

Through the light of the Hadith, we will learn the importance of being righteous and obedience to our parents and the punishments of disobeying the command of Allah. The final Prophet (SAW) has said: "The pleasure of the lord is the pleasure of a parent, and the wrath of the lord is the wrath of a parent." It is clear from this Hadith that to keep Allah happy, it is necessary that our parents are happy with us.

SPEAKING GENTLY WITH ONE'S PARENTS:

In a Hadith, which I will quote briefly: Taysalah ibn Mayyas said, "I did certain things that I can only consider as major sins. When I mentioned this to ibn Umar, he asked me what I had done, and he said that those are not major sins. Rather, he said "The major sins are nine in number". One of the nine that ibn Umar mentioned was causing ones parents to shed tears because of ones disobedience. Then ibn Umar said to Taysalah ibn Mayyas, "Do you fear the fire and desire to go to paradise?" Taysalah ibn Mayyas replied, "Yes, by Allah!" he said. "Are your parents still alive?" I replied "Only my mother." He replied, "By Allah, if you speak with her gently and give her food to eat, you will surely enter paradise if you avoid these major sins."

BEING GOOD TO ONES PARENTS:

Abu Huraira reported that once the Prophet (SAW) was asked to whom one should be good to. He replied, "Your mother." He was asked the same question a second time, and he replied, "Your mother." He was asked the same question a third time and he replied," Your mother." He was asked the same question a fourth time and he replied," Your father."

DOING GOOD TO ONES PARENTS EVEN IF THEY ARE UNJUST:

Ibn Abbas said, "Any Muslim whose father and mother are Muslims and who wakes every morning with the intention of doing right by them will have two doors opened for him/her in paradise by Allah Taa'la. If only one parent is alive, then one door (will be opened). If he/ she angers a parent, Allah will not be pleased with him/her. Then the Prophet (SAW) was asked, "What if one's parents are unjust to him/her?" He answered, "Even if they are unjust (one must act good to please ones parents)."

THE REWARD FOR PARENTS:

Abdullah ibn Amr said, "A man went to the Prophet (SAW) to pledge his intelligence to him for the coming (from Makkah to Madinah). However, he left his parents crying. The Prophet (SAW) told him "Go back to them and make them as happy as you have made them sad."

This man had come to the Prophet (SAW) to take an oath of allegiance on him on migrating, but his intentions were auspicious and virtuous deeds. However, his parents did not agree to his separation, as migrating was not compulsory at that time. They became restless on the prospect of his journey and wept in sadness. When the Prophet (SAW) learnt of this, he instructed the man to return to his parents and make them laugh just as he had made them weep.

This indicates the merit and significance of kindness to love ones parents, and being a sin to do something which causes sadness to parents and makes them weep. It is virtuous and rewarding to do what makes them happy and laugh.

Hazarat Mu'adh reported that the Prophet (SAW) said "Good news to those who are good to their parents, good will increase the length of their lives ".

THE PRAYERS OF PARENTS:

Abu Ja'far heard Abu Huraira say that the Prophet (SAW) said, "There is no doubt that three kind of prayers will be answered, the prayer of the oppressed, the prayer of the traveller, and the prayers of the parents for their children".

Prayers of parents for their children will be accepted immediately whether it is a prayer in the favour of the children or against the children, so we must do our up most best to keep our parents happy.

Certain people have included among whose supplication is definitely granted are those who treat their parents kindly.

Sayyidina Uwais al Qarni (RA) was a resident of Yemen. The Holy Prophet (SAW) called him the best of Tabieen (successors) and he said, "Get him to pray for your forgiveness". He had embraced Islam at the time of the Prophet (SAW) but he could not present himself before the Prophet (SAW) because he looked after his mother and thus remained deprived of the honour of companionship. It is clear from the conduct of Sayyidina Uwais Qarni that to be good and mindful to parents is a very high ranking deed.

The Prophet (SAW) said, "Uwais has his mother. He has treated her kindly. If Uwais claims (anything) on Allah then Allah will surely let him have what he claims".