Kindness to parents: small daily habits
Allah mentions kindness to parents directly after worshipping Him alone. It is one of the greatest deeds and one of the easiest to practise every day.
۞وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗا ﴿٢٣﴾ وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرٗا ﴿٢٤﴾
Waqada rabbuka alla taʿbudoo illa iyyahu wabialwalidayni ihsanan imma yablughanna ʿindaka alkibara ahaduhuma aw kilahuma fala taqul lahuma offin wala tanharhuma waqul lahuma qawlan kareeman Waikhfid lahuma janaha alththulli mina alrrahmati waqul rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheeran
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," 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 · Surah Al-Isra
A man asked: O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good companionship? He said: Your mother. He asked: Then who? He said: Your mother. He asked: Then who? He said: Your mother. He asked: Then who? He said: Your father.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of the parent, and the anger of the Lord is in the anger of the parent.
Jami at-Tirmidhi
Daily habits
- Call or visit every day if you live apart.
- Make dua for them after every prayer: "Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira" (My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small).
- Speak gently, never raise your voice, and do not even say "uff".
- Help without being asked: shopping, technology, paperwork.
- Thank them and tell them you love them.
If your parents have passed away
When a person dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.
Sahih Muslim
Make dua for them, give charity on their behalf and keep good relations with their friends (Sahih Muslim).
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