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| Quarreling Flamingos (Photo credit: OnceAndFutureLaura) |
It is reported on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Apostle of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
The best of' the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ - أَوِ الْعَمَلِ - الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ " .
Sahih Muslim, The Book of Faith
English reference
: Book 1, Hadith 155
Arabic reference
: Book 2, Hadith 266
In pursuit of our worldly affairs, we tend to make sure that we only do the very best within us to get the very best of this world. From wanting the best school, to the best car, best university; we simply want the best of everything. What we sometimes forget is to obtain the best of deeds, so that we may attain the best of the stations of Paradise.
I would like to dedicate this article to talking about kindness to parents as it has been mentions in the above Hadith as one of the best deeds that we can perform. Most of us don’t have the amazing relationships with our parents as did Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) had with his father. Even when his father would force Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to give up on his religion, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) would still demonstrate humbleness and respect in his behavior, while never transgressing the laws of Allah.
Although many of us have lost these values, some haven’t. While performing Tawaf, my eyes fell upon a fragile boy exerting all the power he had into pushing his mother’s wheel chair with his tiny hands. The mother had a baby in her lap, and apart from the boy pushing the wheel chair, was another boy and two little girls. The older girl was walking alongside her mother with such obedience and devotion that you could almost feel the emotions coming from her. Frequently looking at her mother as if checking to make sure her mother was not in need of anything. The other lad was holding the hands of his little sister and whenever a passerby would smile at the little girl, or pat her on the head, the brother would get scared and pull her away from them. All these kids walked devotedly along with their mother, behaving as if they were in need of her and not the other way round. And the oldest one among them would have been no more than 10 years old. MashaAllah!
Abu Tufail reported:
We said to 'Ali b. Abi Talib: Inform us about something which Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) told you in secret, whereupon he said: He told me nothing in secret which he bid from people, but I heard him say: Allah cursed him who sacrificed for anyone besides Allah; and cursed him who accommodated an innovator; and Allah cursed him who cursed his parents and Allah cursed him who changed the boundary lines (of the land possessed by him).
Sahih Muslim : The Book of Sacrifices
English reference
: Book 22, Hadith 4877
Arabic reference
: Book 36, Hadith 5240
It brings me utter shame when I compare myself to these kids. Most of us would just scream and get angry at our parents when asked to carry out a very simple job.The kids did not complain about being tired, or that they were unwilling, or they had better work to do, or that their mother should take care of them and not the other way round, instead, they stood by her humbly and lovingly performed their job. I am, by no means, better than anybody when it comes to behaviour with our parents, but I hope you and I can learn form the devotion, love, obedience and respect these little kids had for their mother. I hope this serves as a reminder for you and me and we learn to be more humble, respectful and friendly with our parents.
We are going to raised on the Day of Judgement in the state we died, lets not die in disobedience to our parents, or when they are angry with us, or not pleased with us. Let us make Duaa for our parents regularly.
"O my Lord! Bestow on them (my parents) Your Mercy as they brought me up when I was young." (Al-Isra Verse 24) (This surah is also called surah Bani Israel)
“And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.” (Surah Luqman Verse 14)
