Our Parents...

Our Destiny
All praise is due to Allah and may His choicest salutation continue to descend upon our Master and Leader Muhammad r And upon man We ordained kindness towards parents (29:8) 5. Make dua for them: O Allah show mercy to them as they had reared me as child Pleasure of Allah Abdullah Ibn Umar y says that Rasulullah r said, The pleasure of Allah is in the pleasure of the parents. (Bazzar) Greater than Jihad The Prophet r was asked: Which deed is the dearest to Allah? He replied: Performing prayer on its time. It was asked: What is next? He said: "Kindness to parents. It was asked: What is next? He said: "Jihad in the cause of Allah. (Bukhari & Muslim) Kindness to parents in this hadith is given greater priority over Jihaad in the cause of Allah, which indicates the indicates the magnitude of our obligation to parents. A man came to the Prophet r asking his permission to go for Jihad. Thereupon, the Prophet r asked him: Are your parents alive?" He answered: Yes. He said: Then go and serve them, for this is also Jihad. Increase in Wealth Anas y reports that Rasulullah r said: He who wishes to have a long life and a lot of wealthshould be good to his parents and he should join the family ties. ( Ahmad) Door of Paradise Rifa'ah bin Iyas said: I saw a man weeping at the funeral of his mother. I exclaimed: Do you weep? He said: Why not? A gate of Paradise has been closed before me. The Prophet r said: "I entered Paradise and heard someone reciting Quran. I asked: What is this? It was said: This is Harithah bin Al-Nu'man. The Prophet r said: This is the result of kindness, since he was kind to his mother.

ur parents bring us into this world and nurture us with their boundless love and care. They rear us with affection and patience. Their commitment is endless, unselfish and enduring. Their love is infinite, limitless and pure. They forget their own needs and comforts in their preoccupation with our lives. They willingly endure and sacrifice in their labour of love. A love that grows deeper with each passing day. We will never be able to quantify their services or repay them for their enduring love. We remain permanently indebted and obligated to our parents. Allah says: And your Sustainer has ordained that you worship none but Him and that you do good (Ihsaan) to your parents. Should one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say "Uff to them or scold them, but [always] speak to them with reverent speech. And spread over them humbly the wings of your tenderness and say: "O my Sustainer! Bestow Your grace upon them as they cherished and reared me when I was a child!" (17:23/24) This verse enjoins that after Allah's right, the greatest of all the human rights is the right of parents. The fact that duty to parents is mentioned side by side with duty to Allah demonstrates that the highest human rank within our social strata is that of the parents. The verse instructs us to treat our parents with 'Ihsan'. Ihsan to parents means:

! Going beyond the call of duty: Go the extra mile! ! Fulfilling your duty with beauty: Only the privileged have the

honour of serving their parents ! Not to become irritated or annoyed with them: If they trample over you remember Jannah lies under their feet! The verse first sets out the general rule of 'ihsan' towards parents and then goes on to speak about treatment of parents during their old age. Old age is generally an age of weakness and sickness a period of growing dependencea second childhooda stage where there is a reversal of roleswhere parents no longer occupy the the driving seat in the vehicle of life and instead passively sit in the 'passenger' seat. This loss of control and loss of independence increases their sensitivity and decreases their agility. It is against this background that the verse instructs children to think of their own childhood when dealing with their parents. You as children were also once helpless, ignorant, dependent and ever demanding. The verse sets out the five moral principles when dealing with parents. 1. Do not say 'Uff' to them: Do not use any word or make any sound or display any conduct that may undermine their privileged position as parents 2. Do not scold them: Do not raise your voice, become angry or annoyed with them. 3. Reverent speech: Address them with honour and make them feel loved and special 4. Spread over them humbly the wings of tenderness: Like a bird that out stretches its wings out to protect, shade, and comfort its young even at the cost of its own safety and comfort.

A Mothers Love
A mother can take the place of all others, but no one else can take her place. A Mother's love is something that no one can explain; It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain. It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . . It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . . It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . . It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation; And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . . A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand; And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand. May Allah shower His special mercy on our parents and grant us the ability to serve them with love and respect.

1st Floor, Baitul Hamd, 32 Dolly Rathebe Road, Fordsburg, 2092, Johannesburg P. O. Box 42863, Fordsburg, 2033 Tel: +27 11 373 8000 Fax: +27 11 373 8022 www.islamsa.org.za jamiat@islamsa.org.za
TM

Jamiatul Ulama
south africa
Established in 1923 as Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal
NPO No: 023-957-NPO PBO No: 930019982

COUNCIL OF MUSLIM THEOLOGIANS