Islam on parents! Many of the problems in our community stem from this. I don’t know if you have paid attention to this matter, but when a person examines the hospitals, they notice that most of the ills are from Youth. When a person examines the prison, they notice that most of those in prisons are from the Youth. When a person goes to the cemetery to attend funerals, they see that most of those being buried are from the Youth.
When a person sees all this, It raises the question of why all these difficulties and afflictions fall on the Youth.
A bit of thought will lead to the conclusion that most of these ordeals are the result of the broken-heartedness and dissatisfaction of the parents.
The significance of respecting parents is diminishing within households. The revered role of parents needs to be fully recognized in our society. Our Youth don’t believe that ALLAH (ﷻ) has placed all of the world’s treasures in their parents’ hands.
Many young people may not fully appreciate the belief that all the world’s treasures are in the hands of their parents, as taught in many religious traditions.
Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (عَلَیهِالسَّلام) said that the treasures of the entire universe being in the hands of one’s parents is a truth.
Anyone who believes in this reality will thrive and prosper in this world, and anyone who genuinely understands this point. If you believe in the potential of this reality and truly understand it, you will succeed and do well in this world.
All of our affairs are directly connected to our parents’ prayers. Our professions, jobs, reputations, finances, strength, health, etc., are all directly tied to the prayers of our parents.
All of these world treasures are tied to the happiness of our parents’ hearts. And all of the world’s miseries are tied to the distress of our parents’ hearts.
Real Story: Mother and son bond
I have included some hadith and stories below to illustrate these points.
Once, a young man approached Rajab Ali Khayath and said, “It has been a month since my business failed, my checks are bouncing, and I don’t have the money to pay my creditors. I am on the verge of going to prison. What should I do to resolve my problems?”
Rajab Ali Khayath studied the young man and replied, “Your mother is upset with you.” The young man protested, “That’s not possible. My mother lives with me.”
Rajab Ali Khayath insisted, “From what I can see, your mother is upset with you.”
The young man returned home and asked his mother, “Are you upset with me?” Surprised, she replied, “Why do you ask?” He pleaded, “Please just tell me if you are.” She disclosed, “Yes, I am.” He inquired why, and she explained, “One month ago. Do you remember when your wife was clearing the table?
You said to me, ‘Mother, do you think you have a servant that my wife works while you sit lounging around?’ At that moment, my heart broke. I spent my entire life raising you. I no longer have the strength to work; otherwise, I would have helped.”
The young man took his mother’s hand and kissed them, and at that moment, all of his problems were resolved. It was on that very day, when he had broken his mother’s heart, that his problems began.
Father’s status in Islam
May ALLAH have mercy on Ayatollah Marashi Najafi.
His Social secretary narrates that one evening, I asked the Ayatollah If I could leave a bit early. He asked me why; I told him I wanted to see my father.
Ayatollah Marashi Najafi said well done! Go quickly, but before you go, listen to my story quickly.
“I was 11 or 12 years old, living with my family in Najaf. One afternoon, my mother told me to go upstairs, where my father was studying, and tell him that lunch was ready.
“I went upstairs and to find out my father had fallen asleep while studying. But my mother Instructed me to call my father.”
If I were to obey my mother and wake my father, what If my father became upset that I awoke him while he did not even want lunch? What am I then to do if my father becomes upset?
Ayatollah Marashi Najafi was only 11 or 12 years old!
He continues: “The only solution I could think of was that I bowed down and started kissing my father’s feet until he woke up.”
In the moment when my father woke up and saw me kissing his feet, he raised his hands in prayer and prayed for me.
Everything he prayed for at that moment has, to this day, been answered.
My dear brothers and sisters, The father and especially the mother have the head coach role.
In sports, If the team is playing well, they give credit to the coach. If the team is playing poorly, they get a new coach.
Mothers are the educators of humanity. As Imam Khomeini (s) says, they are the engines that drive the nurture and upbringing of human beings.
Respect parents for blessings and health
Anyone who has achieved anything has achieved it through the prayers of their parents and through the respect they showed to their parents.
It is not just businesses that are affected but health as well.
Fazl Ibn Yahya narrates: “I got vitiligo (a skin disease). I was embarrassed to even go to the public bathhouse because people would gag when they saw me.”
A physician from Rome was summoned to examine me. After his examination, he advised, “Fazl, avoid consuming vinegar for three days.
” I did not tell the Physician what my disease was because he is a doctor, so he should know himself. I only told him the symptoms of my disease.”
So the Physician said I don’t have vinegar for three days, and I agreed. But that first night, I had plenty of vinegar. On the third day, when the Physician examined me and said Fazl, you didn’t listen to me. You had this amount of vinegar. I saw he was truthful, so I told him my disease.
This Doctor was Christian. Fazl says, “I took his medicine for two months with no benefit. One day, I told him what was going on. I am taking your medicine, and it is not helping.
That Physician said: Fazl, I am not the problem; the problem is with your father. Your father is upset with you, so the medicine is ineffective.
Fazl said, “I realized what he was saying was true; I did have a small issue with my father, So I went to my father and kissed his hands, and it was then that my problem became solved.
Islam on Parents rights
۞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
Wa qadaa Rabbuka allaa ta’budooo illaaa iyyaahu wa bilwaalidaini ihsaanaa; immaa yablughanna ‘indakal kibara ahaduhumaaa aw kilaahumaa falaa taqul lahumaaa uffinw wa laa tanharhumaa wa qullahumaa qawlan kareemaa
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.
Story of Sheikh Murtadha al-Ansari
I know someone who, by the prayer of his father, whenever he is busy with donkeys, suddenly there is famine, and he sells the donkeys for the price of horses.
Whenever he buys land, this land produces ten times more than what it did before. The blessings in our lives are the result of the prayers of our parents. When I was young in Tehran, I used to go to listen to lectures. A great person in those days in Tehran used to say that kissing your parents’ feet carries the same reward as kissing the soil of the shrine of Imam Husain (عَلَیهِالسَّلام).
We used to question how this was even possible.
But as people grow older and experience life, they see just how much this account of parents is a true account, and we are entirely oblivious to it.
Sheikh Murtadha al-Ansari, a great scholar, used to carry his mother on his back to and from the bathhouse. They would say to him you are Marja taqlid of the Shia world; why don’t you get a donkey or something to carry your mother around for you.
Nowadays, if a mother asks: “My son, do you have time to take me to the doctor?” The son responds, “Mother, wait your turn. I have other things to do.”
Where are you going that is more Important? All of your needs are in her hands! Become her servant and watch how ALLAH (ﷻ) will solve all your problems.
Tens of thousands of students study in the Islamic seminary of Qum. Only one of them becomes Marashi Najafi, and only one becomes Gulpaygani.. just one!
Go Investigate and see by whose prayer they have reached such stations.
Ayatollah Burujerdi said that everything I have is because of my mother. Whenever the time of prayer came, my mother had a private that she would go into, close the door, and we would hear her cries and supplications to god.
When they told Sheikh Murtadha al-Ansari why he was carrying around his mother, he told them: “You are right, but everything I have is because of the prayers of this woman.”
When his mother passed away, He cried like a young child. They asked him why, and he gave the same answer again. It is said that He re-prayed all of the prayers of his mother’s entire life after her death, just out of respect and reverence for her.
Allamah Tabatabai’s brother’s dream
In the story of Allamah Tabatabai (r) His brother sees a dream of their mother.
The mother says: “My son, Muhammad Husayn, has written the “Tafsir al-Mizan” but he has not dedicated any of the rewards to me.”
Allamah Tabatabai’s brother goes to Qum and tells his brother about the dream. Allamah responds that I have not asked for any reward for writing this book, but if there is a reward I ask ALLAH (ﷻ) to give it all to my mother.
This topic just not apply to Muslims. These days the fundamental problem of humanity lies here- that this respect has been broken, this station has collapsed. Our Sunni Brother’s have also admitted through their stories that everything that god gives, He gives because of the prayers of parents.
One of the speakers of Tehran said: “It was strange that after my speeches, I would feel dissatisfied with my speech, but people would pour around me saying wow, what a great speech you gave!
This would happen until the time my mother passed away. When she died, no one would even invite me to speak, and when they did, people would complain about the things I said.”
It was then I realized all I had was the prayers of my mother, who used to say: “My son, god willing, you become famous. It was all because of my mother.
Prophet Musa (a) once asked: “My lord who will be my neighbour in heaven?”
ALLAH (ﷻ) answered: A buthcer.
Musa (a) asked: A buthcer? My Lord, can you show me where he is so that I may see him?
Prophet Musa (a) sees that this butcher is a good person. He sells the meat honestly and at a fair price. Prophet Musa (a) thinks that it is for these reasons that he will be his neighbour in heaven.
But when he goes to his house, he sees that the butcher has an old mother whom he takes care of by cooking her food, feeding her, brushing her hair, etc.
People who have lost both their mom and dad will understand what I mean. Those who no longer have their parents’ love, who keep their photos in their homes, and who would give everything they have to be with their parents again, even for a moment, really know what I’m talking about.
Just look at the stories of the Prophet, the Ulema, and those who are good.
Thomas Edison has an interesting saying. He says the whole world is indebted to me, but I am indebted to my mother. Even he has understood this point. Although he is mistaken in the first part, the second part is correct because I am indebted to my mother.
Napoleon says that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Imam Ali (عَلَیهِالسَّلام) told Aqil (r) I want a wife who is from the brave tribes of Arabs. Along with their piety, they are brave because a brave woman will create a brave child. A wise and virtuous mother will make a wise and virtuous child.
How much is said about the role that Umm al-Banin had in the life of her son Abu Fadl al-Abbas (عَلَیهِالسَّلام)-the etiquette and steadfastness of their mother in life?
She knew her roles and responsibilities towards her imam, Imam Ali (عَلَیهِالسَّلام), and she transferred this to her son as well.
She created a son who became the leader of the greatest army in the history of the world. He became the leader of the greatest and most unparalleled soldiers of all time.
She was a mother like this.
Conclusion
The role of the mother is like this, and the role from our end is that we have to be careful about our parents.
For the elderly, this topic of parents is not just for the youth.
A mother and father can transcend death. They can grant your needs in both their life and in their death. Mothers and fathers are the granters of prayers in their lives and deaths.
I hope this will bring positive changes in your life, Inshallah, and the credit I want to give is Hojjatul Islam Darastani.
