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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Codes of Training The Parents Responsibility In the eyes of Islam the status of the father and the mother is very exalted. Allah, the Holy Prophet and the Infallible Imams have exhorted the people in this regard. There are a lot of verses in the Holy Book relevant to the subject. The exemplary behavior of children towards their parents is rated as one of the best invocations.

Allah says: Your God has decreed that thou shalt worship only Him and adopt good behavior with (thy) parents. 17:23 Imam Ja'far Sadiq observes: Three actions are the best: (1) Offer the five mandatory prayers with punctuality, (2) Maintain good behavior with your parents, and (3) Struggle in the cause of Allah. [1] Now the question arises why this exalted position has been bestowed on the parents of the Faithful! Is Allah giving this status for no specific reason?

What big deed the parents perform for their progeny that they are deemed deserving of the august status. The father, in satisfaction of his carnal desire transfers his sperm into the womb of the mother where it compounds with the [1] Usool al-Kafi, Book 2, Page 158. ovum and a new being starts to develop and after nine months of the incident arrives into the world as a tiny babe. The mother suckles it and gives it other nutrition. Sometimes she cleans it and sometimes changes its raiment.

She cares of its wetness and dryness. During this time the father takes care of the expenses required for the upkeep of the child. Dont the parents have any other responsibility besides these? Is it because of performing these duties that the parents have been endowed with the exalted status? Do the parents only have a right over their offspring and the children dont have any rights over them? In my opinion no one will accept any such one sided privilege.

The traditions of the Infallibles of the Holy Prophets Family are quoted in this regard: The Holy Prophet of Islam has said: As your father has a right over you, so does your progeny have a similar right? [1] The Prophet also said: As are the children disinherited for their disobedience so also it is possible that the parents may be disowned by the children for not fulfilling their bonded duties.

[2] The Prophet said: Allahs curse on such parents who become the cause of disinheriting their children. [3] [1] Majma al-Zawaid, Vol. 8, page: 146. [2] Bihar al-Anwar, Volt 19, Page 93. [3] Makarim al-Akhlaq. Page 518.