Have mercy on them as they cherished me when I was little.

Have mercy on them as they cherished me when I was little.'" Holy Qur'an (17:23-24) Some parents deal with their children in the light of the necessity of repaying good in order to force their children to obey them. Maybe we may hear them saying: We had spent the flower of our youth for their sake, and is this our reward?! The reality of the matter is that we, as one of the wise men said: "They sow, we harvest and we sow, they harvest".

So this is the behavior of life of those who have passed and those who will come after us. Therefore, the matter is between good manners in supporting morals and good words, and relating with people with what is best.

Because the prophetic narration is clear on calling not to obey any command that is against Allah's law: "There is no obedience in a creature who disobeys the Creator." However, the command to obey Allah, His Messenger and the laws of the religion (Islam), as well as, refraining from sins, is not a parental command, rather it is obeying the commands of Allah. So this kind of command is compulsory on the parents and the children, equally.

In conclusion, what is required from the children is "good manners" toward their parents, but not "obedience" which is only for Allah. The parents are not legislators, thus, it is not their duty to force any obedience that is not declared by Islam. But, what was reported in some prophetic narrations about the obedience to the parents is obeying them in what Allah prescribed and not what is against the law.

Maybe the meaning of obedience, here, is good manners and abiding by the law which strengthens good manners and is not opposite to Allah's commands. However, the parent's consent is not contradictory with Allah's consent. If the children's relationship with their parent is based on good manners - as Allah wishes - then, definitely it will make them happy and this will attract Allah's consent and satisfaction.

It is narrated in a Prophetic narration that: "Allah's consent is in the parent's consent and Allah's wrath is in the parent's wrath". Thus, consent and wrath, here, are supported by obedience and disobedience, even if the parents are polytheists, it is necessary to have a good relation and show kindness to them "Obey them not, and consort kindly with them in the world." Holy Qur'an (31: 15), this will make them be satisfied with their children, and it may be a source of their guidance.