‘Ihsan’ is not what is done in return or for any good but...

‘Ihsan’ is not what is done in return or for any good but the initiative in doing good without expecting any return for it. Status of Parents in Islam Surah Luqman, 13 :14 وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ Wa was-say-nal’ insaana biwaaliday: hamalat-hu ’um-muhuu wahnan ‘alaa wahninw-wa fisaaluhuu fii ‘aamayni ’anish-kur lii wa li-waalidayk: ’ilay-yal-Masiir. 14.

And (God says:) “We have enjoined upon man goodness towards his parents: his mother bore him by bearing strain upon strain, and his utter dependence on her lasted two years: (hence, O man,) be grateful towards Me and towards thy parents, (and remember that) with Me is all journey’s end.

Utmost respect and veneration to Parents, after Allah (swt) Surah Al – Isra’, 17:23 وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًا Wa qazaa Rab-buka ’al-laa ta‘-buduuu ’il-laaa ’iy-yaahu wa bil-waa-lidayni ’ihsaa-naa.

’Im-maa yablu-ghan-na ‘indakal-ki-bara ’ahadu-humaaa ’aw kilaa-humaa falaa taqul-lahumaa wa ’uf-finw-wa laa tanhar-humaa wa qul-lahumaa qawlan-kariimaa. 23. And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and do good to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) “ugh” nor chide them, but (always) speak to them reverent speech. Islam ranks the obedience to parents second only to God.

The extent to which one has to regard his parents and obey them is peculiar only to Islam. None shall even raise his voice higher than the voice of his parents - nor look towards them even eye to eye - nor walk in advance of them - nor address them with their names.

Nothing shall be done to bring disrepute or blame on them from the people and if they be believers, the children should pray for their salvation, and if they be disbeliever, they might be gently invited towards the right belief and goodness. If man cannot venerate the ones responsible in bringing him in this world, he will never be able to acknowledge truly the Only One Creator of all mankind.

Prayer for one’s parents Surah Ibrahim, 14:41 رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ Rab-ba-nagh-fir lii wa li-waa-li-day-ya walil-Mu’mi-niina Yawma yaquu-mul-Hisaab!

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