Increase The Length Of Your Life

Increase the length of your life: Be good to your Parents “And your lord has ordered that you worship none but him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them a word but address them in terms of honour.” “And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My lord! Bestow on them your mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Part 15: Surah 17 Al-Isra) The most striking opening of an ayat, which starts with the obedience of Allah Taa'la and thereafter to be dutiful to your parents. This verse is clearly indicating towards the importance of obedience to the parents and fulfilling the orders laid by the lord of the universe himself. Through the light of the Hadith, we will learn the importance of being righteous and obedience to our parents and the punishments of disobeying the command of Allah Taa'la. The Final Prophet: Muhammad

has said:

“The pleasure of the lord is the pleasure of a parent, and the wrath of the lord is the wrath of a parent.” It is clear from this Hadith that to keep Allah Taa'la happy, it is necessary that our parents are happy with us. SPEAKING GENTLY WITH ONE'S PARENTS. In a Hadith, which I will quote briefly: Taysalah ibn Mayyas said, “I did certain things that I can only consider as major sins. When I mentioned this to ibn Umar, he asked me what I had done, and he said that those are not major sins. Rather, he said “The major sins which are nine in number”. One of the nine that ibn Umar mentioned was causing ones parents to shed tears because of ones disobedience. Then ibn Umar said to Taysalah ibn Mayyas, “Do you fear the fire and desire to go to paradise?” Taysalah ibn Mayyas replied, “Yes, by Allah Taa'la!” he said. “Are your parents still alive?” I replied “Only my mother.” He replied, “By Allah, if you speak with her gently and give her food to eat, you will surely enter paradise if you avoid these major sins.” BEING GOOD TO ONES PARENTS

Abu Huraira reported that once the Prophet was asked to whom one should be good to. He replied, “Your mother.” He was asked the same question a second time, and he replied, “Your mother.” He was asked the same question a third time and he replied,” Your mother.” He was asked the same question a fourth time and he replied,” Your father.” DOING GOOD TO ONES PARENTS EVEN IF THEY ARE UNJUST . Ibn Abbas said, “Any Muslim whose father and mother are Muslims and who wakes every morning with the intention of doing right by them will have two doors opened for him/her in paradise by Allah Taa'la. If only one parent is alive, then one door (will be opened). If he/she angers a parent, Allah Taa'la will not be pleased with him/her. Then the Prophet was asked, “What if one's parents are unjust to him/her?” He answered, “Even if they are unjust (one must act good to please ones parents)”. THE REWARD FOR PARENTS Abdullah ibn Amr said, “A man went to the Prophet to pledge his allegiance to him for the coming (from Makkah to Madinah). However, he left his parents crying. The Prophet sad”.

told him “Go back to them and make them as happy as you have made them

This man had come to the Prophet to take an oath of allegiance on him on migrating; his intentions were auspicious and virtuous deeds. However, his parents did not agree to his separation, as migrating was not compulsory at that time. They became restless on the prospect of his journey and wept in sadness. When the Prophet learnt of this, he instructed the man to return to his parents and make them laugh just as he had made them weep. This indicates the merit and significance of kindness to love ones parents and being a sin to do something which causes sadness to parents and makes them weep. It is virtuous and rewarding to do what makes them happy and laugh. Hazarat Mu'adh reported that the prophet said “good news to those who are good to their parents, good will increase the length of their lives “. THE PRAYERS OF PARENTS Abu Ja'far heard Abu Huraira say that the Prophet said, “There is no doubt that three kinds of prayers will be answered, the prayer of the oppressed, the prayer of the traveller, and the prayers of the parents for their children”.

Prayers of parents for their children will be accepted immediately whether it is a prayer in the favour of the children or against the children, so we must do our up most best to keep our parents happy. Certain people have included among whose supplication is definitely granted are those who treat their parents kindly. Sayyidina Uwais al Qarni (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was a resident of Yemen . The Holy Prophet called him the best of Tabieen (successors) and he said, “Get him to pray for your forgiveness”. He had embraced Islam at the time of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam but he could not present himself before the Prophet because he looked after his mother and thus remained deprived of the honour of companionship. It is clear from the conduct of Sayyidina Uwais Qarni, that to be good and mindful to parents is a very high ranking deed. The Prophet said, “Uwais has his mother. He has treated her kindly. If Uwais claims (anything) on Allah Taa'la then Allah Taa'la will surely let him have what he claims”. See also: Rights of Parents RIGHTS Allah is our Creator and it was through our parents that He created us. This is the reason why He has given so many rights to the parents. It is stated, “Allah has ordered that do not worship anyone but Him and be dutiful towards your parents.” OBEDIENCE Hazrat ibn Abbas narrates from the Prophet that a person whose parents are alive and he obeys them, listens to and respects them, then Allah will open two doors of paradise for him. But if one of his parents is not happy with him, then Allah will not be happy with him either. Then someone asked the Prophet oppressors?” The Prophet

, “Even if they are

replied, “Yes, even if they are oppressors.”

DISRESPECT It is said, a person who disobeys his parents, or disrespects them and does not listen to them, Allah will open two doors of hell for him. And if he disrespects only one of them, then Allah will only open one door of hell for him.

VIRTUES Helping your parents is better then performing Jihad. Abdullah ibn Umar that a person came to the Prophet Prophet

narrates

and said, “I have intentions of going on Jihad.” The

asked him, ‘Are any of your parents alive?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ The

Prophet said, ‘Do Jihad by helping your parents.’ From this we can gather how important parents really are.TOP STORY A man came to the Prophet and asked him, ‘My mother is very old. I feed her with my hands and I help her do ablution and I sit her down on my shoulders. Have I done enough to repay her for the things she has done for me?’ The Prophet said, ‘No. You have not even repaid he a bit. But Allah will give you a small amount of deeds for what you have done.’ Such is the value and status of a mother and this is because nothing can compensate for the chores she has born for her child since pregnancy to his upbringing. STATUS Bahys ibn Hakim said that he heard from his grandfather, that he had asked the Prophet

, ‘Who should I do a good turn?’ The Prophet

grandfather once more asked the Prophet

replied, ‘Your mother.’ His

, ‘Who shall I do a good turn?’ The

Prophet

said, ‘Your mother.’ His grandfather repeated the question a third time. The

Prophet

said, ‘Your mother.’ After repeating the question for the fourth time, the

Prophet

replied, ‘Then your father and then in order, your relatives.’

IMPORTANCE Hadhrat ibn Abbas said, ‘At the time of the Prophet , there was a young man named Alkamah. He used to work very hard and give his earnings to charity. One day he became very ill. His wife sent a message to the Prophet

. The Prophet

sent

Bilal , Ali , Suleman and Amar with these words, ‘See how he is.’ They went and found that he was indeed very ill and close to death. They spent some time trying to make him read the Kalimah, but something was holding him back. Hazrat Bilal

returned to tell the Prophet

‘Are his parents alive?’ Bilal still alive.’ The Prophet then the Prophet

about his condition. The Prophet

asked,

replied, ‘His father has passed away, but his mother is told Bilal

to call his mother and if she couldn't come

would come to her. As soon as Alkamah’s mother heard, she

grabbed her walking stick and came right away. She did Salaam and the Prophet

returned it and asked, ‘Tell me truthfully, if you don't, then I will learn by revelation. What sort of deeds did your son do?’ She told the Prophet that he was a very pious man, that he used to read prayers consistently, fast constantly and give alms abundantly. The Prophet asked her how he was with her. She said, ‘I am upset with him. Instead of me, he gives preference to his wife. He used to disobey me and listened to his wife. The Prophet

said to her, ‘Your displeasure has stopped Alkamah from reciting the

Kalimah.’ The Prophet then ordered his Companions to gather some wood and to burn him. The mother asked whether they were really going to burn her son in front of her? The Prophet told her, ‘Allah's punishment is much greater. If you want Allah to forgive Alkamah, you must first forgive him yourself. His praying, fasting and almsgiving will do him no good.’ His mother raised her hands and said, ‘I have forgiven him.’ The Prophet

sent Bilal

to check on Alkamahh. He was reading the Kalimah.

Alkamahh died that very day. The Prophet arranged his funeral and led his Janazah. After that he stood up and addressed the people. ‘The person who prefers his wife rather then his mother, Allah’s curse be upon him. His faraaidh and nawafil will not be accepted.’