💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 None of us is perfect, since we're human beings prone to sinning and making mistakes from time to time. At one point or another, especially during our teenage years when mood swings and peer pressure often cause an individual to make illogical decisions, we've been guilty of disrespecting our beloved parents in the past. Maybe there were numerous instances when we raised our voices at them in heated arguments, wrongfully accused them of being "unfair" while they were only trying to care for us, complained to some friends about their strictness, insisted on granting access to a shrink or guidance counselor instead of confiding in them, and writing in our journals or diaries about how much we despised them. With that, we were ignorantly unaware that someday in the future they'd be gone and we'd miss their valuable words of advice, warnings, scoldings, gifts and savory dishes they endearingly prepared for us.
It is usually after the death of our parents when a lot of us realize their significant value, and distressful feelings of remorse creep in when we're reminded of the rewards of treating our parents with respect and love for Allah's sake. For those whose parents passed away, it is possible to rectify our previous shortcomings and ignorant conduct by constantly mentioning our dear mother and father in our loving Du'as/supplications, praying to Allah the Most Forgiving to forgive us and them, to accept their good deeds, protect them from torment, and reunite us with them in Jannah Paradise.
Besides including our parents in our frequent prayers, particularly while fasting, we could do certain good deeds on their behalf, such as doing charity and performing Hajj with the intention that they be the ones to be rewarded for those actions, so they gain additional rewards on their accounts. Maintaining peaceful relations with the people whom they loved when they were alive, ensuring all their debts are fully paid if they had any, applying the positive teachings they taught us, giving their belongings to the needy Muslims when possible, and continuing whatever legacy they left behind for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala are other commendable and rewarding tasks we can do.
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Verily, Allah the Almighty will raise the status of His righteous servants in Paradise and they will say: 'O Lord, what is this?' Allah will say: 'This is due to your child seeking forgiveness for you.'”
Source: Musnad Ahmed 10232
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Bakrah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said three times, “Shall I not tell you about the worst of major sins?” They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “They are (shirk) to associate partners with Allah and to be disrespectful to one's parents.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was reclining and he sat up, saying, “And surely to speak falsely.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam continued to repeat it (emphasizing the severity of the wickedness of purposely telling lies) until we wished he had stopped.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 2511, Sahih Muslim 87
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
📖 Ibn 'Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and she said, “My mother has died and she owed a month of fasting.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Do you think if she had a debt you would repay it on her behalf?” She said 'yes'. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “The debts of Allah are more worthy to be repaid.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1902, Sahih Muslim 1132
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim