|
Friday Talks |
 |
|
86 |
|
Friday Talks |
|
|
86 |
Kindness to Parents
Written by Sk. Omar Kadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
21st Thol-Hajjah 1429
19th December 2008
One of the greatest rights of other slaves upon you are the rights of the parents and the rights of the relatives. Allah has placed that right or obligation immediately next to the rights of Allah which includes His and His messenger’s rights. Allah said: {Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, and with your parents practice kindness and also with the relatives} 4:35. Allah also said: {and give thanks to me and to your parents} 31:14.
A mother becomes weaker as the fetus she carries grows and suffering tremendous agony during pregnancy and birth. Then nursing and milk feeding the baby for almost two years. The messenger (PPBU) was once asked: what deed is most loved to Allah? He said: “performing prayers on time”. He was asked: and what’s next? He said: “Treating the parents well”. He was asked: and what’s next? He said: “Jihad in the line of Allah”. Notice how kindness to parents came before Jihad. The good treatment of parents includes not disobeying them, and keeping in contact with them, doing good for them, kindness and gentleness with them, and being obedient to them.
This is even extra true during their old age due to their weakness, sickness or disability. Providing the parents at their old age with what they used to provide individual when he/she was a baby. Do not become bored when taking care of them, do not show them anger or dissatisfaction. Do not give out to them with tough words and in threatening manner. On the contrary, the son or daughter is commanded to talk to them gently, giving them dignity and respect. Never use the words which show refusal and dissatisfaction like the word or jesture: “Oooff”. That word, when said to the parents is like a denial to the mercy, and forgetting the brining up they did.
Allah says: {Your Lord has decreed, that you worship none except Him, and that you show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them were to attain old age with you, say not “Ooofff” to then nor repulse them, but speak to them a gracious word. And lower to them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord, Have mercy on them both, as they did care for me when I was little. Your Lord is Best Aware of what is in your minds. If you are righteous, then, He is ever Forgiving to those who turn to Him}17:23-25
One must be submissive towards the parents in words spoken, or in looks glanced, or with gestures made, or motions in action or expressive lack of moves, in sounds or in silence. Pray for them and ask Allah to saturate them with His mercies. Feed them, dress them, protect them, and give them love and peace. Their sanctity and their rights were mentioned in all Allah’s books: the Torah, the Bible, the Zabour, and the Quran. Allah told all His messengers about the sanctity of parents, and that He will be pleased if they are pleased, and He will be angered if they are angered and saddened.
The messenger (PPBU) was asked once by a man: “Who of all people is the most deserving of my best treatment?” the messenger said: “Your mother”. The man said: “and who next?” the messenger said: “Your mother”. The man said: “and who next?” the messenger said: “Your mother”. The man said: “and who next?” the messenger said: “Your father”. The scholars say that this is a clear indication of the preference of the mother to the father in the acts of kindness.
3a-esha asked the messenger once: “Who of all people has the greatest right upon a woman?” The messenger said: “Her husband”. And she said: Who of all people has the greatest right upon a man?” He said: “His mother”.
In fact kindness to parents has a higher status than the Jihad in the line of Allah. A man came to the messenger (PPBU) once and said “I am seeking reward from Allah by making a pledge to you to immigrate and fight in the line of Allah.” The messenger said: “Are any of parents alive?” The man said: “Yes, both of them.” The messenger (PPBU) said to him: “and are you really seeking reward from Allah?” The man said: “Yes. I am.” The messenger (PPBU) said “Then go back to your parents and be a good company to them”
A man once came to the messenger (PPBU) and said: “I would love to fight for Allah but I am unfit to do so.” The messenger (PPBU) asked him: “are any of parents alive?” The man answered: “Yes, my mother is alive”. The messenger (PPBU) said: “Meet Allah in treating her well. If you do that then it is as if you have done Hajj, and Amrah, and Jihad in the line of Allah”
Even if the parents are not Muslims one is commanded to treat them with kindness and give them all their rights, except not to obey them if they asked you to loose faith in Allah.
Kindness to parents is in words, and deeds and money. Show kindness to your parents, and your children will show you kindness. Remember that nothing makes your life longer, and your income greater than kindness to the parents, and keeping in contact with the kin.
words and deeds. Amen.
Notes:
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email
address is : faheemfb@gmail.com
