Showing kindness to parents is one of the highest rewarded acts in the sight of Allah. The command to be good to one's parents is a clear teaching of the Qur'an. Allah says:

Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents...

Quran - 4:36

(interpretation of the meaning)

The mention of servitude to parents follows immediately after servitude to God. This is repeated throughout the Qur'an.

For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honour your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully.

Quran - 17:23

(interpretation of the meaning)

In this verse, God commands us to worship Him alone and no one else, and immediately then turns attention to behaving well with parents, especially when they become old and depend on others for shelter and their needs. Muslims are taught not to be rough with parents or scold them, but rather speak to them with kind words and show love and tenderness.

In the Qur’an, Allah further asks a person to supplicate to Him for his/her parents:

And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.”

Quran - 17:24

(interpretation of the meaning)

Allah emphasises that obeying parents is obeying Him, except in associating partners with Him.

And We have commanded people to ˹honour˺ their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return. But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. Still keep their company in this world courteously, and follow the way of those who turn to Me ˹in devotion˺ ...

Quran - 31:14-15

(interpretation of the meaning)

This verse emphasises that all parents deserve good treatment. Extra care should be shown to mothers, due to the additional hardship they endure.

Taking care of parents is considered to be one of the best deeds:

The best of the deeds is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.

Sahih Muslim, 85e

In conclusion, in Islam, honouring one’s parents means obeying them, respecting them, praying for them, lowering one's voice in their presence, smiling at them, not showing displeasure towards them, striving to serve them, fulfilling their wishes, consulting them and listening to what they say.

Source: islamqa.info · islamqa.info · islamqa.info