Parents

A Message to those of us who are fortunate to be still young.

Life is change. We begin the journey of life as an embryo and go through changes throughout life. We go from being a baby to a toddler, to a teenager, adult then to old age, if we survive that long. During that time our personality, habits, demeanor, behavior, likes and dislikes go through constant changes. Understanding, remembering and appreciating this fact help us cope with those in our lives with love, patience and understanding. This along with our religious beliefs, our family customs, if we heed them, should equip us to effectively cope with the transitions of lives of those we love and care for.

I refer to Parents. Thank Allah SWT, (Almighty God) for those have the opportunity to live to the age where they are experiencing a second childhood. Having lived long, they have earned the right to enjoy life in the capacity of Grandparent, parent, parent in law, widow/widower and child. Having earned this right, those whom they cared for in their better years, now have a responsibility to them. This is a responsibility demanded by Allah SWT (Almighty God) and if we are Muslims, then we have been commanded to carry out these responsibilities with patience, compassion, understanding and love.

What are their rights?

A home, Care and assistance, Compassion, understanding, patience, Companionship.

To make mistakes, to be forgetful, miserable, untidy, stubborn, funny, sad, right, wrong, unreasonable, happy, and gloomy.

In other words their rights are the same as yours from birth, when they had to care for and cope with you, when they afforded you your rights with love, understanding and patience, without a second thought.

This is the inevitable cycle of life, hence the saying “once a man, twice a child”. This is the natural course of life, the human cycle in the “Master Plan”.

Quotations from Al Quran on Parents:

(31:14): And We have enjoined upon men care for parents. Your mother carried you, becoming in weaker and weaker, and weaned you for two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is your final destination.

(2:83): And when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, With the command, "Do not worship any but Allah ; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people wisely and establish prayer and give charity." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you refused.

(2:180): Prescribed for you when death approaches any one of you if you leaves wealth you should make] a bequest for your parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable – this is a duty upon the righteous.

(2:215): They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend it is good to spend for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever good you do - indeed, Allah Knows"

(29:8): And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate any with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

(46:15): And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning for a period s of thirty months. He grows until he reaches maturity and reaches the age of forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of those who submit to you, Muslim."

(71:28): My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."

017.023: Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.

I hope and pray that those of us who are children will heed and put into practice this and guidance advice and those of us who are parents instill these values in our children, In Shah Allah.. If we did this we will certainly enjoy the benefits and our community and world will become a more peaceful and enjoyable place.

Kamruz Hosein

The Islamic Theosophical Society

1/21/11