Allah commands His servants to be dutiful to parents, after urging them to
adhere to belief in His Tawhid, because a person's parents are the cause of his
existence. So he must treat them with the utmost kindness and respect, his
father for spending on him and his mother because of her compassion for him.
Allah says:
[وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ
أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّـهُ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً إِمَّا
يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَآ
أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًا - وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا
جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى
صَغِيرًا ]
(And your Lord has decreed 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, but address them
in terms of honor. 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.'') (17:23-24) Although Allah orders us to show kindness,
mercy and respect towards them in return for their previous kindness, He says:
[وَإِن جَـهَدَاكَ
لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلاَ تُطِعْهُمَآ]
(but if they strive to make associate with Me, which you have no knowledge
of, then obey them not.) meaning, if they are idolators, and they try to make
you follow them in their religion, then beware of them, and do not obey them in
that, for you will be brought back to Me on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah
will reward you for your kindness towards them and your patience in adhering to
your religion. It is Allah Who will gather you with the group of the righteous,
not with the group of your parents, even though you were the closest of people
to them in the world. For a person will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection
with those whom he loves, meaning, religious love. Allah says:
[وَالَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِى الصَّـلِحِينَ
]
(And for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall make
them enter with the righteous.) In his Tafsir of this Ayah, At-Tirmidhi recorded
that Sa`d said: "Four Ayat were revealed concerning me -- and he told his story.
He said: "Umm Sa`d said: `Did Allah not command you to honor your parents By
Allah, I will not eat or drink anything until I die or you renounce Islam.' When
they wanted to feed her, they would force her mouth open. Then this Ayah was
revealed:
[وَوَصَّيْنَا
الإِنْسَـنَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْناً وَإِن جَـهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ
لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلاَ تُطِعْهُمَآ]
(And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful to his parents; but if they strive
to make you associate with Me, of which you have no knowledge, then obey them
not.)'' This Hadith was also recorded by Imam Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud and
An-Nasa'i. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.
[وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن
يِقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ
كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَئِنْ جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا
مَعَكُمْ أَوَ لَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ الْعَـلَمِينَ -
وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ
]
(10. Of mankind are some who say: "We believe in Allah.'' But if they are
made to suffer for Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah's
punishment; and if victory comes from your Lord, they will say: "Verily, we were
with you.'' Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breasts of the creatures)
(11. And indeed Allah knows those who believe, and verily, He knows the
hypocrites.)