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Wednesday 29 August 2012

Be Kind to Your Parents

On your right side, you know that in the Quran Allah swt says to be kind to your parents. No conditions are set. No matter who they are or what they do, you must be kind to them. The displeasure of your parents only means the displeasure of Allah.

On your left Satan whispers: be impatient, let your anger out. Your parents are overbearing, impossible to please. In any case you have done your best, they should be grateful to have a son/daughter like you.

You listen to Satan, justifying to yourself that you really have done all you can. As they grow old and grumpy, demanding and delicate - just like when you were little, you forget their sacrifices for you. You only remember the ugly moments. You forget they are only human, subject to all and every weakness you may succumb to, yourself.

Then one of them departs, and suddenly everything becomes crystal clear: you can never repay their kindness to you! When you were helpless they gave you love, fed you and clothed you. They sent you to the best schools they could afford. They lay low just so you could soar.

But now it's too late. Did they die having forgiven you? Did they know you cared? Or did they go to meet the Lord thinking you have forsaken them?

To redeem yourself, know that their only link with you now is your du'a. Three things that go with them when they depart, and one of them is your du'a. Ask Allah to forgive their sins, pardon their mistakes, lift their station, place their soul among the souls of the righteous and the faithful, and give them Paradise. Redeem yourself by doing good deeds and gifting the rewards Allah may give for those good deeds to them.

Those of you whose parents are still around, be kind and do good to them. Ask Allah for strength if they test your patience (which they very likely will, when they get old). One day we will get old, too. And our departure will come. May Allah give us all a good ending to our lives آمِيّنْ... آمِيّنْ آمِّيْنَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ .

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