Introduction
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the Leader of the Messengers, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and upon his family and companions.
Allah Almighty has created human life as a beautiful tapestry of various relationships and bonds, of which the most sacred, great, and irreplaceable is the relationship with parents. These are the beings under whose selfless love, tireless efforts, and immense sacrifices a person is nurtured, gains awareness, and progresses along the paths of life. Islam has given immense importance to the rights of parents, making their kindness, obedience, respect, service, and loyalty an essential part of faith.
The Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes good treatment towards parents, and in some places, it is mentioned immediately after the concept of monotheism: “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment…” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:23). Similarly, the Prophetic hadith also stress the rights of parents with repeated emphasis.
However, it is unfortunate that in this tumultuous age, where the pursuit of material gains has overshadowed human values, the reverence and dignity of parents are being forgotten. The younger generation, under the influence of Western culture, is increasingly neglecting their basic ethical and familial duties.
In such critical times, there is a need to present the status and rights of parents, and the Islamic teachings on dealing with them, based on the Qur’an and Sunnah, so that the Muslim community can be made aware of this important duty, and an atmosphere of awareness can be created.
This book, “The Rights of Parents – In the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith,” is a blessed attempt to fulfill this need. It has been meticulously written by our esteemed, thoughtful, and capable scholar, Brother Muhammad Salman Bijnori Nadwi, may Allah protect him, an instructor at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, with great effort, sincerity, research, and finesse.
In this work, the rights of parents are discussed in a comprehensive, reasoned, and thought-provoking manner, in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The legal, moral, educational, and social aspects of this issue are carefully highlighted, with the author’s simple, flowing, and captivating style having a deep impact on the reader’s mind and heart. The book awakens a true sense of the importance of serving, obeying, and praying for one’s parents.
This book is not just a scholarly work; it is an educational message, an intellectual invitation, and a moral movement that should reach every individual, every household, and every social class. The younger generation, in particular, should derive enlightenment from this book, so that they can recognize the greatness of their parents, consider their service as an honor, and take the steps to success in this world and the Hereafter, which can only be achieved with the satisfaction and prayers of parents.
We ask Allah to accept this book, make it a means of guidance and direction for its readers, and grant success to our respected scholar, Molana Muhammad Salman Nadwi, for his efforts. May Allah continue to bless his scholarly endeavors and grant him more steadfastness, sincerity, and success in serving the religion and the nation.
Wa Allahu waliyyu at-tawfiq, wa huwa al-hadi ila sawayi as-sabil.
Mohammad Akram Nadwi, Oxford
14th Dhul-Hijjah 1446 AH
Translated by AI from the original: https://t.me/DrAkramNadwi/6215
