Status of Parents in Islam
In short
In the Qur'an, being good to parents comes in the same sentence as worshipping Allah alone, right after it. Allah is the origin of our life and parents its secondary origin. Our parents are our greatest opportunity to reach Paradise. We lower the wing of humility out of mercy, never even saying "oof" to them.
There's no period between worshiping Allah swt alone and being good towards your parents- it's one sentence.
The only difference is that Allah swt put the worship of Him before mentioning the dutifulness towards parents.
In the Arabic language, whatever you mention before another, it means it's a sequence. Why? because the origin of life and our existence is from Allah swt and our secondary origin is from our parents.
Ibn Abbas says, the most important after Allah swt and Prophet Muhammad PBUH are our parents.
Jibreel AS made a dua to which the Prophet PBUH said Ameen: "May his nose be rubbed in dust (disgraced), whoever reaches their parents in old age and still they did not be the cause of him or her entering paradise". Our parents are the greatest opportunity for us to attain paradise.
If you want to be connected to Allah swt then it is through your parents. Lower the wing of humility out of mercy. Not respect, not kindness but mercy. Because Rahma has a deeper meaning. They are human and may make mistakes. We must not even make the sound "Oof" or speak in a harsh tone. Always choose the most beautiful words.
CC: Lecture by Bilal Assad "My Lord have mercy on them as they brought me up when I was small" Quran 17:24
Large Arabic calligraphy is "Al-Walidayn" (parents)
Small calligraphy throughout reads "Jannah" (heaven)
Shop art here
Questions answered
Where does the Qur'an mention parents after Allah?
In the same sentence: worship Allah alone and be good to your parents.
What does 'lower the wing of humility' mean?
Treat parents with mercy (rahma), not just respect, choosing the most beautiful words and never a harsh tone.
What is the dua for parents?
"My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small" (Qur'an 17:24).
Salam, I'm Saleha
I'm a Muslim artist in Toronto. I study the Qur'an and Seerah and turn what I learn into mixed media paintings, so the stories can live on your walls.
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