In Islam, parents are held in extremely high regard. The Quran and Hadith describe many virtues of respecting and obeying one’s parents, as well as the rewards for doing so. Qiratul Quran will tell you 10 key rights that Islam grants to parents. These are the 10 Rights of Parents in Islam:
1. Right to be respected and obeyed
The first and foremost right of parents in Islam is to be respected and obeyed by their children. The Quran says:
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٢٣
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents” (Quran 17:23)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has instructed:
“The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of the father, and the displeasure of the Lord is in the displeasure of the father.” (Tirmidhi)
Obedience to parents in all matters that are not sinful is obligatory. Islam teaches that disobeying parents leads to displeasing Allah.
2. Right to love and closeness
Parents have the right to receive love and affection from their children. The Prophet said:
“Among the major sins are disobedience to parents and severing ties of kinship.” (Bukhari)
He also said: “The best of deeds is to please one’s father and treat him well.” (Tirmidhi)
Children must make time to regularly visit their parents even after marriage and when living separately. Parents have the right not to be abandoned or sent to old homes.
3. Right to respect
Islam commands Muslims to address parents with respect using honorable titles. The Quran associates honoring parents with honoring Allah:
وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا ۞٣٦
“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents…” (Quran 4:36)
Children must be humble, polite, and dignified around their parents. Raising their voice or showing displeasure in front of parents is prohibited.
4. Right to gentle speech
Parents have the right to be addressed gently with soft and kind words. The Prophet said:
“Allah is pleased when a child lovingly strokes the head of his/her parent.” (Baihaqi)
He also said: “He who is given his share of gentleness is given his share of good in this world and the next.” (Muslim) Children must avoid offensive or hurtful speech towards parents.
5. Right to forgiveness
Parents have the right to be forgiven for any past mistakes or shortcomings while raising their children. The Quran says:
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٢٣
“Say not to them [parents] 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…” (Quran 17:23-24)
The Prophet has said: “The words ‘I ask Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him’ should be said by a son to his parents.” (Tirmidhi)
Children must be tolerant of their parent’s actions and not hold any grudges.
6. Right to support
Parents have the right to financial and physical support from their children if needed. The Quran says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حُسْنًۭا ۖ وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَآ ۚ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents…” (Quran 29:8)
In a hadith, the Prophet remarked: “A man is obliged to provide for his parents if they are in need.” (Muslim) Adult children must offer living assistance, spend on their parents’ welfare, and pay off their debts after their death.
7. Right to good companionship
Parents deserve the right to have righteous children who give them wholesome company. The Prophet has stated:
“Allah’s pleasure is contained in the pleasure of the parent, and Allah’s displeasure lies in the parent’s displeasure.” (Tirmidhi)
Children must abstain from bringing any disrepute to the family and always conduct themselves in a manner that pleases parents.
8. Right to gratitude
Parents deserve gratitude and appreciation for their years of selfless love, care, sacrifice and nurture given to their children. The Quran says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍۢ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
“And We have enjoined upon man concerning his partners – His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness…” (Quran 31:14)
The Prophet said: “He who does not thank people [parents] does not thank Allah.” (Abu Dawud) Children must continually express thankfulness to parents through words and deeds.
9. Right to prayers (dua)
Parents have the right to be prayed for by their children. The Quran teaches:
وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا
“And lower unto them [parents] the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.” (Quran 17:24)
The Prophet emphasized: “Three supplications are answered without doubt: the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of parents for their children.” (Tirmidhi) Duas by children in favor of parents are often accepted by Allah.
10. Right to paradise
One of the greatest rights parents have over children is their hope to attain paradise through righteous children praying for them. The Prophet has conveyed:
“When a son of Adam dies, nothing would be of any more benefit to him except three things: a continuous charity, some useful knowledge he has left behind, and a child who may pray for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Rightful service given to parents helps children be worthy of entering paradise by Allah’s mercy – the greatest place for parents and children to reunite.
In essence, Islam protects parents’ rights by making dutifulness towards them a religious obligation and virtue for children. Fulfilling parents’ rights is a pathway to Allah’s pleasure and rewards in this life and Hereafter. The special bond between parent and child must be cherished and preserved for life.
Summary
The 10 key rights granted to parents in Islam are:
- Right to be respected and obeyed
- Right to love and closeness
- Right to respect
- Right to gentle speech
- Right to forgiveness
- Right to support
- Right to good companionship
- Right to gratitude
- Right to prayers (dua)
- Right to paradise
Islam places great emphasis on honoring, obeying, and pleasing parents in righteousness. Fulfilling the rights of parents is an act of worship and gets children closer to Allah’s mercy and paradise. Children must maintain the special parent-child bond with care, humility, and wisdom all lifelong.
