By Azka Fathima Palsarak
Vaniyambadi, Tamil Nadu
She suffered for you out of love. She sacrificed her dreams for your sake. When you suffered, she suffered with you. Who’s she?
He didn’t eat his last meal because he wanted to save money for you. He was the man who didn’t buy a new pair of slippers so that he could buy your favourite toy. He cancelled his trips so that you could go. Who’s he?
One day you will call Ammi and Abba, but no voice will reply. The home once filled with prayers for your safety, success and well-being is now empty. The hands that once fed you when you were in a hurry, now there will be no one to ask whether you had your meal or not.
The Unspoken Conversation
Once there was a girl named Iha. She lived far away from her home. She always respected her parents and looked after them to the best of her ability. One day, her father called her, but she was busy, so she replied that she would call that night. But her work made her stay up very late that night. So, she thought she would call the next day.
When she woke up the next morning, she received a voice note from her mother, saying that her father’s health was not well and that she was taking him to the hospital. She took the first available flight to her place and she was just wishing for at least one conversation with her father. When she landed there, her father was no more.
Just imagine how you would feel if you were in Iha’s place. Didn’t you get goosebumps?
If your parents are alive and standing in front of you, just hug them.
There are many people on this earth who yearn for their parents. To have at least one conversation. To hug them. To serve them.
Be grateful to Allah for your parents. And stay kind to them. Never make them feel regret for the things they couldn’t do. Just respect their struggles and sacrifices. Make them feel seen and understood.
The Greatest Gift of Allah
What do you think is the greatest gift of Allah? There is no doubt that one of the greatest gifts of Allah is your parents. Don’t hurt them with your sharp words. Serve them to the best of your ability. Don’t run away from your responsibilities.
It is mentioned in the Qur’an: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents. If any one of them or both of them reach old age, do not say to them: uff (a word or expression of anger or contempt) and do not scold them, and address them with respectful words.” (The Qur’an, 17:23)
Parents have a noble status in their children’s lives. We are commanded not to say a word that shows impatience towards them or to be harsh with them. They must be appreciated and treated with kindness and respect.
Most of us neglect our parents and make them less important than our work. And that has become so normal that this generation needs to understand.
And in a hadith it is mentioned, Abdullah ibn Umar said, “The pleasure of the Lord lies in the pleasure of the parent. The anger of the Lord lies in the anger of the parent.” (Al-Adab Al Mufrad 2)
A Love Beyond Repayment
When it comes to repayment, you never repay it. If a daughter or son realises how much pain a mother bears to bring her child into this world, they will never think about repayment, but about the amount of love they can give, the amount of care and affection they show. How happily they take the responsibility.
Answer their calls even if you’re busy. Spend a few minutes with them everyday. Eat with them, and tell them about your day.
In today’s world, it has become common to make your parents feel regretful, low, or degraded. By raising your voice in front of them. They have abandoned sincerity and obedience towards their parents. This generation needs to stop this and treat them with love and kindness.
A hadith narrates: Abdullah ibn Amr said, “A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and made a pledge to him that he would do hijra. He left his parents who were in tears. The Prophet said, ‘Go back to them and make them laugh as you made them weep’.” (Al Adab Al Mufrad 19)
We can never even imagine how many sacrifices they made, and how much hardship they faced while raising you. So, obey them. Make it a habit to make them feel heard and understood, and to look after them.
It is mentioned in the Qur’an, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” (The Qur’an, 17:24)
Next time, think twice, or as many times you can, before yelling at them, hurting them, and proving them wrong. Make it a habit to be gentle with them and not to use any impatient words towards them. One day, your parents will become your memories. Make sure you remember them with gratitude, not regret.
Don’t make them count the things they haven’t done to you. Instead, count the things they have done for you.
