Happy Father’s Day

Parents are our role models. In various cultures, this relationship of respect and love transforms into varied manifestations and expectations. However, in Islam, respect for parents is mentioned as a religious obligation. It’s importance is so much so that in the Holy Quran after worship of God, the next emphasized obligation for a Muslim is respect for parents.
Once a person came to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) complaining about his father that he keeps on using his belongings without even seeking permission. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) called for his father who was an old man. On enquiry about the matter the father replied,`O, Messenger of God, a time was when my son was weak and helpless and bare handed while I had strength and wealth. I never hesitated to give him my belongings whenever he needed them. Today I am weak and bare handed while he is rich and now he keeps his belongings from me.’ Tears came to the eyes of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he heard this. Talking to the son he said: `You and your belongings belong to your father. You and your belongings belong to your father.’
How can a person imagine to pay back his obligation to his parents by being nice to them once in a while, when in reality it’s impossible for a child to pay back his parents’ favors through lifetime of gratitude?