Pleasing Parents

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): مَنْ أَرْضَى وَالِدَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَرْضَى اللٌّهَ وَ مَنْ أََسْخَطَ وَالِدَيْهِ فَقَدَ أَسْخَطَ اللٌّهَ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who pleases his parents has verily pleased Allah, and one who has angered his parents has verily angered Allah.”Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 470

Sheltered by the ‘Arsh (Throne) of Allah

عَنِ الصَّادِقِ (ع): قَالَ بَيْنَا مُوسى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذْ رَأَى رَجُلاً تَحْتَ ظِلِّ عَرْشِ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ. فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّ مَنْ هٌذَا الَّذِي قَدْ أَظَلَّهُ عَرْشُكَ؟ فَقَالَ: هٌذَا كَانَ بَارًّا بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَ لَمْ يَمْشِ بَالنَّمِيمَةِ.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) related: “Once when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was engaged in a conversation with his Lord, The Mighty, The Glorious, he observed a person beneath the `Arsh (Throne) of Allah, whereupon he (peace be upon him) asked: O’ My Lord! Who is this person, who is being sheltered by Your `Arsh?” Allah replied: “This person had been kind and good towards his parents and never indulged in slandering (them).” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 65

Travel and be Good!

قاَلَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): سِرْ سَنَتَيْنِ بَرَّ وَالِدَيْكَ سِرْ سَنَةً صِلْ رَحِمَكَ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Travel even for two years to do good to your parents. Journey (even) for one year to establish bonds of kinship (with your relatives).” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 83

Increase in Life and Livelihood

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَمُدُّ لَهُ عُمْرَهُ وَ أَنْ يَزْدَادُ فِي رِزْقِهِ فَلْـيَبِرْ وَالِدَيْهِ وَ لْـيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who desires a long life and an increase in livelihood should exhibit goodness towards his parents and establish bonds of kinship (with his relatives).” Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 475

Benefits of Kindness to Parents

فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع): يَا مُيَسِّرُ قَدْ حَضَرَ أَجْلُكَ غَيْرُ مَرَّةٍ وَ لاَ مَرَّتَينِ كُلُّ ذٌلِكَ يُؤَخِّرُ اللٌّهُ أَجَلَكَ لِصِلَّتِكَ قُرَابَتِكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ يُزَادَ فِي عُمْرِكَ فَبِرْ شَيْخَيكَ يَعْنِي أَبَوَيهِ.

[Hanan Ibn Sudair narrates: “We were in the presence of Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and amidst us was Muyassir. During the discussion, the topic of silah rahim (establishing bonds of kinship with one’s relatives) came to the fore, whereupon] the Imam (peace be upon him), [addressing Muyassir], said: ‘O’ Muyassir! On several occasions, your end had drawn near, but on each occasion, Allah delayed your death due to your acts of silah rahim with your relatives. If you desire to have your life-span increased, exhibit goodness and kindness towards your parents.’ Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 84

First and Foremost: be Good to your Mother

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع): قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ (ص) فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ مَنْ أَبَرُّ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أَبَاكَ‏.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) relates that once a person approached the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and asked: “O’ Prophet of Allah! Towards whom should I exhibit goodness and kindness?” The Noble Prophet replied: “Towards your mother.” The man then asked: “And after that towards whom?” The Noble Prophet again said: “Your Mother.” He asked again: “And then?” Once again, he replied: “Your mother.” For the fourth time the man asked: “And then?” This time he said: “(Then towards) Your father.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 49

As You Sow so Shall You Reap!

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ (ص): بِرُّوا آبَاءَكُمْ يَـبِرُّكُمْ أَبْنَاءُكُمْ. عِفُّوا عَنْ نِسَاءِ النٌّاسِ تُعَفُّ نِسَاءُكُمْ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “Be good towards your parents and your children will be good towards you. (And) Look upon the womenfolk of others with purity (in conduct and intention) and your womenfolk will be looked upon with purity.”  Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 466

The Rights of the Father

عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بنِ مُوسَى (ع) قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ

(ص) مَا حَقُّ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ؟ قَالَ: لاَ يُسَمِّيهِ بِاسْمِهِ وَ لاَ يَمْشِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَ لاَ يَجْلِسُ قَبْلَهُ وَ لاَ يَسْتَسِبُّ لَهُ‏.

Imam ar-Ridha (peace be upon him) narrates that a person once asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): “What are the rights of the father upon the son?” The Noble Prophet replied: “He should not call his father by name, he should not walk ahead of him, he should not sit until his father has seated himself and he should not do such acts as a result of which people abuse his father.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 45

Worship in Looking

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ (ص): نَظَرُ الْوَلَدِ إِلَى وَالِدَيْهِ حُبّاً لَهُمَا عِبَادَةٌ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “The look of a child towards his parents out of love for them is an act of worship.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 80

Meaning of Good Conduct

عَنْ أَبِي وَلاَدِ الْحَنَّاطِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ (ع) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْساناً مَا هٌذَا الإِِحْسَانُ؟ فَقَالَ: الإِِحْسَانُ أَنْ تُحْسِنَ صُحْبَتَهُمَا وَ أَنْ لاَ تُكَلِّفَهُمَا أَنْ يَسْأَلاَكَ شَيْئاً مِمَّا يَحْتَاجَانِ إِلَيْهِ‏.

Abu Wallad al-Hannat narrates that he once asked Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the meaning of the words of Allah (in the Qur’an): “And be good to parents.” The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: “Being good to them means to accompany them in a good manner and never to wait for them to ask you for what they need.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 79