Dear Islamic brothers! Remember! The one who displeases his elders, especially his parents, hurts their feelings, disrespects them and treats them badly, such a person becomes a great sinner and deserving of torment in this world and the Hereafter. He is not considered as an honourable person in the society either.

Remember! Due to being associated with our parents, we shall also respect our maternal and paternal grandparents. In fact, we should treat every elderly person with respect because an Islamic society fully defends the rights of elderly people as well. In Islam, there is no concept of considering elderly people to be a burden and putting them in an ‘old house’. This is a distinguishing feature of Islam that it persuades young people to treat elderly people with respect and preserve their honour. In the past era, if any young person walked ahead of any elderly person, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ would make him sink into the ground (due to his disrespect). (Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 9, pp. 62)

Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated that the Holy Rasoolصَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: The young person who respects an elderly person due to his age, in exchange of it, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ increase his [i.e. the young person’s] dignity through someone else. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 3, pp. 411, Raqm 2029)

Therefore, we should respect our elders and obey every permissible command of theirs so that we can succeed in attaining respect in this world and save ourselves from the disgrace of the Hereafter. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to advise their acquaintances and admirers to honour the elders and respect them.

Advice of respecting the elders

Having completed his religious studies, Sayyiduna Yusuf Bin Khalid Basriرَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, a student of Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah Nu’man Bin Saabitرَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, sought permission to go to his city ‘Basra’. Upon this, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied: ‘Wait for a few days so that I advise you about those important matters that you have to deal with. Such as dealing with people, recognising the status of the learned ones, reforming the Nafs, taking