Du’a in the court of Allah Almighty for them to be showered with grace and mercy, and he should say, ‘O Lord! My services cannot be a remuneration for their favours, so have mercy upon them, so that it may become a means of recompense for their favour.’ (Tafseer Khaza’in-ul-‘Irfan, Part 15, Surah Bani Israa’eel, under the verse 23-24, pp. 529-530)

O devotees of the Prophet! In light of Hadith, let us now listen to six sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding the excellence of the father and the importance of treating the father in a good manner:

1.   He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The father is the middle door from the doors of Paradise; thus, it is up to you whether you lose that door or protect it.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 3, p. 359, Hadith 1906)

2.   He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘It is from the major sins for a person to swear at his parents.’ The noble companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Can a person swear at his parents?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes! (in this manner,) A person swears at another’s father and the latter also swears back at his father, and he swears at his mother, and the other swears back at his mother.’ (Muslim, p. 60, Hadith 263)

‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: The noble companions (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم), who had witnessed the age of ignorance in Arabia, could not fathom how a person could swear at his parents, i.e. this matter was beyond their understanding. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained: The meaning is that he makes another person swear, and now that era has arrived in which some people swear at their parents themselves and they do not have any concern. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, Part 16, vol. 3, p. 552)

3.   He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The pleasure of Allah Almighty is in the pleasure of the father, and the displeasure of Allah Almighty is in the displeasure of the father.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 3, p. 360, Hadith 1907)