Shaykh Fawzan: Keeping the ties of kinship has it affects in this life and the next. Thus if keeping the ties of kinship is from the reasons that extend the lifespan and increase the provision, then it is even more befitting to honor the parents because they are the closest of all the relatives. Therefore honoring the parents is a reason for Allah to extend your lifespan and increase your lifespan. And being undutiful to the parents is a reason for the lifespan to be shortened and a reason for the provision to be restricted. Just as honoring the parents is a reason for the lifespan to be extended and the provision to be increased. And the reward or punishment is from the same category as the action which was performed.
وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do
(Soorah Yasin 36:54)
What do you think about what has now appeared, unfortunately, in the Muslim community when the parents become elderly they are thrown in a convalescent home, or an old folk’s home as it is called. The child rids himself of them by placing his parents or one of his parents in an old folk’s home.
It is as though they are not their children; rather it is as though they are the parents of those who work at the old folk’s home.
Subhana Allah! Is this an animal or a person? There is no might or power except with Allah! This is the greatest form of disrespect. This would not be done by a person who has in their heart fear of Allah the Exalted.
How would you feel if your child did this to you?! When you age and become sick they take you and place you in a convalescent home, an old folk’s home. How would you feel? How angry would you be at them? And what would be the sin that he; your child, would incur? Why then do you demand the rights that are due to you but you do not want to give the rights which are required from you?!
Thus every Muslim must have taqwa of Allah. Disrespecting the parents has become widespread during this time, the hearts have hardened, and the relatives have become estranged.
And the customs of our enemies from the western lands and the disbelievers have come upon us; those who don’t have families or homes, except for a home that resembles the home of an animal. They get a home and they live alone or they live with dogs. As for them living with their parents or with their children, or with their brothers then no, this does not exist in most of the disbelieving lands.
Now some of the Muslims wish to imitate them; unfortunately. Thus they wish to throw their parents or one of their parents into the old folk’s home and to rid themselves of them.
And if he has some type of sentiment then perhaps he will come visit them on the Eid and give them salaams, merely visiting them. Or some days he will pass by and give them salaams. And he considers this to be sufficient in fulfilling his parents’ rights upon him.
Thus it is upon the Muslim to be mindful and to have tawqa of Allah; and he should understand that what he does to others will be done to him. And he will be taken to account for his actions. And he should not place anything before showing kindness to his parents except the obedience of Allah. For the one who desires a reward and recompense then do not place any action before kindness to the parents except for the rights of Allah the Exalted.
And with this; we ask Allah the Exalted by His beautiful Names and lofty Attributes to rectify the children and the offspring of the Muslims. And we ask Him to return the Muslims to the practice of Islam in the desired manner. And we ask Him to make the Muslims, families, who love each other and are content with one another and homes of righteousness. And we ask Him to make the Muslims far away from resembling the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and those who have destroyed and shattered the ties of kinship thus becoming like animals or even more astray. And there is no might or power except with Allah.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet, and his family and his companions.
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
