Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Treat your parents with goodness; if either of them or both reach old age in your presence, do not say ‘uff’ (any expression of disgust) to them and do not chide them, and speak to them with respect. And spread for them the arms of humility with tender heart, and say, ‘My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they brought me up when I was a child.’

(Part 15, Surah Bani Israel, Ayah 23-24)

Dear Islamic brothers! It is stated in the Tafseer of the above blessed Quranic Ayah: Along with the order of His worship, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ also ordered that parents be treated kindly. There is wisdom behind it. The actual cause of the existence of human is that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has created him, whereas his parents are the apparent cause of his existence. This is the reason why Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ first ordered him to revere the actual cause of his existence [i.e. the Creator] and then to revere the apparent cause [i.e. one’s parents]. The blessed Ayah implies that your Lord عَزَّوَجَلَّ has commanded you to behave kindly towards your parents because they also bestowed great favours upon you. Hence it is obligatory for you to treat your parents well. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, pp. 440)

When your parents have grown weak and have lost strength and health – as you were weak and powerless in your childhood – so you do not even say ‘uff’ to them; nor any other word indicating that you consider them to be a burden. And do not rebuke them and talk to them gracefully, politely and kindly. (Khaazin vol. 3, pp. 170-172; Siraat-ul-Jinaan, pp. 443)

Dear Islamic brothers! Through the Tafseer of blessed Quranic Ayah, we learnt that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has given the order to be kind to the parents and has advised us that they should be particularly looked after in their old age. Undoubtedly, our parents have bestowed great favours upon us, raised us properly after our birth. When we fell sick, they kept awake all night long for us, fed us Halal sustenance, provided us with decent education or any skill, paid our fees, endured hardships for providing us with comforts, helped us in our difficult times as much as they could. In short, if we think of the favours our parents have done to us, we would simply realize that they have made countless sacrifices for us. We should also show gentleness towards them in exchange for favours. If we ever dislike what they say, we must not still rebuke them,