In this article we will continue our discussion regarding The Treatise of Rights by Imam Zayn Al-Abidin (AS). We will discuss the  Right of the Father. Regarding this, the Imam (AS) has said:

And the right of your father is that you should know that he is your root and you are his branch. And without him, you would not be. Whenever you see anything in yourself which pleases you, you should know that your father is the root of its blessing upon you. So praise God and thank Him in recognition of that. And there is no power but in God.

From the moment a child is born they look for their male role model. Imam Sajjad (AS) points out the most fundamental cause-effect relationship between a father and his child. This scientific and philosophical principle states that the father is the root of the child, or the cause of the existence of the child. Were it not for the existence of the father, the child would not exist. The existence of the child is dependent on the existence of his father. This is manifested all over the world.

Here the Imam reminds the child that the importance of the existence of the father and explicitly declares that the father is the root and the children are like his branches. Thus, whatever is manifested in the child has its roots in the existence of his father. Another important issue is that once a child is born he starts to grow up and continues his development while his father may have already completed his growth or be near its completion.

The sad reality that very little notice is that as the child develops the father gets older and older consequently getting weaker. It is at this time that the child may become proud that they’re stronger that their father. If he starts to feel superior to his father, he might forget to respect his father or even disrespect him. Imam Sajjad (AS) advises the children to remember that their father is the root of whatever excellent qualities they have whenever they feel this way.

Imam Sajjad also recommends the children to be grateful and recognize the blessings granted to them. Hence, they will be responsible children and fulfill all their duties regarding their father. This way they will also be saved from the harms they might experience in case their parents damn them. At last, Imam Sajjad (AS) stresses that recognizing the blessings from our father, his rights and properly performing our duties regarding him is only possible through divine assistance, and we should ask God to help us in this respect.

Muhammad ibn Yahya quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Esa on the authority of Hasan ibn Mahboob on the authority of Abi Val’lad Han’nat who asked Imam Sadiq regarding the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Qur’an:

“…And that ye be kind to parents.” [The Holy Qur’an, Bani Israil 17:23]

Imam Sadiq said:

“Goodness (ihsan) is that you associate with them well and that you do not constrain them to ask you for what they need, even if they may be rich.

Then Imam Sadiq mentioned the verse of Holy Qur’an that states that you cannot get any food unless you give in charity out of what you like. Then Imam Sadiq said:

As for the statement of God, the Blessed, the High: ‘Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them’ (17:23), the Imam said:”If they vex you, then do not say a word of contempt to them and do not repel them if they strike you.” He said: “‘But address them in terms of honour’ (17:23), means: Even if they strike you, say to them: ‘May God forgive you’, and that will be your addressing them in terms of honour”. He said: “’And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility’ (17:24), means: Do not look at them directly except with mercy and compassion. Do not raise your voice above their voices, or your hands above theirs, and do not walk ahead of them.”

Allah has commanded that we worship God firstly, and obey our parents secondly. Gratitude to Allah (swt) and to parents go hand in hand. Gratitude to Allah (swt) is incomplete without showing gratitude to one's parents. Since being grateful to Allah (swt) is a form of ibadah (worship) which earns heavenly rewards, it can therefore be said that being grateful to one's parents also earns heavenly rewards. No one has the right to raise their voice higher than the voice of his parents - nor look towards them even eye to eye - nor walk in advance of them - nor address them with their names.

Respecting and honoring our parents is not only an Islamic viewpoint, but a universal one. It is one of the most prominent lesson in the Holy Quran. Not only in the Quran is it greatly important, but narrations of Ahlul-Bayt have greatly emphasized on the importance of respecting parents. Regardless of one’s viewpoint we are forever indebted to our parents. References to parents have been made at least 15 times in the Holy Qur'an.

The prophet (PBUH) has referred to respecting parents on many occasions. Some of these quotes are "Allah's pleasure is in the pleasure of the father, and Allah's displeasure is in the displeasure of the father." And "He who wishes to enter Paradise through its best door must please his parents."

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.), the great-great-grandson of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have quoted Imam 'Ali (A.S.) that, "disobedience to parents is a major sin." He also stated that, "if a person looks at the face of his or her parents with wrathful eyes, despite the fact that injustice was done to him or her by the parents, his or her salah (prayer) will not be accepted by Allah." 

It has also been related that the very first words which have been written on the Lauh-e-Mahfuz (The Heavenly Preserved Tablet) are: 

"I am Allah, and there is no deity except Me. I am pleased with those with whom their parents are pleased, and I am displeased with those with whom their parents are displeased." 

Ibn Mahboob quoted on the authority of Khalid ibn Nafih Bujali on the authority of Muhammad ibn Marwan on the authority of Imam Sadiq :

“A man went to see the Prophet and asked him for advice. The Prophet said:

“Do not set any partners for God even if you are tortured or burnt in fire, but that your heart should be secure in faith. Obey your parents, and be kind to them whether they are living or deceased. If they order you to leave your family and your possessions, do so, since that is part of faith.”

Ali ibn Ibrahim quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Esa ibn Ubayd on the authority of Yunus ibn Abdul Rahman on the authority of Durust ibn Abi Mansoor on the authority of Imam Kazim : “A man asked the Noble Prophet about the right of a father incumbent upon his child. The Prophet replied:

“He should not call his father by his name, and he should not walk ahead of him. He should not sit down before he does, and should not do things to cause his father to be blamed or sworn at.”

Muhammad ibn Yahya quoted on the authority of so and so on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Shoaib that he told Imam Sadiq : “My father has gotten old, and is so weak that I have to accompany him to the toilet. Should I do so?” The Prophet said:

“Do so if you can. Put food in his mouth with your own hands, and you will see that your reward will be the Garden of Heaven in the Hereafter.”4

Therefore, Imam Sadiq recommends that children take care of their parents when they get old and weak just as they did when the children were young and weak.

Muhaqqiq Ardebili said: “It is reasonable to say that one should avoid being damned by his parents. Traditions and Qur’anic verses also support this. Children must obey their parents. The jurisprudents have stated that if the leader has not declared holy war or the infidels have not attacked Muslim lands, parents can prevent their children from going to war.9

Whatever is forbidden or incumbent upon one regarding strangers also holds for parents:

1) One cannot travel without the permission of his parents.

2) One must obey his parents.

3) Parents can prevent one from participation in war.

4) If one is to obey his parents or say his prayers, he should put off the prayers and do what his parents ask him to do.

5) There are times when parents can prevent one from attending the congregational prayer.

Imam Zainul Abideen (AS) says: "It is also said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and asked: "I feed my parents, carry them on my back and clean them, have I fulfilled my duty towards them? The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) answered: No, because, you are serving them in anticipation for their death while they served you wishing you a long life".

With that said, let us pray together that Allah keeps us on the right path, and that he guides us to be respectful, kind, and obedient to our parents, and that we continue to show them humility regardless of the power, position, wealth, and influence we may possess.