Prayer for Both Parents and the Command to be Obedient to Them

Dream – Islam teaches its followers to respect and love both parents. Similarly, parents should also love their children.

READ ALSO: Prayer for Both Parents and Their Meaning

As time goes by, children will grow up and build their own households. Meanwhile, parents will grow older and age.

When parents are old, their happiness lies in seeing their children live happily. Meanwhile, the children must also love and pray for both parents to be blessed in their remaining years.

When parents pass away, it is also obligatory for their children to pray for them. Because an act that will not be interrupted even after death is the prayer of a child for their parents. This is why we all need to read prayers for both parents.

Prayer for both parents should be read after every obligatory prayer. It is even better if it is added after the sunnah prayer. By doing so, the prayer for both parents that is recited will reach the heavens and be heard by Allah SWT.

Evidence of Being Obedient to Parents

Being obedient to both parents is the duty of every child born into this world. As explained in the Quran in Surah An-Nisa verse 36:

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا

Meaning:

“And worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, and be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, near neighbors, distant neighbors, friends, travelers, and those who are under your authority. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful.”

In addition, the command to be obedient to both parents is also written in Surah Luqman verse 14:

قَالَ لَهُمَا وَاعْبُدَا اللَّهَ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَإِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا

Meaning:

“And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.”

Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised his followers to always be obedient to both parents. This is as narrated by Tirmidhi:

“Parents are the best gate to heaven.You can waste that gate or you can guard it.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi).

Prayer for Both Parents

Prayer for both parents is a prayer that should be taught from childhood. This prayer is usually taught by teachers when they are still in kindergarten.

Prayer for both parents is easy to memorize, so it can be practiced every day after prayer. According to NU Online, here is the prayer for both parents that you can read and easily memorize:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا.

Meaning:

“O Allah, forgive me for my sins and the sins of my parents, and have mercy on both of them as they raised me when I was young.”

Prayer for Both Sick Parents

We will certainly feel sad seeing our parents sick.Especially if the illness is severe and does not heal for a long time.

Therefore, it is recommended for Muslims to pray for their parents to recover from their illness.To seek healing from Allah SWT, here is the prayer for parents who are sick:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ اَذْهِبِ الْبَاْسَ وَاشْفِهُ وانْتَ الشَّافِى لاَ شِفَاءَ اِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

Allahumma rabbannaasi adzhibil ba'sa wasy fihu, wa antas syaafi, laa syifaa-a illa syfaauka, syifaan laa yughaadiru saqaama.

Meaning:

“O Allah, the Lord of mankind and the universe, remove the suffering and grant him healing, You are the Healer.There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no other illness.”

Prayer for Both Deceased Parents

When parents have returned to the Creator, Muslims should still serve and pray for them.Dream friends should not be consumed by sadness.It is better to recite prayers for deceased parents as follows:

اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ شِفَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ اْلأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلاً خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ

Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa 'aafihi wa'fu 'anhu wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' madkholahu, waghsilhu bil maa i wats-tsalji walbarodi wa naqqihii minal khothoo ya kamaa yunaqqots- tsawbul abyadhu minad danas Wa abdilhu daaron khoiron min daarihii wa ahlan khoiron min ahlihii wa zawjan khoiron min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul jannata wa a 'idzhu min 'adzaabil qobri wa fitnatihi wa min 'adzaabin naar.

Meaning:

“O Allah, forgive and have mercy on him, heal him, pardon him, and honor his arrival, widen his entrance, cleanse him with pure and cool water, and purify him from all faults and sins like clean white clothes from dirt.And replace his house with a better house than the one he left, and his family with a better family than the one he left too.Enter him into Your Paradise, and protect him from the torment of the grave and its trials, and from the torment of the Hellfire."

That is the prayer for parents and the command of God to serve them.Let us pray for our parents every day, regardless of their condition and attitude towards us." Because serving parents is one way to gain Allah's blessings.

Ways to Be Obedient to Parents

Serving parents needs to be done to attain Allah's blessings.Because Allah's blessings are found in the blessings of both parents.

In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that serving parents is one of the most beloved deeds to Allah Ta'ala.

Abdullah Bin Mas'ud said: "I asked the Prophet Muhammad, 'What deeds are most beloved to Allah?' He replied, 'Praying on time.' I asked again, 'Then what?' He replied, 'Serving both parents.' I asked again, 'Then what?' He replied, 'Jihad in the way of Allah.'" (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Actually, there are many ways to serve parents.Action is more important than mere words.When parents are still alive, it is best to serve them.Some things you can do to serve your parents are as follows:

1. Invite them to embrace Islam if they are not Muslim.
2. Provide them with the correct understanding (Ahlus Sunnah).
3. Obey their commands as long as it is not disobedience.
4. Prioritize the interests of parents.
5. Fulfill the needs of parents, especially if they are elderly.
6. Speak kindly and gently to them, do not call them directly by their names, do not raise your voice or be rude.
7. Recite prayers for parents as explained above.

Hadith about the Virtue of Being Obedient to Parents

Islam commands its followers to always serve their parents.In fact, this command has been explained in the Quran and the hadiths of the Prophet.Below are some hadiths that explain the virtues of serving parents found in the book At-Tarhib wat Tarhib by Al-Mundziri as quoted from islam.nu.or.id:

The Most Virtuous Deed

Here is a hadith that explains that serving parents is the most virtuous deed:

“From the companion Abdullah bin Mas'ud ra, he asked the Prophet, 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the most virtuous deed?' 'Praying on time,' answered the Prophet.He asked again, 'Then what?' 'Then serving both parents,' he answered.He asked again, 'Then what?' 'Then Jihad in the way of Allah,' he answered,” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

Caring for Parents is Jihad

Here is a hadith that explains that caring for parents is part of jihad:

“From the companion Abdullah bin Amr bin Ash ra, a companion came to the Prophet Muhammad and asked for permission to engage in jihad.The Prophet Muhammad asked, 'Are both your parents still alive?' 'Yes,' he answered.The Prophet Muhammad said, 'Then strive (in serving) them, that is your jihad,'” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah).

Bringing Joy to Parents

Here is a hadith that commands us to bring joy to our parents:

“From the companion Abdullah bin Amr ra, he told a story where a companion came to the Prophet Muhammad and said, 'I came to you to pledge allegiance for hijrah and left my parents crying.' The Prophet Muhammad said, 'In (serving) them, find your joy,'” (Narrated by Muslim).

The Prophet answered, 'Go back and make them laugh as you made them cry' (HR Abu Dawud).

Parents Are the Gate to Heaven

Here is a hadith that explains that parents are the gate to heaven:

'From the companion Abu Darda ra, someone came to him and said, 'I have a wife, but my mother asked me to divorce her.' Abu Darda ra said, 'I heard the Prophet peace be upon him saying, 'Parents are the gate to the middle of heaven. If you want, you can waste that gate or you can take care of it,' (HR At-Tirmidzi and Ibnu Majah).

Heaven Under the Feet of Parents

Here is a hadith that explains that heaven is under the feet of parents:

'From Muawiyah bin Jahimah As-Sulami, Jahimah ra came to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and said, 'I want to fight with you and I came to ask for your guidance.' The Prophet asked, 'Do you have a mother?' 'Yes,' he answered. 'Take care of her, because heaven is under her feet,' (HR An-Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah, and Al-Hakim).