Old Aged Parents

A 60 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 28 years old son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window. The father asked his son, “What is that?” The son replied “It is a crow”.

After a few minutes, the father asked his son again, “What is that?” The son said “Father, I have just now told you it’s a crow”. After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, “What is that?”

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the son’s tone when he said to his father “It’s a crow, a crow”.

A little after, the father again asked his son for the 4th time, “What is that?” This time the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:-

“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again. I did not feel any irritation, I rather felt affection for my child’s innocence”.

While the little child asked him 23 times “What is that”, the father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the father asked his son the same question just 4 times, the son felt irritated and annoyed.

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden. Speak to them with gracious words, be obedient, humble, kind, and be considerate to them.

As Muslims we must all ensure that we do everything in our power to make our parents happy. Ever since our childhood they have cared for us, have always showered their selfless love on us and provided for all our needs.

Hazrat Abu Umamah (R.A) reported that once a man came to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the rights of the parents over their children?” He (S.A.W) replied “They are your Paradise and your Hell.” (Ibne Maajah)