How Do Muslims Treat the Elderly?
Monday, November 09, 2009 Read more → Advice, editor, muslim family, parenting, social issue, the misanthrope In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Peace be with you السلام عليكم
In the Islamic world, one rarely finds “old people’s homes.” The concept of putting older family members into an institution has never existed as it's a lonely and undignified lifestyle.
For Muslims, the strain of caring for one’s parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honour and a blessing and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. It does not matter if the parents are Muslim or not; the Muslim ethics demand the utmost respect and tolerance towards parents.
In saying this, Muslims will always respect those who are helpless and choose to place their elderly into care, as well as those who care for the elderly as a career.
In Islam, it is not enough that we only pray for our parents, but we should act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children, they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honoured. When a Muslim's parents reach old age, they are still treated mercifully, with kindness and selflessness.
In Islam, serving one’s parents is a duty second to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult. Allah has said:
For Muslims, the strain of caring for one’s parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honour and a blessing and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. It does not matter if the parents are Muslim or not; the Muslim ethics demand the utmost respect and tolerance towards parents.
In saying this, Muslims will always respect those who are helpless and choose to place their elderly into care, as well as those who care for the elderly as a career.
In Islam, it is not enough that we only pray for our parents, but we should act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children, they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honoured. When a Muslim's parents reach old age, they are still treated mercifully, with kindness and selflessness.
In Islam, serving one’s parents is a duty second to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult. Allah has said:
"Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous word to them. And act humbly to them in mercy, and say, 'My Lord, have mercy on them, since they cared for me when I was small'." (Quran, 17:23-24)
Jazak'Allah and gratitude to brother Usman who sent this to the Facebook group Prophet Muhammad's Ummah.
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More on parenting:
Good Deed #32: Be Kinder To Parents
The Qur'an & Ahadith on Mothers
Are Homeschooled Children Clever Enough?
More on parenting:
Good Deed #32: Be Kinder To Parents
The Qur'an & Ahadith on Mothers
Are Homeschooled Children Clever Enough?
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