Ramadan and serving Parents

Kaab bin Ujra relates," Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said, "come near to the mimber". And we came near to the mimber. When he ascended the first step of the mimbar he said "Ameen". When he ascended the second step of the mimber he said, "Ameen". When he ascended the third step he said, "Ameen". When he descended we said , "O Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam), we have heard from you today something which we never heard before". He said, (When I ascended the first step) Jibra-eel (Alaihe Salaam) appeared before me and said, "Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness" . Upon that I said, "Ameen" . When I ascended the second step, he said, "Woe to him before whom thy name is mentioned and then does not read durood( Salaat alan Nabi) on you" . I replied "Ameen" . When I ascended the third step he said, "Woe unto the person in whose presence both parents or one of them attain old age, and (through failure to serve them) is not allowed to enter Jannah" I said "Ameen".

In his Hadith it appears that Jibra-eel (Alaihe Salaam) expressed three cures upon which Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said, "Ameen" every time. In Durre Manthor it is reported that Jibra-eel commanded Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) to say "Ameen". Being an angel of such a higher stature, Jibra-eel instruction to Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) to say "Ameen" upon cureses. May Allah in His infinite mercy grant us help and save from these evils.

The first person find himself in Ramadan, the month of blessing and righteousness, and still spends time in sin and disregards his duties and thus does not gain forgiveness. Ramadan is the month of Allah's mercy and if this month is spent in evil and negligence, then how can he expect to be pardoned for his sins? If he cannot gain Allah's pleasure in Ramadan, then when will he? What doubt is there about his failure. Moreover, in Ramadan numerous opportunities are found for forgiveness. The second unfortunate person is the one who hears Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) name mentioned and yet does not recite (durood) 'salaat alan Nabi on him. This has been mentioned in many others Ahaadith as well. For this reason some Ulamma consider it to be wajib to read Salaat alan Nabi (Drood) when ever the name Rasulullah is mentioned. Besides the curse in this Hadith many other warnings have been reported. In some Ahadith the person who fails to do so is called an unfortunate and a miser.

At some places such people are even mentioned to be among those deserts and who have lost way to Jannah, or among those who will enter Jahannam, and those who are irreligious, and those who will not be allowed to look at the blessed face of Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam). The Ulama give us different interpretations of these Ahaadith. The fact is that Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) warning to the one who fails to recite 'Salaat alan Nabi (durood) is so severe that it is difficult to endure. And why not? After all, the favors bestowed upon this Ummah thorough Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) are of such a nature that neither pens nor lecture can do justice in describing them. His favors on us are indeed so great that they truly justify the numerous warnings. On the other hand the reward for 'salat alan Nabi (durood) is tremendous and to be deprived of this good act is indeed wickedness, itself. The Hadith teaches us that, whosoever recites one 'salaat alan Nabi (durood) on Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) on them Allah sends ten mercies and for them the Malla'i-kah make duaa' . All their sins are forgiven, their rank is elevated, reward is received as much as Mount Uhad, and on their behalf Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) shall make shafaa-at on the day of Qiyyamah. Further promises of reward are: Attaining Allah's pleasure and mercy, immunity against His anger, also safety from the terrors of Qiyaamah, and seeing one's promised place in Jannah even while on this earth. Many promises are mentioned for reciting 'salat alan Nabi (durood) a certain number of times. Besides these there is the promise of not ever being troubled by poverty and need. Promise of achieving nearness to Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) in Allah's court, the promise of help against enemies, the promise to cleanse the heart from hypocrisy and spiritual ailments and the promise of gaining the affection of others. Many gold tidings have been mentioned in the Hadith for the reciter of 'salat alan Nabi (durood) in abundance. The 'Ulama of Fiq have said that it is fardh to recite 'salat alan Nabi (durood) at least once in a life time, while it is waajib to recite it every time the name of Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) is mentioned. Some say it is mustahab.

The third person is the one in whose presence one or both of his parents reach old age and yet is unable to gain Jannah through failure to serve them. This has been explained in many Ahaadith. The 'Ulama have stated that in every permissible act is it compulsory to obey ones parents' commands. Ones should not be disrespectful to them, but be humble even though one's father and mother be non-believers. Neither should one raise his voice above theirs, nor address parents by their first names. They should be given the preference to do anything before and ahead of you, (viz, eating, walking, sitting, etc.) when they have to be called towards good and prohibited from evil, it should be done with softness. If they refuse to accept, they should still be honored and respected. And duaa' for their guidance should be made. In one Hadith it is related. "The best of doors entering Jannah is the father. If you wish, look after look after this and Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) "what are the lights that are due to parents?" He replied, "They are your jannah and jahanam" . Their happiness is Jannah and their displeasure is Jahannam. Further it is stated in the Hadith that, "When an obedient son looks with love and devotion to his parents, the rewards for that gaze shall be the same as for amaqbool (accepted)". In another Hadith it is stated that, "Apart from associating other gods with Allah, Allah for gives all as He pleases. However, He inflicts the punishments for disobedience to parents in this world before death" . A Sahaabi Said, "O Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam), I want to go for Jihad". Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) asked, "Is your mother alive?" He replied, "Yes" , Prophet Mohammad  (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) then said, "Serve her, Jannah lies beneath her feet for you" . It is mentioned in the Hadith, "The pleasure of Allah lies in pleasing one's father, and Allah's displeasure lies in displeasing one's father". In numerous other Ahaadith the importance and virtue of this has been discussed. From the above it should not be deduced that where parents has not been properly treated and respected and are now dead, there is no other way out expect Jahannam for the children. there is no other way out except Jahannam for the children. In Shari'ah there is a way out. The Hadith teaches us that in such cases one should make duaa' and Istighfaar for them, and by doing so, one will be counted among those who are obedient. Another Hadith states that the best one can do after one's father's death is to treat his friends and companions in a manner, just as the father would have done.

Author: Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhlawi