Status of Father is considered a great deal in Islam and his rights must be fulfilled by the children. Father is the one who carries all the worries on his shoulders but never expresses his troubles in front of the kids. He keeps his children far away from the problems and ensures that they are happy. Islam discusses the status and rights of father from which guidance can be taken.
Once, a man asked the Prophet (SAWW) about the right of a father which a child should fulfil as the duty. The Prophet (SAWW) answered, “He should not call his father by his name, and walking ahead of him shouldn’t be done by the child. He should not sit down before he sits, and should not do things which cause his father to be blamed or sworn at.”
In the above mentioned hadith, some very little things are told by the Prophet (SAWW) as the right of the father except the last one. This shows that the duties of children towards father are many. In the hadith, not calling the father by name, not walking ahead of him and not sitting before him are all the actions of respecting someone. So, respecting father is very important certainly. Moreover, it shows the status of the father too that he is for sure a significant member of the family in Islam.
There is another tradition regarding the rights of father. Once, it was asked from the Prophet (SAWW) that my father has become old, and is very weak that I have to accompany him to the toilet. Should I do so?”
The Prophet (SAWW) replied on it, “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 the Paradise in the life hereafter.”
This tradition tells us about the status of the father that by serving him, one can earn the garden of the Jannat or Heaven. Therefore, a child must obey and take care of the little needs (big needs too) of his/her father when he becomes old, also because father deserves this.
Some of the duties of children and rights of parents which are also the rights of father are that the children must obey the parents. Moreover, the children can be stopped by parents from going to the war. The permission of parents is very necessary for traveling. All these duties must be performed by the Muslims to fulfil the rights of the parents.
Father is the root of the children and because of him, his child exists. This further strengthens the position of father in Islam. Father is like a strong tree and children are like its branches. The tree supports the branches just like the father supports the children. Thus, relationship between father and children is very strong.
The status of father is much clear in the traditions mentioned in this blog and can guide the Muslims so, that they won’t disrespect their fathers and obey them with kind heart. It will lead them towards the Jannat in Akhirah and life in this world will be peaceful and blissful as well.
