Remembering Our Parents After They Pass

It goes without saying that showing kindness towards one’s parents is one of the main duties upon man. Allah Almighty says: “Thy Lord has decreed, that you worship none save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not ‘Fie’ unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.” (Al-Isra’: 23)

One should show all types of kindness to one’s parents. Mistreatment of parents is, in fact, a major sin as indicated by the Prophet (peace be upon him). The good doing of parents to their children is so great and therefore returning this kindness in bad is an awful reward.

However, what is required from such a person then is to ask Allah for His forgiveness and regret what he has done. In addition, he should do acts of dutifulness that are prescribed for dead parents, such as supplicating for them and giving in charity for them, etc.

“Our duties towards our parents, as we learn from the sources, do not cease with their death; rather they continue as long as we live. In a report cited by Imam al-Bukhari in his famous work al-Adab al-Mufrad we read, “A man approached the Prophet asking, “Is there anything I must do in terms of kindness towards my parents after their death?” The Prophet replied, “Yes, there are four things for you to do: Praying and asking forgiveness of Allah on their behalf, fulfilling their promises, respecting their friends, and fostering their ties of kinship…”