By Yūsuf Badāt
ONE:
Lineage is by the Father
“Call them [children] by [the names of] their [biological] fathers, that is more just with God.” – (Qurʾān 33:5)
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Do not deny your fathers [by claiming to be the children of persons other than your fathers], and whoever denies their father, is charged with disbelief.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī)
TWO:
Your Father is Your Entry into Paradise
“The father is the best door to Paradise [through service and honour of him].” – (Tirmidhī)
THREE:
Fathers are Entitled to Kindness and Respect
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them with honour. Lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and supplicate [for them], “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Kindness as they did bring me up when I was small.” – (Qurʾān: 17:23-24)
ʿAbd Allāh (may God be pleased with him) said, “I asked the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), “Which deed is most beloved to God?” He replied, “Prayer offered on time, honouring one’s parents, and striving in the cause of God.” – (Nasaʿī)
ʿAbd Allāh (may God be pleased with him) said, “A man’s insulting his father is one of the major wrong actions in the sight of God, the Almighty.” – (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Lī Al-Bukhārī)
FOUR:
Joy of the Father Results in the Pleasure of the Almighty
“God’s pleasure is found in the happiness of the father while God’s anger is a result of the displeasure of one’s father.” – (Ibn Ḥibbān)
FIVE:
Use Honourable Names and Titles to Address Your Father
The Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed his non-Muslim father with the words. “O my honourable and beloved father.” – (See: Qurʾān 19:42-44)
SIX:
Your Father’s Supplications for You are Accepted
“Three supplications are certainly answered without any doubt; the supplication of a father [for his children], the prayers of a traveller [while in journey] and the supplications of the one oppressed.” – (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Tirmidhī)
SEVEN:
You Should Spend Time and be in the Company of Your Father
There came to God’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) a person and said, “I pledge my allegiance to you for migration and to join you in military campaigns, seeking reward only from God.” The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) asked him, “Are any of your parents alive?” He replied, “Yes, of course, both are living.” He further asked, “Do you want to attain rewards from God?” The man responded, “Yes.” Thereupon God’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) instructed, “Go back to your parents and stay in their company with benevolent treatment.” – (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī)
EIGHT:
Spend Your Money on Your Father Especially When in Need
“A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) and said, “Messenger of God, I have property and children, and my father is in need of my earnings.” The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) stated, “[In reality] You and your property [to some degree] belong to your father; your children are from the best of your assets; so enjoy from the earnings of your children.” – (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah)
NINE:
Be Good to Your Father’s Friends in Particular After His Passing
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Among the most dutiful of deeds is that a person nurtures relations with their father’s friends.” – (Tirmidhī)
“A desert Arab met ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿOmar (may God be pleased with him) on the way to Makkah. ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿOmar (may God be pleased with him) greeted him and mounted him upon the donkey on which he had been riding and gave him the turban that he had on his head. Ibn Dinār reports, “We said to ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿOmar (may God be pleased with him),” “May God do good to you, these are desert Arabs and they are satisfied even with meagre [things].” Thereupon ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿOmar (may God be pleased with him) exclaimed, “This man’s father was loved dearly by [my father] ʿOmar bin Khaṭṭāb (may God be pleased with him) and I heard God’s Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) saying, “The finest act of goodness on the part of a son is to treat kindly the loved ones of his father.” – (Saḥīḥ Muslim)
Abū Burdah Al-Aslamīy (may God be pleased with him) reports when I arrived in Madīnah, ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿOmar (may God be pleased with him) came to me and said, “Do you realize why I came to you?” I replied. “No.” He explained, “I heard the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “The one who would like to maintain bonds with one’s father after his passing should connect with the friends of one’s father after his demise. My father ʿOmar bin Khaṭṭā and your father had a strong friendship and brotherly love. I therefore desired to connect on that note.” – (Ibn Ḥibbān)
TEN:
Fathers [and Mothers] Have the Highest Rank After God and His Prophet
“Worship none but God [alone] and be dutiful and good to both parents.” – (Qurʾān: 2:83)
“Worship God and join none with Him in worship, and do good to your fathers and mothers.” (Qurʾān: 4:36)
ELEVEN:
Supplicate for Your Father
God summons as follows, “[Supplicate for your parents by] saying, “My Lord! Bestow on my father and mother Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.” – (Qurʾān: 17:23-24)
The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) told a man, “May peace and blessings be upon you and your father.” – (Abū Dāwūd)
TWELVE:
A Father Has an Equal Right for Child Residency After Divorce
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) gave a child the choice between his father and his mother [which parent to live with]. The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “O young boy, this is your mother and this is your father. You make a choice [regarding your residency].” – (Ibn Mājah)
THIRTEEN:
Never Swear Oaths in Your Father’s Name
“Verily God prohibits you from swearing by your father.” – (Tirmidhī)
FOURTEEN:
A Father Educating His Children is Better Than Charity [in Rewards]
“A father educating his children is better for him than to give amounts in charity.” – (Tirmidhī)
“There is no gift that a father gives his children more virtuous than good manners.” – (Tirmidhī)
“The Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) passed by a boy who was trying to skin a sheep [after it had been slaughtered]. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, “Step aside young man and allow me to show you how it is easily done.” The Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) put his hand between the skin and the flesh, and thrust his arm in until it disappeared up to the armpit, and said, “O young boy, this is how you skin it.” Then he went and led the people in prayer. – (Bayhaqī)
FIFTEEN:
Fathers are Given the Lofty Responsibility of Taking Care of the Family
“Men are caretakers of women [and the family], since God has made some excel others, and because of the wealth they have spent [in maintaining the family].” – (Qurʾān 4:34)
SIXTEEN:
A Father is Fair with His Children
Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Be Mindful of God and treat your children equally.” – (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī)
SEVENTEEN:
Fathers Supplicate for their Children
The Prophet Zakariya invoked his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of supplications.” – (Qurʾān: 3:38)
