DUA FOR PARENTS FORGIVENESS
In the Quran it discusses the importance of familty unity and the role of parents. As a child one of the the best things you can do for them is make du’a.
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Rabbir hamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee sagheera
“My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.” [source]
In the previous ayat, Allah gives a clear commandment and shows the rights of parents over their children:
- Do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.
- And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
And the Surah continues, “lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy” and say, Rabbir hamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee sagheera meaning, My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.
IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO MAKE DUA FOR NON-MUSLIMS?
This is a simple and beautiful du’a that asks Allah to have mercy for both of our parents just as they had for us when we were younger. We aren’t perfect children, we’ve made mistakes and likely did many questionable things to annoy our parents, yet they still loved us, provided for us, and forgave us.
This du’a is a cry to Allah to show our parents the same kind of mercy they had for us.
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).
Sahih Muslim 1631
One of the ways that we can honor our parents is to continually remember them in our prayers.
As parents, we must do right by our kids, give them love, attention, and raise them following the teachings of Islam. Inevitably there will come a time where the child will yearn to reciprocate the unconditional love and sacrifice given by parents. In a way, the roles reverse, the child (now an adult) carries the responsibility of wanting to be a source that will benefit and care for his or her parents in their old age and even after their death.
As a family unit, we should make it our aim to help one another and provide support making life easier to bear. We should avoid nagging, disrespect, or creating a hostile environment that we dread returning to.
