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Beautiful Duas To Recite for Our Parents

Let’s honour our parents by regularly reciting a dua for them.

Reciting a dua for our parents is one of the most beautiful acts of love and kindness. There’s no doubt that our parents have done so much for us, from giving us life to raising us to adulthood. Islam has left no stone unturned in reminding us to honour our parents, both in the Holy Quran and ahadith.

The Status of Parents in the Quran

Having sifted through all verses that discuss our duties and responsibilities to parents, I couldn’t help but be amazed how Allah (SWT) equates dutifulness to parents as equal or secondary to acts of worship.

The Children of Israel are Commanded to be Kind to Parents

The Children of Israel faced significant hardship under Pharoah. Upon relieving them of the oppressive Pharoah, Allah (SWT) asks them to commit to a better lifestyle, which consists of the following:

Remember when We took a pledge from the Children of Israel: ‘Worship none but God; be good to your parents and kinsfolk, to orphans and the poor; speak good words to all people; keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms.’ Then all but a few of you turned away and paid no heed.”

[2:83]

Allah (SWT) never says anything randomly. Everything He says serves a purpose. There is deep wisdom behind why being good to parents is listed second in the above-mentioned verse, second only to one’s duties to God. For me, this shows our salvation lies in treating our parents well. If we are good to our parents, God may choose to overlook and forgive our other faults on the Day of Judgement.

The Command to be Good to Parents is a General Command

In case there was doubt, the command to be good to parents isn’t only for the Children of Israel but for all of mankind:

We have commanded people to be good to their parents: their mothers carried them, with strain upon strain, and it takes two years to wean them. Give thanks to Me and to your parents– all will return to Me.”

[31:14]

One way we can give thanks is by reciting duas for our parents, which are mentioned further down.

The same is mentioned in another place in the Quran:

We have commanded people to honour their parents.”

[46:15]

And again:

We have commanded people to be good to their parents.”

[29:8]

And again:

And be kind to parents.”

[4:36]

And one more time. The only thing worse than being unkind to parents is polytheism:

Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Him; be good to your parents.”

[6:151]

A Hallmark of a Prophet is Goodness To Parents

Prophet Yahya (as) was one of the most pious people of his time. Allah (SWT) chooses to point out his behaviour to his parents as one of his outstanding qualities. As we mentioned, Allah (SWT) carefully chooses His words. He draws our attention to Yahya, the son. Not Yahya, the Prophet. This is something for us to reflect on: kind to his parents, not domineering or rebellious.”[19:14]

Unconditional Patience with Parents

In raising us, our parents needed to exercise an almost infinite amount of patience. God asks we do the same when they reach old age:

and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience with them.”

[17:23]

The Status of Parents in Hadith

Hadith literature is full of veneration of parents, affording them a high status in Islam.

God’s Pleasure/Displeasure is Equal to a Parents

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) equates God’s pleasure to the parent’s pleasure and vice versa. If we do something to please our parents, it’s as if we have pleased God:

The Lord’s pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure, and the Lord’s anger is in the parent’s anger.”

[Tirmidhi]

Serving Parents is Better than the Minor Jihad

In the Prophet’s time, the minor jihad was to take part in battles where Islam was under threat. Yet, being dutiful to parents is an even greater act.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, “Then exert yourself in their service.”

[Bukhari]

Other ahadith related to parents is of a similar sentiment to Quranic ayahs. Unless our parents are ordering us to commit a sin or something that would cause extreme harm, we should obey them. Furthermore, we should treat them kindly and honourably. Now that we’re aware of their lofty status in Islam let’s examine some of the beautiful duas we can recite for our parents.

Duas to Ask God to Forgive our Parents

Like any human, parents have shortcomings. Instead of highlighting these, we should ask Allah (SWT) to forgive them:

Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the judgment will come to pass.”

[14:41]

Lord, forgive me, my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer. Forgive believing men and women but bring nothing but ruin down on the evildoers!”

[71:28]

Dua to Ask God to Show General Mercy to Parents

We’re all in need of God’s mercy. Let’s try and ask Allah (SWT) to show mercy to our parents with this ayah:

My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.

[17:24]

Ask God to Inspire us To Be Grateful for Our Parents

Showing gratitude towards our parents is one of the best ways to illustrate our love. We should turn to Allah (SWT) for inspiration in showing our parents the gratitude they deserve:

My Lord, inspire me to (always) be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your grace into the ranks of Your righteous servants.”

[27:19]

A Dua to Honour Our Parents

In Imam Ali ibn Hussain’s Sahifa Sajjadiya he has included a dua for parents, which contains some truly beautiful words. The full dua can be found here. Here are some of the best parts of the dua.

Asking God to Honour our Parents

And single out my parents, O God, for honour with Thee.”

Asking Allah (SWT) to Give our Parents the Best Blessings

And single them out for the best of Thy blessings, Thy mercy, Thy benedictions, and Thy peace!”

Asking Allah (SWT) to Teach us To Carry out Parental Duties

Teach me through inspiration knowledge of everything incumbent upon me toward them.”

Asking Allah (SWT) to Fill us with Awe of our Parents

O God, fill me with awe of my parents, the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign.”

Dua to Allah (SWT) to Make us Gentle Toward our Parents

make mild before them my temper, make tender toward them my heart!”

We should recite duas for our parents often because they have done a lot for us. They are the ones who raised us and took care of us when we were young and vulnerable. We should also thank Allah (SWT) for blessing us with such great parents. Let’s recite these supplications regularly in order to show our gratitude to them and to Allah (SWT).

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