In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Honoring Parents Is a Daily Obligation in Islam - by Christine Benlafquih
Special days are set aside in many countries to honor mothers and fathers.
How does Islam view the national and international holidays of Mothers Day and Fathers Day ?
Scholars Objections to Mothers Day and Fathers Day
Although honoring and respecting ones parents is incumbent upon Muslims, most scholars object to the observance of Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
This is because:
Celebrating holidays other than Islamic holidays is regarded as bidah (innovation) and therefore forbidden. Muslims should adhere to their own religion and avoid following non-Muslim traditions.
Mothers and fathers should be loved, respected, obeyed and appreciated every day, with no need to single out special days to honor them.
The well-known scholar Shaykh Abd al-Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Undoubtedly singling out one day in the year to celebrate and honor mothers or families is one of the newly-innovated matters that were not done by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or by his blessed companions, so we must not do that and we must warn the people against it, and be content with that which Allah and His Messenger have prescribed."
Honoring Parents in Islam
The ties of kinship are very important in Islam, with emphasis given to the relationship between children and parents. Children are required to respect and obey their parents unless doing so involves a sin. Furthermore, adult children must continue to honor, respect and show gratitude to their elderly parents, and are expected to care for and support them.
“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 in terms of honor. And out of kindness lower to them the wing of humility and say: My Lord! Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.'” (Qur'an 17:23)
High Status of Mother in Islam
In Islam, a mother has especially high status. She is to be given greater respect and honor than the father due to the difficulty of pregnancy, childbirth, nursing and child rearing.
This is reinforced in a well-known hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) :
“A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is most deserving of my good company?’
He said, Your mother.’
He asked, ‘Then who?’
He said, Your mother.’
He asked, Then who?’
He said, Your mother.’
He asked, Then who?’
He said, Then your father.’”
(al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
In another famous hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is quoted as having said, "Paradise lies at the feet of the mothers."
Holidays (Eids) in Islam
Muslims already observe three established holidays (eids) in Islam: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the weekly Jumuah eid.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned Muslims not to add or remove anything from their religion, saying: "If somebody tries to introduce into this faith of ours (Islam) something which is not a part of it, it is to be rejected and that person is condemned." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
Therefore, Muslims should be satisfied with their faith and avoid the traditions and holidays of non-Muslims, including Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
While the intention of honoring parents is good, Muslims should be honoring their parents each and every day, and not limiting that level of respect and affection to a single day each year.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/
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