A Special Gift From Allah -- Being Dutiful to Your Parents

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

In Surah Maryam, Allah Most High especially highlights the character of Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) that he was good to his parents.

يَـٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا ﴿١٢﴾ وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَو‌ٰةً ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا ﴿١٣﴾ وَبَرًّۢا بِوَ‌ٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا ﴿١٤﴾ وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا ﴿١٥

[Allah] said, "O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy (12) And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah (13) And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. (14) And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive. (15)[Quran, Maryam 19:12-15]

In the same Surah, Allah recorded that Prophet Isa was good to his mother-- He made him dutiful to his mother and not made him wretched to her.

قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّا ﴿٣٠﴾ وَجَعَلَنِى مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَـٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَو‌ٰةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا ﴿٣١﴾ وَبَرًّۢا بِوَ‌ٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا ﴿٣٢﴾ وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا ﴿٣٣﴾ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قَوْلَ ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ ﴿٣٤

[Isa] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. (30) And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me solat (prayer) and zakah (alms) as long as I remain alive (31) And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. (32) And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." (33) That is Isa, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. (34)[Quran, Maryam 19:30-34]

Being good to parents is a quality everybody should have, and not specific to Yahya and Isa. It is a Prophetic tradition and a quality of righteous people to be good to parents. And it is a special gift from Allah that you have the opportunity to be good to your parents. It is unfortunate if you are bad to your parents--you will have a terrible life.

May Allah make us His obedient servants and help us be respectful and dutiful to our parents. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam