By Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Tambuwal

Asma (radi Allahu anha) narrated: “In the sacred lifetime of the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), my mother visited me on one occasion. She was a polytheist at that time. I submitted to the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), ‘My mother has come to pay me a visit and she is an unbeliever in Islam. How should I treat her?’ The Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) observed, ‘Yes, you should continue to show kindness to your mother.’” [Sahih Bukhari]

The rights of parents on their children are immense in the sight of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Even non-Muslim parents have the right to be treated kindly by their Muslim children. It is only their demands of disobedience to Allah’s commands that must be repulsed. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “[Revere your parents;] yet should they endeavour to make you ascribe divinity, side by side with Me, to something which your mind cannot accept [as divine], obey them not; but [even then] bear them company in this world’s life with kindness, and follow the path of those who turn towards Me. In the end, unto Me you all must return; and thereupon I shall make you [truly] understand all that you were doing [in life].” [Quran 31:15]