To Honour One’s Parents
To Honour One’s Parents
“In the Tablet to Abá Badí‘, this holy verse hath been revealed: “Verily, We have enjoined on every son to serve his father.” Such is the decree which We have set forth in the Book.” 1
“He is God, exalted be He, the Lord of majesty and power! The Prophets and Chosen Ones have all been commissioned by the One True God, magnified be His glory, to nurture the trees of human existence with the living waters of uprightness and understanding, that there may appear from them that which God hath deposited within their inmost selves. As may be readily observed, each tree yieldeth a certain fruit, and a barren tree is but fit for fire. The purpose of these Educators, in all they said and taught, was to preserve man’s exalted station. Well is it with him who in the Day of God hath laid fast hold upon His precepts and hath not deviated from His true and fundamental Law. The fruits that best befit the tree of human life are trustworthiness and godliness, truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all, after recognition of the unity of God, praised and glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are due to one’s parents. This teaching hath been mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed by the Most Exalted Pen. Consider that which the Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur’án, exalted are His words: “Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents…” Observe how loving-kindness to one’s parents hath been linked to recognition of the one true God! Happy they who are endued with true wisdom and understanding, who see and perceive, who read and understand, and who observe that which God hath revealed in the Holy Books of old, and in this incomparable and wondrous Tablet.” 2
“Say, O My people! Show honour to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great.” 3
“The son, on the other hand, must show forth the utmost obedience towards his father, and should conduct himself as a humble and a lowly servant. Day and night he should seek diligently to ensure the comfort and welfare of his loving father and to secure his good pleasure. He must forgo his own rest and enjoyment and constantly strive to bring gladness to the hearts of his father and mother, that thereby he may attain the good pleasure of the Almighty and be graciously aided by the hosts of the unseen.” 4
“Likewise, parents endure the greatest toil and trouble for their children, and often, by the time the latter have reached the age of maturity, the former have hastened to the world beyond. Rarely do the mother and father enjoy in this world the rewards of all the pain and trouble they have endured for their children. The children must therefore, in return for this pain and trouble, make charitable contributions and perform good works in their name, and implore pardon and forgiveness for their souls. You should therefore, in return for the love and kindness of your father, give to the poor in his name and, with the utmost lowliness and fervour, pray for God’s pardon and forgiveness and seek His infinite mercy.” 5
For more references, see Compilation: Family Life
Babi Dispensation
The Bab ordained humility, mercy and respect for one’s parents. See Persian Bayan Wahid IV, Chapter XIX & Wahid VIII, Chapter XVI. Also see Arabic Bayan Wahid X, Chapter XIV & Wahid VIII, Chapter XV.
Islamic Dispensation
“And worship Allah and do not set up any partners with Him. And treat the parents with moral excellence.” 6
“And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”” 7
“And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.” 8
Christian & Jewish Dispensation
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” 9
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” 10
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” 11
Footnotes
Baha’u’llah, Q & A no. 104 ↩
Baha’u’llah, Q & A no. 106 ↩
Baha’u’llah, from a Tablet translated from the Arabic, Compilation (Family Life) ↩
Abdul-Baha, from a Tablet translated from the Persian, Compilation (Family Life) ↩
Abdul-Baha, Some Answered Questions, The Infinite Perfections of Existence and the Progress of the Soul in the Next World ↩
The Holy Qur’an, Al-Nisa 4:36 ↩
The Holy Qur’an, Al Isra 17:23-24 ↩
The Holy Qur’an, Luqman 31:14 ↩
The Holy Bible, Exodus 20:12 ↩
The Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 5:16 ↩
The Holy Bible, Proverbs 1:8 ↩