How can I be thankful of my parents?

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, his folk, companions, and followers

Allah Most High says, “We have instructed man to honour his parents,” (29:8)

And the Almighty says, “Your Lord has decreed: that you should worship none but Him, and that you should show kindness to your parents, whether one or both of them reach old age with you. So do not say ‘Ugh!’ to them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them but speak to them with gentleness and generosity. Lower to them, out of mercy, the wing of humility and say: ‘Lord, show mercy to them as they did in looking after me when I was small.'” (17:23-24)

Imam al-Huda Abu’l Layth al-Samarqandi mentions that Allah commanded us to be thankful of Him and of our parents. If we reflect on this, we simply can’t be as thankful to either as they deserve. However, Allah gave us a way to thank Him: the five obligatory prayers. To thank our parents, we should never forget them in our end-of-prayer or post-prayer supplications.

Being thankful to your parents entails remaining respectful and good to them in one’s dealings, words, and actions, and to avoid disrespecting, or hurting their feelings.

Imam Nawawi’s Riyad al-Salihin: Dutifulness to Parents

Imam Bukhari’s Adab al-Mufrad: Honoring Parents

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani