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A Man Refuses to Supplicate for His Dead Parents

Question

what is the ruling on a man who refuses to supplicate for his dead parents because he doesn't want them to enter paradise after they abused him when he was a child?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The right of parents upon their child is great, because they are the reason for his existence in this life.

Allah has given them a great status and linked their right to His Right; Allah Says (what means): {And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment.} [Quran 17:23]

Allah ordered kindness and dutifulness to them even if they are non-Muslims and endeavor to lead their child astray and try to lead him to disbelief, as He Says (what means): {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. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness.} [Quran 31: 15:14]

Allah has also ordered us to supplicate for them with mercy, as He Says (what means): {…and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."} [Quran 17:24]

This order is an obligation as stated by Ar-Raazi in his Tafseer (interpretation of the Quran).

Therefore, not supplicating for them goers against the commands of Sharee'ah, and it is an insanity, and a deterioration of one’s Fitrah (natural predisposition upon which Allah created mankind).

As regards this man not wanting his parents to enter paradise, then this is a grave calamity. Does he think that the entrance of his parents to paradise depends on his supplication for them to this effect?

This is a very serious matter and we fear that this could lead to Allah becoming angry with him and a cause for him to enter Hellfire. So, he will be the loser and Allah may decree salvation for his parents from the Hellfire.

Hence, we advise this man to fear Allah and be kind and dutiful to his parents after their death, especially if he was not dutiful to them when they were alive. Perhaps Allah will gather them all in Paradise where there will be no hatred nor envy. Allah Says (what means): {And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.} [Quran 52:21]

Ibn Katheer  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said:

In this verse, Allah the Exalted affirms His favor, generosity, graciousness, compassion and benevolence towards His creation. When the offspring of the righteous believers follow their parents in faith, Allah will elevate the children to the ranks of the parents, even if they did not perform as many good deeds as their parents. This is so that the parents become delighted and have a comfort to their eyes by seeing their offspring elevated to their level. Surely, Allah will gather them together in the best manner, and He will raise those with less reward or level to those the level of those in the higher ranks until they become equal.” [End of quote]

Allah knows best.

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