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Disobedience to parents

Question

I have heard that a person who doesn't obey his parents will not enter Paradise. Can you refer the Hadith or Qur'an Ayah related to this.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Being undutiful and disobedient to parents is one of the greatest major sins. The person who is undutiful to his parents will not enter Paradise. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , said: "The person who reminds others of his/her favours upon them, the one who is undutiful to one’s parents, and the alcoholic will not enter Paradise." Among the evidences that it is prohibited to be undutiful to parents is the Saying of Allaah (which means): {Say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honour.}[Quran 17: 23] Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Shall I not inform you of the greatest sins?" (He repeated this thrice). His Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them said, "Indeed O, Prophet of Allaah!" He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Associating partners with Allaah and being undutiful to one's parents." There is no doubt that parents have a great right over their children. Their right is that they be kind and dutiful to them. Allaah Says (what means): {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents.}[Quran 17: 23] So, if a son is undutiful to his parents he deserves a severe punishment in the Hellfire.

Lastly, we remind you that the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa'ah (the Sunni mainstream) is that a Muslim who commits a great major sin is not going to dwell eternally in the Hellfire. The texts and evidences from the Quran and the Sunnah which relate that some people who commit major sins will not enter Paradise refer to those who commit these sins while believing that they are lawful and not forbidden. Or, these texts could mean that people who commit major sins will not enter Paradise until they are punished for their sins, if Allaah so wishes.

Finally, it should be noted that obedience to parents should only be in what is good and righteous; in this regard, please refer to Fatwa 84942.

Allaah Knows best.

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