Oedipus Rex was questioned with a riddle: What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? Oedipus solved the riddle, answering that man crawls on all fours in infancy, walks upright on two legs in adulthood, and uses a cane as a third leg in old age. This is just another method of explaining to us the inevitable cycle of life which takes us from being children to being adults to being children once again.

I can’t imagine how my parents spent so many years of their life wiping my butt, sprinkling it all fresh and clean with baby powder, and then fitting me on with those nice snuggly porto-potties we call diapers. Those were the good old days of course…when were hand fed upon hunger, given love when we cried, constantly held and kissed by new and beautiful women by the simple command of a gaze and smile. But now those golden days are over…and it’s our turn to treat our sometimes baby-like parents with the utmost of Respect & Rahma which they deserve. This article is solely about t he dignity and understanding which all of us should e giving to our parents, as they had given to us the same when we were on babies and completely helpless.

Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.
And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood." (Surat Al-Isra 23,24)

For many of us…the most dramatic change in our parents begins with our mothers as they enter menopause.Her estrogen levels to begin drop and before she knos she can no longer reproduce…but that is not all that happens. Many might notice how older women just don’t “give a damn” any more about societal norms and public impressions which once they were chained to by their lifelong friend: ‘insecurity’. Hormonal changes have great effects on the human psyche…and so a woman’s change in attitude in her later years while probably very annoying to some…should be looked at in the greater point of view. Allah subhanna wa taala has given women the gift so that after their so-called ‘peak’ years they egin to become of even greater social value and a driving force which most men would cringe at reckoning with. Sadly, may people do not treat their mothers with such dignity and respect…and may become intolerant of them for their perhaps irrational behavior or change in attitude. This is a crucial flaw in the building of Eman in many Muslims…and really must be overcome is one is o ever call himself or herself a believer in Allah and a Mu’min.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Let him be humbled into dust; let him be humbled into dust. It was said: Allah's Messenger, who is he? He said: He who sees either of his parents during their old age or he sees both of them, but he does not enter Paradise.

Parents deserve our kind treatment. I repeat, our parents DESERVE our kind treatment…for all the headaches we have put them through, for all the money they have spent on us, for not throwing us in a dumpster if it things turned out hard! Don’t go around believing that your kind treatment of them is a favor…it is your duty. You will never be able to repay them in full for what they have given to you.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A son does not repay what he owes his father unless he buys him (the father) in case he is a slave and then emancipates him.

A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father. "

To be continued…

May Allah grant us Eman and patience.