In Islam, losing one’s parents is compared to losing the door to heaven. This is because filial piety to our parents brings us closer to His paradise. Filial piety is something that Allah swt likes and loves. Even in surah Al-Isra verse 23, Allah forbids a child to complain to his parents. However, what if we have lost one of our parents or even both? Can we still be filial to our parents? The answer is that we can.
Filial piety to deceased parents
Abu Usaid Malik ibn Rabi’ah As-Sa’idi reported: Once we were with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). There was a man from Banu Salimah who said: “O Messenger of Allah, is there any form of filial piety towards my parents when they have passed away?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) replied: “Yes. It is to pray for them. (Praying for them, asking forgiveness for them, fulfilling their promises after their death, establishing ties with their families that were never established, and honoring their close friends’”. (HR Abu Daud and Ibn Majah)
Based on the above hadith, there are a number of ways we can do to be filial to parents who have passed away. Moreover, pious children can be a savior for parents and also become a jariyah charity for deceased parents. Friends, let’s discuss the ways one by one so that we can become pious children and can still flow goodness to parents, even though they have died.
1. Pray for the Good of Parents
The first thing we can do to be filial to our deceased parents is to pray in every prayer. Pray for their good, ask for forgiveness for all their mistakes and mistakes, and ask that their goodness during their lifetime be accepted by Allah SWT. If you want to know how to pray, you can read it in the article Prayer for Deceased Parents & How to Deal with Sadness.
Apart from praying, as children we also need to continue to improve ourselves, because effective prayers come from pious children. Regardless of our parents’ mistakes, we still have to pray for them because they are the parents who have raised us.
2. Fulfill Unfulfilled Promises
Promises are debts that must be repaid. No exception for those who have passed away, the debts left behind will still be collected in the afterlife. One way to be filial to parents is to fulfill unfulfilled promises or pay off unpaid debts. Do this with the intention of being filial to your parents, because this will be their savior in the afterlife, as well as being good for yourself. Why is it obligatory to pay off debts, even if one has passed away? Read the full ruling in the article The Law of Accounts Payable and Views According to Islam.
3. Keep in Touch with the Relatives Left Behind
Being abandoned by someone is not only a sadness for a child, but also for close family, relatives, and friends. Establishing friendship with the relatives of deceased parents will be a good thing as mentioned by the previous hadith. Because, friendship will maintain the integrity of family relationships, even though our parents are gone.
Of course, this will also make our parents happy in the afterlife. In addition, the relatives who are left behind still feel that their presence is considered, because their offspring maintain friendship. Through friendship, the doors of sustenance will also open.
4. Cover the Disgrace
As Muslims, we are forbidden to talk about or reveal the ugliness or disgrace of others. Moreover, the disgrace of our own parents. Close tightly the bad things they have done to you or to others. Never expose them to anyone. Instead of indulging, ask for forgiveness for all their mistakes to the Most Forgiving.
Keeping our parents’ disgrace is the same as keeping our own disgrace. Remember their goodness, tell the good things they have done. If you can, go to the people your parents may have hurt and ask them for forgiveness so that they can forgive your parents.
5. Waqf in the Name of Parents
Friends, to be filial to our deceased parents, we can also do so by making a waqf in their name. In Islam, this is allowed as mentioned by the hadith:
Sa’d bin Ubadah, a companion of the Prophet, once asked the Prophet when his mother died, but he was not there: “O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died and I am not around, will giving charity on her behalf benefit her?” The Prophet replied: “Yes”. Sa’d said: “Behold, I have given in charity my garden, which has much fruit, for her”. (HR Bukhari)
Thus, waqf in the name of parents can be one way for us to be filial. Waqf is a jariah charity whose rewards are uninterrupted as long as the benefits continue to exist and grow. This act of worship was always practiced by the Prophet and his companions during their lifetime.
Making a waqf in the name of parents who have passed away is not difficult. Now, you can give waqf through Dompet Dhuafa and choose from a variety of productive waqf programs that are guaranteed to have wide benefits. For example, waqf for hospitals, mosques, learning centers, schools, business and training centers, and so on.
The wealth that you endow on behalf of your parents will become a productive asset that continues to grow and benefit the community. Of course, this will also be good for the person who endowed it. Waqf can also be given in the form of cash that will later turn into productive assets. The amount doesn’t need to be high, starting from just Rp10,000 you can make a waqf and flow goodness to others!
Not only for your parents, you can also donate on behalf of yourself. While there is still time and opportunity, this is the time for us to do waqf. (RQA)
