Your father’s walk is slower now.
Did you notice?
He doesn’t take the stairs two at a time anymore. He holds the railing. He pauses at the landing to catch his breath.
Your mother forgets things.
She asks you the same question twice. Then a third time. She can’t remember where she put her glasses—even though they’re on her head.
Her hands shake a little when she pours tea.
She repeats stories you’ve heard before. About when you were young. About the sacrifices they made.
And you?
You’re annoyed. You’re “busy.” You have work. You have friends. You have a life.
You say: “I already told you.”
You say: “Not this story again.”
You say: “Can we talk later? I’m busy.”
And in those moments—you’re losing something you’ll never get back.
Because one day, very soon, your father won’t be able to walk at all. And your mother won’t remember your name.
And when they’re gone, you’ll spend the rest of your life wishing you had one more conversation.
The Verse That Should Break Your Heart
Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al-Isra (17:23-24):
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect [uff], nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'”
Read that carefully.
“Say not to them even ‘uff'” – A single word of irritation. One sigh of frustration. One “not now.” One eye roll.
That’s prohibited.
Not “try to avoid it.” Not “it’s discouraged.”
Prohibited. Haram.
If you can’t even say “uff” to them, what about yelling at them? Ignoring them? Being “too busy” for them?
And notice what Allah ﷻ commanded right before mentioning parents:
“Worship none but Him.”
The second most important thing after worshipping Allah ﷻ? Honoring your parents.
Not charity. Not fasting. Not Hajj.
Your parents.
Paradise Is Under Their Feet – But They Won’t Be Here Forever
Mu’awiyah ibn Jahimah رضي الله عنه reported in Musnad Ahmad (15577), authenticated as Sahih:
Jahimah came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I want to go out for jihad (military expedition) and I have come to consult you.” The Prophet ﷺ asked: “Do you have a mother?” He said: “Yes.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet.”
Think about that.
A man wanted to go for jihad—fighting in the way of Allah ﷻ, one of the highest acts of worship.
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “Stay with your mother. Paradise is under her feet.”
Serving your mother—especially in her old age—is more valuable than fighting in Allah’s path.
But here’s the reality:
Your mother’s feet are getting tired. Her knees hurt. Her back aches. She moves slower. She needs help with things she used to do alone.
And you’re “busy.”
One day—very soon—those feet won’t walk anymore. And when they’re buried in the ground, Paradise will still be there beneath them.
But you? You’ll have missed your chance.
They Gave You Everything. Now They Need You.
Let’s rewind 20, 30, 40 years.
Your mother:
- Carried you for nine months
- Endured labor pain that nearly killed her
- Nursed you when you cried at 2 AM
- Changed your diapers hundreds of times
- Stayed up all night when you were sick
- Taught you how to walk, talk, eat
- Sacrificed her body, her comfort, her sleep—for you
Your father:
- Worked until his back hurt to feed you
- Missed sleep to pay bills
- Denied himself things he wanted so you could have what you needed
- Taught you, guided you, protected you
- Carried the weight of the family on his shoulders—for you
They didn’t complain. They didn’t say “I’m too busy.” They didn’t roll their eyes when you asked the same question for the 100th time.
They gave you everything.
And now?
Now they’re old. They’re slowing down. They need you.
And you’re too busy scrolling Instagram to spend 10 minutes talking to them?
The Hadith That Should Wake You Up
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (5971) and Sahih Muslim (2548):
The Prophet ﷺ said: “May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced!” It was said: “Who, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “The one who sees his parents – one or both of them – reach old age and does not enter Paradise (because of serving them).”
Read that again.
“May he be DISGRACED.”
Three times. Three times the Prophet ﷺ cursed this person.
Why? Because:
Your parents reaching old age = Your golden ticket to Paradise.
If you can’t serve them, love them, honor them in their old age—when they need you most—you’ve wasted the easiest path to Jannah.
The Signs You’re Ignoring
Sign 1: They repeat themselves.
Your mother tells you the same story for the third time. You get annoyed.
But remember: You asked her “What’s this?” 1000 times as a child. She answered patiently every single time.
Sign 2: They move slower.
Your father takes forever to get ready. You’re impatient. You honk the horn. You tap your watch.
But remember: He waited hours for you. When you were learning to tie your shoes. When you were getting ready for school. He never rushed you.
Sign 3: They forget things.
Your mother forgets your appointment. Your father forgets where he put his keys.
But remember: They remembered everything about you. Your favorite food. Your birthday. Your fears. Your dreams. They never forgot you mattered.
Sign 4: They need help with basic things.
Your mother can’t open jars anymore. Your father struggles with technology.
But remember: You couldn’t do ANYTHING without them. They fed you. Cleaned you. Taught you. And they did it with love.
Sign 5: They just want your time.
They call you multiple times. They ask you to visit. They want to talk.
But remember: You cried for them every night as a baby. They never said “not now.” They came. Every single time.
What Allah ﷻ Will Ask You
On the Day of Judgment, Allah ﷻ won’t ask you:
- How much money did you make?
- How successful was your career?
- How many followers did you have?
He’ll ask:
“How did you treat your parents?”
And if the answer is: “I was too busy. I didn’t have time. I was building my life.”
That won’t be an excuse.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ood رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (5970) and Sahih Muslim (85):
The Prophet ﷺ was asked: “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” He said: “Prayer at its proper time.” It was asked: “Then what?” He said: “Kindness and respect to parents.”
After prayer—which is the pillar of Islam—the second most beloved deed is serving your parents.
Not after Hajj. Not after charity.
Right after prayer.
If you’re praying five times a day but ignoring your aging parents, you’re missing the point.
What You Need to Do RIGHT NOW
1. Visit Them. Today.
Not “next week.” Not “when I have time.”
Today.
Call them. Go see them. Sit with them. Even if it’s just 30 minutes.
2. Ask Them What They Need
“What can I do for you?”
“Is there anything you need help with?”
“Can I cook for you? Shop for you? Fix something?”
They won’t ask. You have to offer.
3. Listen to Their Stories
Even if you’ve heard them before. Even if they repeat themselves.
Smile. Listen. Engage.
One day you’ll wish you could hear that story one more time.
4. Lower Your Voice
Allah ﷻ said: “Say not to them ‘uff’ and do not shout at them.”
Speak gently. Speak respectfully.
Even when they’re slow. Even when they forget. Even when they repeat.
5. Pray For Them
The du’a Allah ﷻ taught us in Surah Al-Isra (17:24):
“My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”
Say it after every prayer. Mean it.
6. Serve Them Like They Served You
They cleaned you when you couldn’t clean yourself.
They fed you when you couldn’t feed yourself.
They stayed awake when you couldn’t sleep.
Now it’s your turn.
The Day You’ll Regret (If You Don’t Act Now)
One day—maybe tomorrow, maybe next year, maybe in 10 years—your phone will ring.
And someone will say: “Your father/mother is gone.”
And in that moment, every “I’m busy” you ever said will crush you.
Every time you rushed them, ignored them, snapped at them—it’ll replay in your mind.
And you’ll think:
“Why didn’t I spend more time?”
“Why didn’t I listen more?”
“Why didn’t I hug them more?”
“Why didn’t I tell them I love them?”
And there won’t be a second chance.
No “one more visit.” No “one more call.” No “one more conversation.”
They’ll be gone.
And all you’ll have left is regret.
The Unfiltered Truth
Your parents are getting old.
Silently.
Your mother’s hair is grayer than last year. Your father’s hands shake more than they used to. They don’t tell you because they don’t want to burden you.
But they’re tired. Their bodies hurt. Their memory fades.
And they just want you.
Not your money. Not your success.
You. Your time. Your presence. Your love.
Allah ﷻ gave you the easiest path to Paradise: Serve the two people who gave you life.
But this path has an expiration date.
One day soon, you’ll stand at their grave and realize:
Paradise was under their feet. And I didn’t bend down to reach it.
Don’t let that day come.
Call them. Visit them. Serve them. Love them.
Before Allah ﷻ takes them away and asks you: “What did you do when they needed you most?”
The clock is ticking. And you can’t rewind time.
Disclaimer: This article presents authentic hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (5970, 5971), Sahih Muslim (85, 2548), and Musnad Ahmad (authenticated by scholars) regarding the rights of parents in Islam. Quranic verses from Surah Al-Isra (17:23-24) emphasize respect and service to parents. The concept of Paradise being under the mother’s feet is from authenticated narrations. Readers are reminded that honoring parents is one of the greatest obligations in Islam after worshipping Allah ﷻ. The content reflects classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship and should inspire action in serving one’s parents before it’s too late.