Obedience to Allah and Parents – Basic 1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Obedience (الطَّاعَة – At-Ta’ah) means listening to what someone tells you, doing what they ask and following their commands. Muslims must obey Allah, their Creator, who is the Most Merciful and the Most Powerful. After Allah, children must obey and respect their parents, who brought them into the world and take care of them, except in matters Allah has forbidden.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• say who Allah is and who parents are;
• explain what obedience means;
• give reasons why we must obey Allah and our parents;
• list ways to obey Allah and ways to obey parents;
• say when children must not obey their parents.

Who is Allah?

ALLAH (الله)

• Allah is God
• The Creator of everything
• The Most Merciful
• The Most Powerful
• The Only One worthy of worship

Characteristics of Allah

• He has no beginning and no end
• He never sleeps
• He sees and knows everything
• He is everywhere
• Nothing is like Him
• He has no partners

Why is Allah special?

• He created us
• He gives us everything
• He takes care of us
• He loves us more than anyone
• He forgives us

Who are parents?

PARENTS (الْوَالِدَان – Al-Walidayn)

• Father (أَب – Ab): your daddy
• Mother (أُمّ – Umm): your mummy
• The people who brought you into this world
• The people who take care of you

Why are parents special?

• They love you unconditionally
• They provide for you (food, clothes, home)
• They protect you
• They teach you
• They sacrifice for you
• They want the best for you

What is obedience?

Obedience (الطَّاعَة – At-Ta’ah) means:

• Listening to what someone tells you
• Doing what they ask
• Following their commands
• Not disobeying or rebelling

Why must we obey Allah?

1. Allah is our Creator
   • He made us from nothing
   • We owe our existence to Him
   • Everything belongs to Him
   • He deserves our obedience
2. Allah knows what is best
   • He is All-Wise
   • His commands are for our benefit
   • He knows what we do not know
   • His way is the best way
3. It is our purpose
   • Allah created us to worship Him
   • Worship includes obedience

   Allah says in the Qur’an:

   “I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an 51:56)

4. It brings us success
   • In this life and the Hereafter
   • Obeying Allah leads to Jannah (Paradise)
   • Disobeying Allah leads to problems
5. It shows our love
   • If we love Allah, we obey Him
   • If we love someone, we listen to them
   • Obedience proves our faith
6. It protects us
   • Allah’s commands protect us from harm
   • They keep us safe
   • They lead us to happiness
7. We will be rewarded
   • Allah rewards obedience
   • Good deeds earn Paradise
   • Every act of obedience is recorded

Why must we obey our parents?

1. Allah commands it

   Allah says in the Qur’an:

   “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your parents” (Qur’an 17:23)

   Notice: obedience to parents comes right after worship of Allah.

2. They raised you
   • Your mother carried you for 9 months
   • She felt pain when you were born
   • They fed you when you were helpless
   • They changed your nappies
   • They stayed awake at night for you
   • They work hard to provide for you

   Allah says:

   “And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness” (Qur’an 31:14)

3. They love you the most
   • After Allah, parents love you most
   • They would give their lives for you
   • They want only good for you
   • Their love is unconditional
4. They deserve your respect
   • They are older and wiser
   • They have experience
   • They know what is best for you
5. It pleases Allah
   • When you obey your parents, Allah is happy
   • Your good treatment of parents is worship
   • It is a way to enter Jannah

   The Prophet (SAW) said:

   “The pleasure of the Lord lies in the pleasure of the parent. The anger of the Lord lies in the anger of the parent” (Hadith: Tirmidhi)

6. Your children will obey you
   • How you treat your parents is how your children will treat you
   • It is a cycle

What are the ways to obey Allah?

1. Worship Allah alone
   • Do not worship idols
   • Do not associate partners with Allah
   • Believe in Him completely
2. Pray five times daily
   • Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha
   • On time
   • With focus
3. Read and follow the Qur’an
   • Learn what Allah says
   • Understand it
   • Apply it in your life
4. Follow Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
   • Learn his Sunnah
   • Do what he did
   • Avoid what he forbade
5. Be honest
   • Always tell the truth
   • Do not lie
   • Allah loves truthful people
6. Be kind to everyone
   • Help others
   • Do not hurt anyone
   • Treat people well
7. Give to the poor (Zakah)
   • Share what you have
   • Help those in need
   • Do not be selfish
8. Fast in Ramadan
   • When you are old enough
   • No food or drink from dawn to sunset
   • Learn self-control
9. Perform Hajj (when you grow up and are able)
   • Visit the Ka’bah
   • Complete the pilgrimage
   • Once in a lifetime if you can
10. Remember Allah often
    • Say Subhanallah (Glory to Allah)
    • Say Alhamdulillah (Praise to Allah)
    • Say Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)
    • Make Du’a
11. Avoid sins
    • Do not lie
    • Do not steal
    • Do not hurt others
    • Do not disobey Allah
12. Learn about Islam
    • Study your religion
    • Read Islamic books
    • Attend Islamic classes
    • Understand Allah’s commands

What are the ways to obey our parents?

1. Listen to them
   • When they call you, answer
   • Pay attention when they speak
   • Do not ignore them
2. Obey their instructions
   • Do what they ask right away
   • Do not argue or complain
   • Do not say “I’ll do it later”
3. Speak to them respectfully
   • Use nice words
   • Do not shout at them
   • Do not be rude
   • Say “Yes, Mummy” or “Yes, Daddy”

   Allah says:

   Advertisement

   “Do not say to them ‘Uff’ (a word of disrespect) or shout at them, but speak to them noble words” (Qur’an 17:23)

4. Help them
   • Clean your room
   • Help with the dishes
   • Take care of younger siblings
   • Do chores without being asked
5. Make them happy
   • Do well in school
   • Behave properly
   • Make them proud
   • Do not cause trouble
6. Pray for them
   • Make Du’a for their health
   • Ask Allah to bless them
   • Thank Allah for them

   Du’a from the Qur’an:

   رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

   “Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira”

   “My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small” (Qur’an 17:24)

7. Thank them
   • Say “Thank you”
   • Appreciate what they do
   • Do not be ungrateful
8. Do not hurt their feelings
   • Do not make them sad
   • Do not make them worry
   • Do not lie to them
   • Be trustworthy
9. Take care of them
   • Especially when they are old
   • Help them walk
   • Bring them water
   • Be patient with them
10. Do not disobey them
    • The only exception is when they ask you to do something haram (forbidden)
    • Then politely explain that you cannot
    • Still treat them with respect

What should we do if parents tell us to do something Allah forbade?

• Politely refuse
• Explain it is against Islam
• Still treat them with respect
• Do not obey in that matter
• Obey in everything else

The Prophet (SAW) said:

“There is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Allah” (Hadith)

Examples

• If parents say “Don’t pray”, you still pray (this would never happen with Muslim parents)
• If parents say “Steal something”, you refuse
• You still speak nicely and respect them

Who comes first after Allah?

A man asked the Prophet (SAW): “Who deserves my good treatment the most?”

• The Prophet (SAW) said: “Your mother.”
• The man asked: “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Your mother.”
• The man asked: “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Your mother.”
• The man asked: “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Then your father.”

(Hadith: Bukhari and Muslim)

This shows that the mother is named three times before the father.

Why does the mother come first?

• She suffered most for you
• She carried you
• She gave birth
• She nursed you
• She cares for you constantly

We must also honour and obey our fathers.

What are the types of obedience to parents?

1. Physical obedience
   • Doing what they ask physically
   • Helping them with tasks
   • Running errands
2. Verbal obedience
   • Speaking nicely
   • Answering when called
   • Not arguing
3. Financial obedience (when you are older)
   • Giving them money if they need it
   • Spending on them
   • Not being stingy
4. Emotional obedience
   • Making them happy
   • Not causing stress
   • Caring about their feelings

What are the rewards for obeying Allah and parents?

1. Allah’s love
   • Allah loves those who obey Him
2. Jannah (Paradise)
   • Obedience leads to Paradise
   • It is the best reward

Evaluation

1. What does obedience (At-Ta’ah) mean?
2. Give three reasons why we must obey Allah.
3. Give three reasons why we must obey our parents.
4. When must we not obey our parents? What should we do then?
5. According to the hadith, who deserves our good treatment the most?

Assignment

1. Write three ways you can obey your parents at home.
2. Write the names of the five daily prayers.