Importance of the Rights of Fellow Beings

The Quran guides man with regard to his dealings with other individuals of the society. It lays emphasis on justice, trust, respect for life and property, patience, humility, thankfulness and forgiveness. The fundamental relations between a man and other individuals are those of parents and children, husband and wife. It also includes relations between relatives, neighbors, the poor and the needy, orphans and non-Muslims. The Quran says:

“Treat with kindness your parents and kindred and orphans and those in need;Speak fair to the people. (2: 83)

Parents and Children

Among worldly relations, the relations between parents and children have the highest status. Islam has given great importance to this relationship placing respect and kindness to parents next only to belief in Allah and the command to be grateful to Allah is immediately followed by the command to be grateful to one’s parents. The Quran says:

“Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents.” (31:14)

It further says:

“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents.” (46:15)

Allah says:

“—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.”
(17:23-24)

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) received very little of his mother’s love and upbringing; yet whenever he visited her grave, he wept and prayed to Allah to have mercy on her soul.

Once a person came to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and asked:

“O messenger of Allah , what are the rights of parents on their children?”

He replied:

“For you, they can be heaven or hell.”

It is clear from this that, kind and gentle treatment of parents leads to heaven and their ill-treatment to hell.

Among parents, the status of mother is higher, because she undergoes more sufferings for the sake of her children. The Quran says:

“In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning:” (31:14)

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Heaven is beneath the feet of mothers.”

The rights of children on their parents are that they should bring them up in the best possible manner, to cherish and nurture them, to protect them from all kinds of evil and to provide them with the best education and training.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

“No father has given his child anything better than good manners.”

“He who is not affectionate to God’s creatures and to his own children, Allah will not be affectionate to him.”

Husband and Wife

“And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them.” (2: 228)

This verse clearly shows that both husband and wife have equal rights over each other. In his Farewell Pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) declared:

“O you people! You have rights over your wives and your wives have rights over you. Treat your wives with kindness and love; verily you have taken them on the security of Allah.”

Both husband and wife are a source of support, comfort and protection to eachother. They are, therefore, expected to live together in peace and love, as the Quran says:

“He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts.” (30: 21)

Husbands are required to provide sustenance to their wives, clothe them and
house them. They are required to live with them (wives) on a footing of kindnessand equity.

A virtuous wife is bound to love her husband and prove to be a source of comfort to him. The Quran says:

“Therefore, the righteous women are devotedly obedient and guard in (the
Husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard,” (4:34)

According to Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the meaning of the verse is that “the good wife is obedient and harmonious in her husband’s presence, and in his absence guards his reputation and property and her own virtue as ordained by God.”

In this regard, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

“The best wife is one who pleases her husband when he looks at her, carries out his orders when he orders them; and who guards his property and her sanctity in his absence from home.”

Relatives

Islam lays great stress on the rights of relatives. Allah has commanded us to do good and show kindness to our relatives, and the command to do so comes immediately after the command to do good to our parents. The Quran says:

“Worship none but Allah and treat with kindness your parents and kindred and
orphans and those in need.” (2:83)

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:

“Giving of alms to relatives carries two rewards: one the reward of alms and the other is the reward of helping relatives.”

“A person who does not respect the rights of his relatives will not enter Paradise.”

“One who breaks off his relations with his relatives shall not enter Paradise.”

Neighbours

Verse 36 of Surai Nisa enjoins the doing of good to “neighbours who are near neighbours who are strangers.”

Verse 7 of Surah Ma’un condemns those who refuse (to supply) neighbourly needs.

It is reported the Holy Prophet (PBUH) laid so much emphasis on the rights of neighbours that some of his Companions thought that neighbours might be included in the list of heirs.

There are a number of sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in connection with the rights of neighbours. He is reported to have said,

“If you wish to become a perfect believe; you should treat your neighbour generously.”

“The most virtuous of you all is he who gives the best treatment to his neighbours.”

“That person is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and leaves his neighbour hungry.”

“He who believes in one Allah and the life beyond, let him not injure his neighbour.”

Orphans and the Needy

In many verses of the Holy Quran, the commandment regarding the needy and the poor and orphans are linked with those regarding parents and relatives. It says:

“And treat with kindness your parents and relatives and orphans and those in need.” (2.83)

“— Spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans,for the needy, for wayfarer .“ (2: 177)

“—Say: Whatever you spend that is good is for parents and relatives and orphans and those in want.” (2:215)

Apart from the command to do good and show kindness to them, emphasis is laid on the feeding of the poor. The Quran says:

“And they feed,for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive.”
(76: 8)

“Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgement? Then such is the one who repulses the orphan, (with harshness) and urges not the feeding of the poor.”
(107: 1—3)

One of Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) sayings about giving something to one who asks for help is,

“O Aisha! Do not turn the poor away, without giving them, if but half a date.”
About good treatment to orphans, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The best Muslim house is that in which an orphan who is well-treated is and the worst Muslim house is that in which an orphan is ill-treated.”

Salaam

Can anyone inform me that how many times in QURAN "JINAAT" is discused??