Fatwa n°: 19
Category: fatwas about `Aqîda (creed) and Tauhîd (monotheism)
Some advice for those whose parents commit some aspects of Shirk (polytheism)
Question:
Some Muslim brothers have problems with their parents because of their committing Shirk (polytheism) and not accepting their advice. What would you advise them to do? Great troubles have occurred between those Muslim brothers and their parents.
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
They should direct them and call them to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ, and they should not leave them, but should behave with them in the world with kindness as the verse states:
﴿وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلاَ تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا﴾ [لقمان: 15].
﴾But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then, obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly﴿ [Luqmân: 15].
They should also invite them to religion kindly; avoid coarseness and repelling hardness as Allah عزَّ وجلَّ said:
﴿ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ﴾ [النحل: 125].
﴾Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) and wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qúrân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better﴿ [An-Nahl (The Bees): 125].
In fact, this followed way of calling (to Allah) is one of the most important reasons of benefiting the common people with the callers’ invitation, guidance and directions. The Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم already said: “If Allah guides a single person to embrace Islam at your hand (i.e. through you) that will be better for you than the red camels”(1).
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Algiers, Rajab 26th, 1424 H
corresponding to: August 20th, 2002
(1) Reported by Al-Bukhâri, chapter of “Jihad” (hadith 2942) concerning the battle of Khaybar and Muslim, chapter of “Merits of the Companions” (hadith 6367) from the hadith of Sahl Ibn Sa`d رضي الله عنه.