Understanding the verse Surah Ibrahim 14:41
In the Quran, this is another verse linked with parents. It is written in Thuluth calligraphy script and states
"Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the judgment will come to pass.”
[14:41 Surah Ibrahim]
This is the dua that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made for his father and the people of Lot. He was informed of the impending punishment they would face.
His soft heart allowed him to make this Supplication and pray for them with utmost concern despite they could not be saved.
It interconnects with several verses where Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made a promise to pray for his father's forgiveness but in Surah Al Tawbah (The repentance) Verse 114 not to.
“Peace be upon you. I will pray to my Lord to forgive you: for He is very kind to me”.
[Surah Maryam, Ayat 47]
“I will pray for your forgiveness, but I have no power to rescue you from Allah”.
[Surah Al-Mumtahina Ayat 4]
"And forgive my father: indeed he is of those who have gone astray. And disgrace me not on the Day, when mankind shall be brought back to life; when neither riches nor children shall avail anyone, and none shall obtain salvation except the one who comes before his Lord with a sound and pure heart”.
[The Poets (Ash-Shuaraa) Ayats 86-89].
"And Abraham's prayer for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise which he had made to him.Then, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Surely Abraham was most tender-hearted, God-fearing, forbearing."
[Surah Al Tawbah (The Repentance) 9:114]
Allah referred to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) as Awwah and Haleem in the Quran.
According to Tafsir, Awwah is the one who is lamenting, humble, weeping, grief-stricken and God fearing. Haleem is the one who can keep control over himself under all circumstances, and is neither beside himself in anger and enmity nor transgresses the proper limits in his affections, friendships, and relationships.
This highlights how Prophet Ibrahim was tender hearted but he was God fearing and did not want to go beyond the limits in his love for his father; so he broke off all his relations with his father when he realized that he was an enemy of Allah for creating idols.
However, this does not remove the importance of parents.
Sa’id ibn Zayd (may Allah have mercy upon him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, this womb is derived from the name of the Most Merciful. Whoever severs its relations, Allah will forbid him from entering Paradise.”
[Musnad Aḥmad 1651]
Narrated Al Walid bin Aizar:
I heard Abi Amr ‘Ash-Shaibani saying,
“The owner of this house,” (he pointed to ‘Abdullah’s house) said, ‘I asked the Prophet, ‘Which deed is loved most by Allah?’ He replied, ‘To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.’ ‘Abdullah asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘To be good and dutiful to one’s parents.’ ‘Abdullah asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘To participate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause.’ ‘Abdullah added, ‘The Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated to me these three things, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more.’ ”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 73 Hadith 1]
Many of our brothers and sisters are either born Muslim or have reverted to Islam as a family or reverted alone, regardless of whether the parents are Muslim or not, it is important to respect them as much as possible and provide care. After Allah (The Most High), parents are ranked second.
The aim is to obey our parents in everything with exception of Islam where rules and principles are made and adaptable with hidden wisdom by Allah (The Most High) and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Children should pray for the salvation of their parents and invite them towards goodness.
If man cannot venerate parents, the people who are one responsible in bringing him in this world, how can he be able to sincerely acknowledge and show gratitude to Allah (The Most High)?
"Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the judgment will come to pass.”
[14:41 Surah Ibrahim]
This is the dua that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made for his father and the people of Lot. He was informed of the impending punishment they would face.
His soft heart allowed him to make this Supplication and pray for them with utmost concern despite they could not be saved.
It interconnects with several verses where Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made a promise to pray for his father's forgiveness but in Surah Al Tawbah (The repentance) Verse 114 not to.
“Peace be upon you. I will pray to my Lord to forgive you: for He is very kind to me”.
[Surah Maryam, Ayat 47]
“I will pray for your forgiveness, but I have no power to rescue you from Allah”.
[Surah Al-Mumtahina Ayat 4]
"And forgive my father: indeed he is of those who have gone astray. And disgrace me not on the Day, when mankind shall be brought back to life; when neither riches nor children shall avail anyone, and none shall obtain salvation except the one who comes before his Lord with a sound and pure heart”.
[The Poets (Ash-Shuaraa) Ayats 86-89].
"And Abraham's prayer for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise which he had made to him.Then, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Surely Abraham was most tender-hearted, God-fearing, forbearing."
[Surah Al Tawbah (The Repentance) 9:114]
Allah referred to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) as Awwah and Haleem in the Quran.
According to Tafsir, Awwah is the one who is lamenting, humble, weeping, grief-stricken and God fearing. Haleem is the one who can keep control over himself under all circumstances, and is neither beside himself in anger and enmity nor transgresses the proper limits in his affections, friendships, and relationships.
This highlights how Prophet Ibrahim was tender hearted but he was God fearing and did not want to go beyond the limits in his love for his father; so he broke off all his relations with his father when he realized that he was an enemy of Allah for creating idols.
However, this does not remove the importance of parents.
Sa’id ibn Zayd (may Allah have mercy upon him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, this womb is derived from the name of the Most Merciful. Whoever severs its relations, Allah will forbid him from entering Paradise.”
[Musnad Aḥmad 1651]
Narrated Al Walid bin Aizar:
I heard Abi Amr ‘Ash-Shaibani saying,
“The owner of this house,” (he pointed to ‘Abdullah’s house) said, ‘I asked the Prophet, ‘Which deed is loved most by Allah?’ He replied, ‘To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.’ ‘Abdullah asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘To be good and dutiful to one’s parents.’ ‘Abdullah asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘To participate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause.’ ‘Abdullah added, ‘The Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated to me these three things, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more.’ ”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 73 Hadith 1]
Many of our brothers and sisters are either born Muslim or have reverted to Islam as a family or reverted alone, regardless of whether the parents are Muslim or not, it is important to respect them as much as possible and provide care. After Allah (The Most High), parents are ranked second.
The aim is to obey our parents in everything with exception of Islam where rules and principles are made and adaptable with hidden wisdom by Allah (The Most High) and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Children should pray for the salvation of their parents and invite them towards goodness.
If man cannot venerate parents, the people who are one responsible in bringing him in this world, how can he be able to sincerely acknowledge and show gratitude to Allah (The Most High)?