Removal of exaggerated emphasis on the rights of Parents

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Praise be to Allah and blessings on His Prophet
The compiler of this pamphlet has observed since long that many Muslim brethren exaggerate in discharging the rights of Parents to such an extent that this leads to violations of the rights of other claimants. In this way they also disobey Almighty Allah, and they insist that what they are doing is according to the rules of the Shari’ah.

Conclusion about RIGHTS

All rights / liabilities must be discharged. As regards the rights of Allah if they are in the form of some worship they should be observed. For example, if prayers, fasts, Zakaat (obligatory tax) and the like are outstanding against someone, he should discharge these liabilities after reckoning them. In case he is unable to do so for want of time or money,

Self-imposed Obligations about RIGHTS

The foregoing obligations are those the discharge of which initially devolves on man. In addition to these there are some obligations which man himself has imposed upon himself.
Some of these rights are due to Allah which are of three kinds.

Rights of Animals

1. Men as well as animals are living beings. As such, animals too have some rights. An animal should not be captured and confined without sufficient cause. It is cruelty to remove young ones of birds or animals from their nests or dens and torture their parents in this way.

Rights of Non-Muslims

Many rights arise out of relationship among persons on sharing the same religion of Islam. In the same way some rights arise out of being members of the species, viz., humanity. In other words a Muslim has to admit and recognise the rights of his fellow man although he may not be a Muslim. Such rights are:

Rights of Friends

In the Qur’an there is a mention of friends along with those and distant relatives. They have the following rights:
1. It is necessary to make a close observation of the beliefs, deeds, behaviour and dealings, conduct and character of those with whom one intends to make friends. If they are found right minded and righteous, they may be befriended, otherwise avoided. Great emphasis has been laid on shunning bad society. Experience and observation also expose the harm of bad society.

Rights of Guests

The guests have the following rights:
1. To express feelings of joy and happiness on their arrival and on departure to see them off at least up to the door.
2. To arrange for their usual practices and requirements in order to provide them ease and comfort.
3. To behave with them with submission, respect and friendliness. To serve him personally.

Rights of the Weak and Orphans

There are some men who are entitled to additional rights. They are: Orphans, widows, disabled ones, weak, poor, sick, decrepit persons, travellers and beggars. They have the following additional rights:
1. To help them with money.
2. To work for them with your own hands, feet, etc.
3. To please and solace them. Never to reject their demands and requests.

Rights of Neighbours

Neighbour has the following rights:

1. Deal with him with goodness and leniency.
2. Protect the honour of his family.
3. From time to time send him and his family gifts. You must help him with some food, if they are reduced to starvation.

Rights of Muslims in General

In addition to near and dear ones and common Muslims have also some rights. Isbahani has mentioned these rights in his book Targhib wa Tarheeb from a narrative of Hazrat Ali (R.A.A.).
These are as follows:
1. If a Muslim brother commits a fault, excuse him.
2. Show him mercy when he weeps.

Rights of Rulers and Subjects

In the rights of the Rulers are included the rights of the King, Deputy King and master etc. In the subjects are included the servants and the general public.

The rights of the subjects are as follows:

1. They should not be subjected to severe laws.
2. If two members or groups of the subjects differ from each other in some matter the rules should be neutral and just in settling their difference.

Rights of Wife

The wife has the following rights over her husband:
1. The husband should not hesitate in meeting the cost of her living as far as his means permit.
2. He should teach her religious problems and insist upon her to do good deeds.
3. He should allow her from time to time to see her close relatives and tolerate her shortcomings.
If disciplinary action is ever needed he should be moderate in this.

Rights of Husband

The husband has the following rights over his wife:
1. The wife should leave no stone unturned in obeying, respecting, serving and pleasing her husband, except that she should politely apologise to him in matters that are unlawful in the Shari’ah.
2. She should not ask her husband more than what he can easily afford.

Rights of In-Laws

Almighty Allah has mentioned in the Holy Qur’an the relatives in-laws also along with the ancestral relations. This clearly shows that the mother-in-law, the father-in-law, brother-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law and step children have also some rights. It is, therefore, necessary to show kindness, nice behaviour and sympathy with such relatives as well.

Rights of Pupils and Disciples

Pupils and disciples are just like sons and daughters. Therefore, they have rights like sons and daughters in the matter of kindness and affection.

Rights of teachers and spiritual guiders (Pir)

As a teacher or a spiritual guide (Pir) imparts to his disciple education and spiritual guidance, he is just like a father. He and his children and relatives, therefore, deserve the same treatment as one’s own father and children and relatives. This is also one of the meanings of the Quranic Verse.

Rights of Kinsmen

The rest of the relatives have also been granted their rights. These are:
1. If one’s close relatives are needy and unable to support themselves with the bare necessaries of life, nor are they able to earn anything for themselves, then they should be helped with food and other necessaries to enable them to keep body and soul together,

Rights of Sisters and Brothers

It has been mentioned in a Tradition that an elder brother is just like a father. As such, a younger brother is like a son. The reciprocal rights among them will be just like those existing between the parents and their children. The rights of an elder sister and younger sister may be determined on this analogy.

Rights of a Stepmother

The stepmother is the father’s wife and companion and the command is to do good to the father’s friends and companions. She has, therefore, also some rights. The good deeds advised to be done for the sake of deceased parents are sufficient as described above. These should also be done for the stepmother after her death.

The Rights of the Fostermothers

A fostermother is also just like the child’s own mother, because she suckles, the baby; she also has prescribed rights and these are as follows:
1. To behave with her with due respect and regard.
2. If she stands in need of money and any other help,