“The debts of worldly men can be repaid in a single day… but the debt you owe your father is something you can never, ever repay.”
An enterprising young man named Hassan lived in the city of Baghdad. Through sheer hard work and dedication, he achieved great success and became a prominent merchant.
His father, Mustafa, had sacrificed his entire life to raise Hassan and help him reach this position. Now, due to old age, he was bedridden with illness.
One day, Hassan entered his father’s room. He was carrying a large silk bundle in his hands, which he placed gently at his father’s feet.
“Father! I know all the hardships you endured to raise me. Look, inside this bundle are thousands of gold coins. I hand over all this wealth I have earned to you. Through this, I believe I have fully repaid my ‘filial debt’ to you. Are you satisfied now?” he asked with great pride.
His father smiled gently. He did not even touch the bundle of money. Instead, looking at his son, he said, “My son! I am delighted that you have become a wealthy man. But, if you truly want to repay my debt, you must do me a favor tonight. Will you?”
Hassan replied instantly, “Tell me, father! Whatever it is, I will do it.”
“Tonight, you must sit right by my bedside. Whenever I ask for water, you must give it to me immediately,” the father said. Hassan agreed.
Around 11:00 PM, the father lay with his eyes closed. Suddenly, he called out, “My son, I am thirsty. Give me some water.” Hassan rushed immediately, brought cool water, and gave it to him. The father drank it and lay back down.
It was around midnight, 2:00 AM. The father called out again, “My son, I cannot bear this thirst. Give me some water.” Hassan, who was half-asleep, got up with a bit of irritation and handed him the water. The father drank that too.
At 4:00 AM, just before the Fajr (dawn) prayer, the father called out for the third time, “My son! My throat is parched, give me some water.”
This time, Hassan lost his temper. “Father! Once the sun rises, I have major business matters and a lot of work to attend to. If you keep me awake like this, asking for water repeatedly in the middle of the night, how am I supposed to rest? I have already given it to you twice; why is your thirst still not quenched?” he shouted in frustration and anger.
Old man Mustafa slowly sat up. Holding his son’s hands, he said with tearful eyes:
“My son! The frustration you showed just now, in this single night… has far outweighed the thousands of gold coins you placed at my feet earlier.
When you were a baby, you would cry for a thousand nights. When you were unwell, I stayed awake all night, holding you close to my chest. No matter how many times you cried, or how many times you wet the bed, I never once got frustrated with you; I never got angry. I kissed you from the bottom of my heart and embraced you.
But today, just because I asked for water three times, you lost your patience. My son, even if you gather all the wealth in the world and give it to me, it can never equal a single drop of sweat your parents shed for you, or a single minute of a sleepless night they spent for you!”
Hassan froze. Realizing his grave mistake, he wept and begged his father for forgiveness.
The Status of Parents in Islam
This story perfectly reflects the elevated status that Islam accords to parents. In the Holy Quran, Allah says:
اِمَّا یَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ اَحَدُهُمَاۤ اَوْ كِلٰهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَّهُمَاۤ اُفٍّ وَّلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِیْمًا
“Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt (saying ‘Uff!’), nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor.”
— Surah Al-Isra (Bani Isra’il): 23
Similarly, a man once came to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and asked, “O Messenger of Allah! I carried my mother on my shoulders and performed the Tawaf around the Kaaba (the Hajj pilgrimage) for her. Have I now repaid my debt to her?”
To this, the Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“No, this does not equal even a single labor pain she suffered while giving birth to you!”
Conclusion
We can settle our debts with anyone else in the world in one way or another. However, the debt of sacrifice owed to the father (and mother) who brought us into this world can never be repaid, even if we serve them dedicatedly throughout our entire lives. That is why Islam teaches us to pray (make Du’a) for them, even after they have passed away.