Uquq al-Walidayn: Asbabuhu - Mazahiruhu - Subul al-Ilaj
- Author died
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- Editions
- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without publication details
Uquq al-Walidayn: Asbabuhu - Mazahiruhu - Subul al-Ilaj (Undutifulness to Parents: Its Causes, Manifestations, and Means of Remedy) is an Islamic treatise on family ethics and moral conduct by Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Hamad .
Purpose and Scope
The author composed the treatise to address the grave status of parents' rights in Islam, noting that Quranic passages repeatedly pair dutifulness to parents (birr al-walidayn) with divine monotheism (tawhid), while prophetic traditions classify filial undutifulness (uquq al-walidayn) among the major sins (al-kaba'ir) . The book analyzes the nature of filial disobedience, its diverse social and psychological expressions, the root causes that drive children to neglect or mistreat their parents, and practical remedies to rectify such behavior .
Structure and Contents
In his introduction, the author outlines the work into ten sequential subjects :
- Definition of undutifulness: Drawing on lexicographers such as Ibn Manzur in Lisan al-Arab, the author defines uquq linguistically as severing or splitting relations and disobedience, forming the opposite of birr .
- Manifestations of undutifulness: The work details concrete forms of mistreatment, including causing parents to weep, raising one's voice or rebuking them, displaying irritation with words such as "uff", scowling and frowning in their presence, glaring with resentment, imperiously ordering them to do domestic chores, criticizing food prepared by the mother, refusing to assist in household maintenance, turning away when they speak, and disregarding their counsel in major life decisions .
- Exemplary stories of undutifulness: Narrative accounts illustrating the consequences of disobedience, such as the historical account of Manazil ibn Fir'an, who mistreated his father and later suffered identical treatment from his own son .
- Causes of undutifulness: Factors leading to disobedience, including the negative influence of an ill-mannered spouse who incites alienation, lack of empathy among children who have not yet experienced parenthood, and the absence of parental support or encouragement .
- Means of remedy: Corrective strategies to overcome undutifulness and rebuild filial ties .
- Definition of filial piety: Conceptualizing birr as comprehensive benevolence and fulfilling parental rights .
- Etiquettes observed with parents: Prescribed manners and decorum required when interacting with mothers and fathers .
- Matters aiding dutifulness: Practical and spiritual habits that assist an individual in maintaining filial devotion .
- Navigating the relationship between the wife and parents: A specialized section devoted to resolving domestic tensions, balancing spousal rights with parental obligations, and managing conflicts arising from possessive spouses or demanding parents .
- Exemplary stories of filial piety: Inspiring accounts from the lives of prophets, early righteous figures, and later generations who modeled exemplary devotion to their parents .
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