Maryam 32: “And (Allah let me be) respectful towards my mother. Allah has not allowed me to be a rebellious tyrant.”

He made me dutiful to my mother, He did not make me a wretched tyrant, he says. Yes. What is wretched? People not reaching what they desire, and always living in want and distress, with hardships. This wretchedness is the wretchedness of people who turn their backs on Allah and live this way. A Muslim, even if he does not reach what he desires, has surrendered to his Lord, is content with what comes from his Lord; he is at peace. The wretched one is different. The wretched one has turned his back on his Lord; or, living the low state of the nafs, tyrannising mother and father, living (?) to Allah's commands — that is the life of the wretched.

I say it too: I have never been wretched in life. Never. You know me. Even in the hardest situations my Lord opened the way for me. In the hardest situations. Yes. As long as you say Allah. With Allah, what can happen? He did not make me a tyrant either. And I was not a tyrant. My father died when I was nine years old. As for my mother, I never once found fault with her.

I received a great many of her prayers. When I see you, (?), my son, she said. She loved me that much.

He made me dutiful to my mother. He did not make me a wretched tyrant, he says.

Allah Almighty has commanded people to obey their mothers and fathers as is due. Allah Almighty says so in Surah Luqman. Let's see what He says in Surah Luqman. Let's read that part. As far as I remember, would it be verse 12? We'll look. Surah Luqman.

We — look, Luqman, it says, 13. verse Let's start from 12: Indeed We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Be grateful to Allah, He says. So whoever is grateful to Allah — is content with the blessings He gives and praises Him as is due — the one who gives thanks gives thanks only for himself. And let whoever is ungrateful know that Allah is in need of nothing. He is worthy of all praise. Luqman, advising his son, said: My little son, do not associate partners with Allah; indeed shirk is a great wrong. In verse 14: We have enjoined on man to treat his mother and father well. For his mother carried him, enduring many hardships.

And his weaning is within two years. That is why We have enjoined: give thanks first to Me, then to your mother and father — so We have enjoined. The return is only to Me.

While your parents are alive, do not say even "uff" to them. Look into their eyes. Understand what they mean before they even tell you. Do what they say.

But if they lead you to evil, part from them with good grace.

In Surah Luqman He decreed: obey first Me, then your mother and father. A mother and father, expecting nothing from their child, with compassion and mercy feed him, give him drink and raise him with care. The right of the mother and father over their child is very great. When a person is newborn, he is in need of care. For long years they grow up protected under the care of mother and father. What mother and father earned with toil is spent on him, and through the due of mother and father he grows up and is formed. Therefore, if a child sets out to repay the due of his mother and father, he cannot easily repay the due of mother and father.

Therefore, people who are respectful and obedient to mother and father, if they are also with the religion of Islam honoured and receive their parents' prayers too, may hopefully attain Allah Almighty's mercy. And if this person is also a servant and messenger of Allah, then surely he will be obedient to his mother and will not be a rebellious tyrant.