Maintaining Bonds with Parents' Friends as a Form of Filial Piety

Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمہ اللہ)

Chapter: The Virtue of Maintaining Relationships with Parents’ Friends​

Hadiths on the Importance of Honoring Parents Through Their Friends​

1. Maintaining Ties with Parents' Friends as a Supreme Act of Kindness
✿ «عن عبدالله بن عمر سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ان يقول إن أبر البر صلة الولد أهل ود ابيه.» [صحيح: رواه مسلم 2552: 11 بسنده عن عبد الله بن عمر]

Translation: Abdullah bin Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما) narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “The highest form of goodness is for a person to maintain ties with the friends of their father.”

2. Honoring Parents After Their Death
✿ «عن أبى بردة قال قدمت المدينة فاتاني عبد الله بن عمر قال أتدري لك أتيتك قال قلت لا قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول من أحب أن يصل أباه فى قبره و فليصل إخوان أبيه بعده وانه كان بين أبى وبين ابيك وود فأحببت أن أصل ذاك» [رواه أبو يعلي 5669، وصححه ابن حبان 432]

Translation: Abu Burdah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated: I came to Madinah, and Abdullah bin Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما) visited me. He said, “Do you know why I have come to you?” I replied, “No.” He said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Whoever wishes to maintain bonds with their father in his grave should keep ties with their father’s friends after his passing.’ There was a bond of brotherhood and friendship between my father, Umar, and your father, so I wished to maintain that relationship.”

Key Lessons from the Hadiths​

1. Filial Piety Extends Beyond Parents’ Lifetime:
   
   • Honoring parents doesn’t end with their death. Maintaining ties with their friends is an enduring form of respect and kindness.
2. Strengthening Family and Social Bonds:
   
   • Islam encourages the continuity of positive relationships, fostering love and goodwill in society by preserving connections formed by our parents.
3. A Means of Blessing and Mercy:
   
   • Acts of kindness towards parents’ friends are a way to keep the memory of one’s parents alive and to earn Allah’s pleasure.
4. Practical Guidance for Honoring Parents:
   
   • Visiting, assisting, or maintaining communication with friends of one’s parents is a practical and actionable way to implement this teaching.

Practical Steps to Uphold This Virtue​

1. Stay Connected:
   
   • Regularly visit or communicate with your parents’ friends, especially during significant occasions or times of need.
2. Offer Support:
   
   • Extend help to them in any way possible, showing the same care and concern that your parents would have shown.
3. Preserve Their Legacy:
   
   • Share stories and memories of your parents with their friends, keeping the bond alive and honoring their relationships.

Conclusion​

Maintaining ties with one’s parents’ friends is a noble act of kindness emphasized in Islam. It strengthens social bonds, honors the memory of one’s parents, and fosters a culture of mutual respect and care. Such actions reflect deep gratitude and serve as a means to attain Allah’s blessings and mercy.