Question Do we have to listen and act upon whatever our parents say eves if it is wrong to do?
FatwaPraise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is our duty to be dutiful to our parents, to treat them kindly, to fulfill their rights over us and to obey them, but in what is good and righteous. In other words, we should not obey them if they order us to do what is Haram in Islam. A Prophetic Hadith that reads: "Obedience is limited to good and righteous matters" [Reported by Imam Bukhari ].
Another Hadith reads: "There should be no obedience to some creature if such an obedience constitutes disobedience to Allah" [ Ahmad ].
Also, if our parents order us to do what we cannot do, then we are not obliged to fulfill their request, since Allah, The Exalted, does not burden a person beyond his scope. However, we have to present our apology kindly and politely.
Thus, we tell our brother, the inquirer: It is Haram to disobey your parents and to be in contrast with them even though for trivial matters as long as you can do such things, without causing any harm to you.
Know that being undutiful is of several kinds and degrees and you are advised to avoid any of them.
If you disobey them, we advise you to do your best to regain their satisfaction and pardon so that you can avoid their becoming angry at you. Then, note Allah's Messenger's Hadith concerning a mother: "Stick to her feet (i.e. to show obedience, respect, reverence), since Paradise is under her feet" [Reported by Imam Muslim ].
Also, Allah has Ordered us to treat our parents kindly and warned us of disobeying or hurting them in word or in deed.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.} [17: 23].
The above-mentioned verse states that one should not say to them a word of disrespect that might hurt them. But, you have to show patience and seek Allah's reward, as they were patient when you were a child. The verse "nor shout at them " means do not scold them.
Imam al-Razi said: 'The verse "say not to them a word of disrespect " means one should not show any form of boredom towards parents. The verse "nor shout at them " means one's showing his contradiction to his parents opinion as a form of denial of their sayings.
The verse: "but address them in terms of honor " means one has to avoid any form of harsh words and Allah guides one to resort to good words and sayings.
Allah knows best.