1:42 It is to show that…7:33 Do not make noises. Do…22:51 Serving your parents…27:55 So maintaining family…
Family & marriageFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 30, 2025.

Honor parents even when they are difficult

Masjid Uthman

“Serving your parents doesn't mean that you have to live next to them.”

The khateeb, at 22:51

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Because Allah has given parents a divinely mandated right, Muslims must honor and serve them with humility even when they are difficult, while maintaining respectful boundaries and continuing good deeds after their death.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Establishes that parenthood creates a divinely mandated duty regardless of parents’ quality.
  2. Uses Quranic verses to rank honoring parents after monotheism, recall maternal hardship, and prohibit even “Uf” or rebuke.
  3. Uses hadith to compare serving parents with jihad and present parents as a path to Paradise or Hellfire.
  4. Gives practical advice on gentle speech, making parents proud, anticipating needs, helping, and giving gifts.
  5. Addresses oppressive parents by permitting distance or moving out while preserving respect and contact.
  6. Explains posthumous duties including prayer, dedicated worship and charity, fulfilling bequests, and maintaining family ties.
Try this week
Speak gently to parents and avoid harsh words, sighs, or rebukes, especially in their old age.
Make parents proud through sincere effort in school, work, and personal responsibility.
Anticipate parents’ needs, replenish groceries or personal items, assist with physical tasks, and give gifts or money.
If parents are oppressive or abusive, move out if necessary while maintaining respectful contact, visits, calls, gifts, and support.
After a parent dies, pray for forgiveness, dedicate worship or charity to them, fulfill their bequests, and maintain ties with their relatives and friends.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 46Highlights pregnancy, nursing, and maternal hardship as reasons to treat parents well.
Surah 17Commands avoiding even “Uf,” speaking kindly, showing humility, and praying for parents.
Sahih al-BukhariRanks prayer on time, treating parents well, and jihad in that order.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“It is to show that whether they are good or not. This is a right that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has given them.”
Masjid Uthman · Dunwoody, GA
Play from 1:42
“Do not make noises. Do not reprimand them. And say a very kind word back to them.”
Masjid Uthman · Dunwoody, GA
Play from 7:33
“Serving your parents doesn't mean that you have to live next to them. It just means that you're on good terms with them, you give them gifts.”
Masjid Uthman · Dunwoody, GA
Play from 22:51
“So maintaining family ties with even the friends of your parents. These are the things that you and I have to do, inshaAllah.”
Masjid Uthman · Dunwoody, GA
Play from 27:55
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that being kind to parents is an act of worship even when they are difficult, because Allah gave them a right through parenthood. The speaker urges gentle speech, especially in old age: no harsh words, sighs, or rebukes, but kind words and humility. Children should notice their parents’ needs, help with work, give gifts, and try to make them proud. When a parent is abusive, moving out can be appropriate while remaining respectful and maintaining contact when possible. After a parent dies, we can pray for them, dedicate charitable deeds, fulfill their wishes, and keep ties with their relatives and friends.

  1. What is one small need you could notice and meet for a parent or grandparent this week?
  2. How can you disagree with a parent without using harsh words or showing irritation?
  3. Which way of honoring a deceased relative, dua, charity, or maintaining family ties, would you like to try?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Uthman11 Dunwoody Park South, Suite #165, Atlanta, GA 30338ArchiveAll khutbahs at Masjid Uthman36 khutbahs
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