مِيثَاقُ الرَّحْمَةِ بَيْنَ الآبــَاءِ وَالأَبــْنَاءِ : The covenant of mercy between fathers and sons

Al Quran is the final Holy Book revealed upon the Last of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran & Sunnah is the only source of holy guidance as it entails detailed instructions for each and every walk of human life. Here guidance from Quran for the followers of Islam (مِيثَاقُ الرَّحْمَةِ بَيْنَ الآبــَاءِ وَالأَبــْنَاءِ : The covenant of mercy between fathers and sons) is discussed wrt the bonding of a father with sons for better living from Quran and Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. This is an approved Jumma Khutba from the Sultanate of Oman and translated in English

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

مِيثَاقُ الرَّحْمَةِ بَيْنَ الآبــَاءِ وَالأَبــْنَاءِ

The covenant of mercy between fathers and sons

Praise be to Allah, who made honoring one's parents, one of the greatest acts of devotion, and showing kindness to them one of the most sublime acts of obedience, and linked thanking Him with thanking them in recognition of their great sacrifices. He, Glory be to Him, said: give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, without partner, and we bear witness that our master Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and messenger, the most honorable of mankind in nature, and the most loyal to his family and relatives in character and conduct. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow him until the Day of Judgment. This is the recited verses and its translation from Surah Al Isra:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم 

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا

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. (23) And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young." (24)

Surah Al Isra – 23-24

O servants of ALLAH: Fear ALLAH and adopt piety and obey ALLAH. O successful ones, and hold fast to the commandments of the Quran that revive hearts and refine souls. Let us draw inspiration from the light of revelation regarding the importance of righteousness and its impact on building families and stabilizing society.

O believers: Indeed, honoring one's parents is a pillar of chivalry, and a covenant by which homes are built and hearts are reassured. ALLAH has not elevated anyone as He has elevated those who honor their parents. It is the best of the doors of righteousness and the closest to God's pleasure, a door from which the lights of mercy shine and by which ranks are raised. ALLAH says in Surah Al Ahqaf.

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۖ

And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents.

Surah Al Ahqaf – 15Part

If righteousness is one of the greatest commandments in the scales of the Sharia, then it is incumbent upon us to revive it in our lives, so that we may regain through it the tranquility of hearts, the warmth of homes, and the purity of relationships. For in every era, honoring one's parents remains a bridge of light connecting hearts to God, restoring harmony to families and meaning to life. It is a tranquility that dispels the noise, and a virtue that restores humanity to humankind. ALLAH Almighty says in Surah Al Nisa:

وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬ا

Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship), and do good to parents,

Surah An Nisa – 36-Part

The Qur’an has narrated the stories of the prophets to make righteousness the hallmark of the chosen ones and the sign of light. In describing Jesus, peace be upon him, says in Surah Maryam

وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٲلِدَتِى وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡنِى جَبَّارً۬ا شَقِيًّ۬ا

"And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest.

Surah Maryam – 32

As for Seyyedina Abraham, the friend of ALLAH, peace be upon him, he was a rare example of combining gentleness of appeal with firmness of principle; for he confronted his father Azar, who worshipped idols, with successive appeals overflowing with politeness and mercy. ALLAH says in Surah Maryam

إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَلَا يُبۡصِرُ وَلَا يُغۡنِى عَنكَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا (٤٢) يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدۡ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعۡنِىٓ أَهۡدِكَ صِرَٲطً۬ا سَوِيًّ۬ا (٤٣) يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ عَصِيًّ۬ا (٤٤) يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ وَلِيًّ۬ا

When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything? (42) "O my father! Verily! there has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path. (43) "O my father! Worship not Shaitân (Satan). Verily! Shaitân (Satan) has been a rebel against the Most Gracious (Allâh) (44) "O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Gracious (Allâh) should overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitân (Satan) (in the Hell-fire)." [Tafsir Al-Qurtubî] (45)

Surah Maryam – 42-45

Four tender appeals teach us that righteousness does not fall by disagreement, that calling without manners is rudeness, and that love without advice is betrayal.

O believers: Methods have advanced and technology has developed, so screens have shortened distances, but - amazed - they have distanced souls! They have facilitated communication, but they have weakened presence; How many fathers are seen on screen but not visited, and how many mothers are greeted with peace but not spoken to! Let it be part of the wisdom of righteousness to restore warmth to sitting with parents, joy to talking with them, and blessings to visiting them. A sincere hour of presence is more virtuous than a thousand cold messages. Blessed is he who revives the virtue of his parents in a time when heedlessness has prevailed, and who keeps in his home affection, mercy, and righteousness whose effects will not cease in this world or the hereafter. This is because one of the effects of righteousness is that it extinguishes disputes and establishes tranquility in homes. How many cases of maintenance or disobedience have crowded the courts, and they would not have been resolved if righteousness had settled in hearts and mercy had been established in souls. Therefore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against disobedience to parents, saying: “Shall I not tell you about the greatest of sins?” They said: “Yes, O Messenger of ALLAH.” He said: “Associating partners with ALLAH and disobeying parents.” Omani legislation has come in line with the guidance of Sharia in preserving the rights of parents, and has prohibited neglecting or abusing them, and has established penalties for this that preserve rights and deter cruelty. To emphasize that righteousness is a religious, human, and legal duty, through which affection is built, society is stabilized, and the unity and peace of the homeland are preserved.

Fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and let our righteousness today be a bridge to Paradise, and a lamp that illuminates the path of life. ALLAH says in Surah Maryam

وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ وَلَمۡ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّ۬ا

And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allâh or to his parents).

Surah Maryam – 14

This is how the righteous are in every age: compassionate hearts, thankful tongues, and conduct that by mercy produces a good life and a beautiful memory.

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from God Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness.

   الحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ البِرَّ بِالوَالِدَيْنِ تَاجًا عَلَى رُؤُوسِ الأَبْرَارِ، وَجَعَلَ الرَّحْمَةَ فِي الأُسْرَةِ أَسَاسَ السَّعَادَةِ وَالاسْتِقْرَارِ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، أَمَرَ بِالإِحْسَانِ وَالعَدْلِ فِي المِيزَانِ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، غَرَسَ فِي القُلُوبِ مَعْنَى الرَّحْمَةِ وَالبِرِّ وَالتَّوَادِّ، صَلَوَاتُ اللهِ وَسَلامُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنِ اقْتَفَى أَثَرَهُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ المَعَادِ

Praise be to ALLAH who made kindness to parents a crown upon the heads of the righteous, and made mercy in the family the foundation of happiness and stability. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, without partner, who commanded kindness and justice in the balance. And we bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger, who instilled in hearts the meaning of mercy, righteousness, and affection. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow in their footsteps until the Day of Resurrection.

Now then, O believers: Righteousness, in its essence, is a reciprocal relationship and a shared responsibility. Just as ALLAH commanded children to be dutiful to their parents, He also commanded fathers to show mercy and care to their children, as He, the Exalted, says in Surah Al Tahreem

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيكُمۡ نَارً۬ا

O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell)

Surah At Tahrim – 6-Part

The Prophet said, “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be asked about his flock.” So the righteous father is the one who is righteous to his children through good upbringing, planting in them faith before speech, wisdom before experience, and mercy before hardship, so that they may be a good extension of his righteousness and obedience. And how wonderful was what the Prophet, peace be upon him, embodied when he was the most merciful of people to his children and grandchildren, carrying them, kissing them, and saying: “He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy,” to teach the nation that example is more eloquent than advice, and that raising children with mercy cultivates in their hearts a righteousness that cannot be erased.

O servants of ALLAH, when righteousness flows between parents and children, it becomes a source of tranquility and loyalty, by which homes shine and lives flourish, and societies are built on love and security. To the extent that fathers are merciful to their children, the children will be loyal to their fathers. And to the extent that the tree of mercy is watered in homes, it will bear fruit of obedience and blessing, as it came in the tradition: “Be kind to your fathers, and your children will be kind to you.” Experience has shown that societies where righteousness prevails experience fewer disputes and less conflict, because hearts that have known righteousness do not know harshness. And let us not forget that our Omani identity is enlightened by the light of Islam. To embody this authentic morality in its customs, traditions and systems, where the guidance of revelation met with the wisdom of man, so righteousness became a legal and human duty, rising above materialistic tendencies and preoccupation. So that Omani society may remain faithful to its origins, strong in its family, holding fast to its values, firm in its faith, inhabited by blessings, shaded by mercy, and elevated by the virtue of righteousness and benevolence. 

Fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and make kindness to parents your provision for ALLAH’s pleasure, and kindness to children a continuous charity that will bear fruit in supplication after life, for in the shade of mutual mercy prayers are answered, ranks are raised, and homelands are blessed.

هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى إمَامِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ؛ مُحَمَّدٍ الهَادِي الأَمِينِ، فَقَدْ أَمَرَكُمْ رَبكُمْ بذَلكَ حينَ قَالَ

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا

Surah Al Ahzaab – 56

So pray and send peace upon the leader of the messengers, Muhammad, the guide and trustworthy. Your Lord has commanded you to do so when He said: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, send blessings upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” 

He says in Surah Al Ahzab: ALLAH and His kingdom send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, pray upon him and grant him peace.

Surah Al Ahzaab – 56

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وسَلِّم عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ وسَلَّمتَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنْ خُلَفَائِهِ الرَّاشِدِينَ، وَعَنْ أَزْوَاجِهِ أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَعَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وعَنْ جَمْعِنَا هَذَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

O ALLAH, bless and grant peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon the family of our Prophet Muhammad, as You prayed and peace upon our Prophet Abraham and upon the family of our Prophet Abraham, and bless our Prophet Muhammad and the family of our Prophet Muhammad, just as You blessed our Prophet Abraham and the family of our Prophet Abraham in the worlds. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. And be pleased, O Allah, with his Rightly-Guided Caliphs, and with his wives, the Mothers of the Believers, and with all the rest of the Companions, and with the believing men and women, and with this gathering of ours, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ جَمْعَنَا هَذَا جَمْعًا مَرْحُوْمًا، وَاجْعَلْ تَفَرُّقَنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ تَفَرُّقًا مَعْصُوْمًا وَلا تَدَعْ فِينَا وَلا مَعَنَا شَقِيًّا وَلا مَحْرُومًا

Oh ALLAH, make this gathering of us a merciful gathering, and make our separation after it an infallible separation, and do not leave among us or with us any wretched or deprived.

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلامَ وَاهْدِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى الْحَقِّ، وَاجْمعْ كَلِمَتَهُمْ عَلَى الخَيْرِ، وَاكْسِرْ شَوْكَةَ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَاكْتُبِ السَّلامَ وَالأَمْنَ لِعِبادِكَ أَجْمَعِينَ

Oh ALLAH, honor Islam, guide Muslims to the truth, unite their words in goodness, break the power of the oppressors, and grant peace and security to your servants. All of them. 

اللَّهُمَّ كُنْ عَوْنًا لإِخْوَانِنَا فِي أَرْضِ الأَقْصَى المُبَارَكِ، وَكُنْ مَعَهُمْ وَثَبِّـتْهُمْ وَارْبِطْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَصَبِّرْهُمْ، وَاخْذُلْ عَدُوَّكَ وَعَدُوَّهُمْ، وَاجْعَلِ الدَّائِرَةَ عَلَيْهِ يَا ذَا الجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

O Allah, be a helper to our brothers in the blessed land of Al-Aqsa, be with them, strengthen them, strengthen their hearts, and grant them patience. Disappoint Your enemy and their enemy, and turn the tables on him, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الثَّباتَ فِي الأَمْرِ، وَالعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ، ونَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ، ونَسْأَلُكَ قُلُوبًا سَلِيمةً وأَلْسِنةً صَادِقةً، ونَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَنعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا تَعْلَمُ

O Allah, we ask You for steadfastness in our affairs and determination to do what is right. We ask You for gratitude for Your blessings and proper worship of You. We ask You for sound hearts and truthful tongues. We ask You for the best of what You know and seek refuge in You from the worst of what You know. We seek Your forgiveness for what You know.

اللَّهُمَّ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا ذَا الجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ بِكَ نَستَجِيرُ وَبِرَحْمَتِكَ نَستَغِيثُ أَلاَّ تَكِلَنَا إِلَى أَنفُسِنَا طَرفَةَ عَينٍ، وَلاَ أَدنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَصلِحْ لَنَا شَأْنَنَا كُلَّهُ يَا مُصلِحَ شَأْنِ الصَّالِحِينَ

Oh ALLAH, O Ever-Living, O Ever-Living, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour, there is no god but You, Glory be to You, by You we seek refuge and by Your mercy we seek help, that you will not leave us to Our souls are within the blink of an eye, and nothing is closer than that. And rectify for us all our affairs, O Reconciliator, the affairs of the righteous.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا احْفَظْ أَوْطَانَنَا وَأَعِزَّ سُلْطَانَنَا وَأَيِّدْهُ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَيِّدْ بِهِ الْحَقَّ يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَسْبِغْ عَلَيْهِ نِعمَتَكَ، وَأَيِّدْهُ بِنُورِ حِكْمَتِكَ، وَسَدِّدْهُ بِتَوفِيقِكَ، وَاحفَظْهُ بِعَينِ رعَايَتِكَ

Oh ALLAH, our Lord, protect our countries, honor our authority, support it with the truth, and support it with the truth, O Lord of the worlds. Oh God, bestow your blessing upon him, Support it with the light of your wisdom, guide it with your blessings, and protect it with your care.

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ بَرَكَاتِ السَّمَاء وَأَخْرِجْ لَنَا مِنْ خَيْرَاتِ الأَرْضِ، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا في ثِمَارِنَا وَزُرُوعِنَا وكُلِّ أَرزَاقِنَا يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

O ALLAH, send down upon us from the blessings of the sky and bring forth for us from the goodness of the earth, and bless for us our fruits and our crops and all our provisions, O Possessor of Majesty and Generosity.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا في الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَات، المُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَات، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالأَمْوَاتِ، إِنَّكَ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ مُجِيبُ الدُّعَاءِ

O ALLAH, forgive the believing men and women, the Muslim men and women, the living and the dead among them. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the Near, the Answerer of supplications.

عِبَادَ الله

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآىِٕ ذِى ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَيَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَٱلۡبَغۡىِ‌ۚ يَعِظُكُمۡ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

O servants of ALLAH - Indeed, ALLAH commands justice and good deeds, and bestows favor on relatives, and forbids indecency. And the denier and the transgressor admonish you that you may remember.

Surah An Nahl-90

========================================================

وآخر دعوانا ان الحمد للہ رب العالمین- سبحان ربک رب العزة عما يصفون، وسلام على المرسلين، والحمد لله رب العالمين