Jumma is the only day we get to listen to the takreer from the Imaam. I prefer the talk to be generic because more often they get diverted into sect-wise differentiation of Sunni-Wahabi. Something which should not be our priority, IMO.
As I was walking towards the mosque post a hurried lunch, I could hear him speak about paying gratitude. Gratitude to anyone who has ever helped us. Small or big. And as far as the world is concerned, who is more deserving of this gratitude than our Parents ?
From numerous incidences from hadees, he was trying to make us aware of how essential it is to pay our gratitude to them.
Modernity pushes us to think on the lines of “My life, My decisions” while trying to create a separate life from the ones who actually gave birth to us.
Now, how should we pay them back? Of course, no amount of worldly experiences can guarantee a repayment.
The Imaam had a solution in place as well by rhetorically asking a question and then answering it. (He has the mike, after all). How do we truly repay a debt ?” Apart from the actual we took from them, we remember their help. In our head, we are always willing to remember their contribution till ages. And hence, keeping just this in our heads, on what our parents have done for us, we’ll always be grateful to them and it’ll show in our actions.
It’s not like we don’t value their contributions and go on length to describe it. I’m even writing this post here! But questions on whether my actions have never hurt them or never will, still bounce around my head. How often have I made them unhappy ? Or I’m going to with each passing day ? Leave aside the ones we unknowingly make them go through with us, there are so many things we know are wrong and still do and call ourselves, Adults!