How to treat non-Muslim parents or relatives

Question

I would like to know the Islamic ruling on how a Muslim woman and her children and husband should behave towards her non-Muslim parents. She lives in the Middle East and her parents and other kin live in North America. My question is: what is the correct way to treat them? Please elaborate on this, regarding visits, telephone calls, etc.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad , is His slave and Messenger.

Behaving kindly with parents and keeping ties with kinship have a great place in Islam. In fact, many verses in the Quran emphasize obedience to parents in many verses except in doing what Allah forbids.

Indeed, Allah has put the right of parents right after His Right. Allah Says (what means): {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. …} [Quran 17: 23]. Allah also Says (what means): {Worship Allâh and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkin (the poor), …} [Quran 4: 36]. He also Says (what means): {And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents, but if they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. …} [Quran 29: 8].

So, you should keep relations with your parents and be kind to them, your children also must do the same. This can be done through sending them presents, calling them often, … etc. until you think you achieve this objective which is being kind to your parents.

You should also call them to Islam in a soft, wise manner. We hope Allah will guide them thanks to you and then you will be rewarded for that. We ask Allah to guide us all to the right path.

Allah Knows best.

-islamweb.net