Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness, and elevation. But many of us search for grand acts to enter Jannah while neglecting one of the greatest doors already open in our homes — our parents.
Allah mentions kindness to parents immediately after commanding worship of Him alone. That is not a coincidence. It is priority.
Your parents are not just family.
They are your test.
They are your responsibility.
They are your means to Jannah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Paradise lies under the feet of the mother, and he warned against displeasing one’s parents. If your mother calls you during Ramadan while you are reciting Qur’an — answer her with softness. If your father corrects you — lower your voice. If they are aging — increase your patience. Ramadan is not only about long Tarāwīḥ and abundant dhikr. It is about purified character. And nothing purifies the soul like serving those who once served you helplessly.
Not everyone gets to care for their parents in old age. Some lose them early and would give anything for one more chance to serve them.
If your parents are alive this Ramadan — you are carrying a treasure.
Cook for them.
Make du‘ā’ for them.
Ease their burdens.
Sit and listen to them.
Even a glass of water given with sincerity can outweigh years of optional worship.
Some relationships are strained. Some hearts are hurt. But Ramadan is the month of reconciliation.
Forgive.
Overlook.
Speak gently.
Your reward is not based on how they treat you — it is based on how you respond for the sake of Allah.Rabbirḥamhumā kamā rabbayānī ṣaghīrā.”
My Lord, have mercy upon them as they raised me when I was small. Make this du‘ā’ daily in Ramadan. Jannah is not always reached through extraordinary acts. Sometimes it is reached through:
Holding your mother’s hand
Speaking gently to your father
Making sincere du‘ā’ for them in sujūd
Do not let Ramadan pass while you are chasing Laylatul Qadr but neglecting the people who carried you before you could walk. Your parents are not a burden.
They are a blessing.
They are a trust.
They are a door — and perhaps your easiest door — to Jannah.
May Allah make us children who are a comfort to our parents in this world and a means of elevation for them in the next. Āmīn.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
