Page 23 - Beauties for Life in the Qur'an

GOOD CHARACTER TRAITS DESCRIBED IN THE QUR'AN 21

... be good to your parents, relatives, orphans, and the very poor.
Speak good words to people... (Surat al-Baqara: 83)
Believers also must be very careful how they treat their par-
ents. In the Qur'an, Allah commands kindness toward them:
Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him,
and that you should show kindness to your parents. Whether
one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say "Ugh!" to
them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them, but speak
to them with gentleness and generosity. (Surat al-Isra'': 23)
An example given in Surah Yusuf stresses the importance re-
specting one's parents. The Prophet Yusuf (as) was separated
from his family for a long time because his brothers threw him
into a well. After a while, he was found by merchants who took
him to Egypt and sold him into slavery. Then, due to false accu-
sations, he spent many years in prison, only to be released and,
by Allah's help, placed in authority over Egypt's national treas-
ury. Yet after all of this, he brought his family to Egypt and
greeted them as follows:
Then when they entered into Yusuf's presence, he drew his par-
ents close to him and said: "Enter Egypt safe and sound, if Allah
wills." He raised his parents up onto the throne... (Surah Yusuf:
99-100)
Thus we see that the Prophet Yusuf (as), despite his eminent
status, behaved in an exceptionally modest manner toward his
parents. Raising them up on his throne marked his respect and
love for them, and also showed his good morals.

Hospitality
For believers who follow the Qur'an's morality, respecting one's
guest is a way to observe one of Allah's commands as well as an
opportunity to display high morality. Therefore, believers wel-
come their guests cordially.