By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
A renowned Islamic cleric in Calabar, Cross River State, Ustaz Abdulkarim Auwal of JIBWIS Cross River State, has urged Muslims to remain prayerful, obedient, and supportive of their parents, stressing that such acts attract Allah’s blessings.
In a statement issued to journalists in Calabar, the cleric said Muslims should honour and care for their parents at all times, noting that obedience to parents is one of Islam’s fundamental teachings.
“Be supportive of your parents and obey them. Allah (SWT) will reward you, and after your death, He will bless you with righteous children who will continue to pray for you,” he said.
Ustaz Abdulkarim explained that the Holy Qur’an repeatedly commands believers to treat their parents with kindness and respect.
According to him, after worshipping Allah, one of the greatest obligations upon Muslims is to honour their parents.
He warned that disobedience to parents attracts Allah’s displeasure, urging Muslims to remain cheerful, respectful, and caring towards them.
The cleric cited an example from the life of one of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) companions, who was engaged in voluntary prayers when his mother called him repeatedly.
He ignored her calls, and as a result, later faced severe trials.
“This teaches us that no matter how devoted we are in worship, we must never neglect our parents.
“We should treat them with love, care and respect,” he said.
In a related development, Ustaz Abdulkarim also called on Muslims to strengthen the bond of brotherhood and demonstrate kindness to their neighbours.
He narrated the story of one of the Prophet’s companions who was about to enjoy a special meal with his family but remembered that his neighbour might be hungry.
He decided to give the food to the neighbour, who in turn shared it with another neighbour. The food eventually made its way back to the original owner.
According to the cleric, the story illustrates the spirit of generosity, compassion and good neighbourliness, which are among the core values of Islam.
He urged Muslims to uphold these virtues in their daily lives in order to foster peace, unity and mutual support within society.
