World Faiths: Parents & Children

Thy Lord has commanded, ‘Worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, never say unto them any word expressive of disgust nor reproach them, but address them with excellent speech.’

Islam, the Holy Qur’an, 17:24

A companion asked, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah, who is the person worthiest of my kind treatment?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘Your mother.’ He asked again, ‘And after her?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Your mother.’ The companion insisted, ‘And then?’ The Messenger (sa) of God said, ‘After your mother, your father.’

Islam, the Holy Prophet (sa), Hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari

Be benevolent towards parents and kindred…This is what God loves. He loves not those who are heedless and selfish, and those who are niggardly and enjoin other people to be niggardly, and conceal their wealth and tell those who are needy that they have nothing which they can give them.

Islam, the Promised Messiah (as), The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, p. 73

Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
They will give delight to your heart.

Judaism, the Tanakh, Proverbs 29:17

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother’ – this is the first commandment with a promise: ‘so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’

Christianity, the Bible, Ephesians 6:1-3

As the child, according to its natural disposition, commits thousands of faults,
The father instructs and slights, but again hugs him to his bosom.

Sikhism, Adi Granth, Sorath, M.5

Do not neglect the [sacrificial] works due to the gods and the fathers! Let your mother be to you like unto a god! Let your father be to you like unto a god! Let your teacher be to you like unto a god!

Hinduism, Taittiriyaka Upanishad, 1.11.2

Those who wish to be born in [the pure land] of Buddha…should act filially towards their parents and support them, and should serve and respect their teachers and elders.

Buddhism, Meditation on Buddha Amitayus, 27