Grown-up men and women look after themselves. They work, earn money, buy food and clothes, pay the bills, and look after their own house.

BUT WHAT ABOUT US? Can we work and earn money? Can we buy our own meals, pay rent. We are younger and still under the care of our parents, we can not look after ourselves in all respects.

Then who does all these things for us? Of course, our parents. Why does our father and mother do all these things for us? It is because we are their children, and they love us. They want us to grow up being healthy and well mannered. Since they work so hard for us, to make us better people, shouldn't we also love, respect and obey them?

Our parents have brought us up. They have lived for us. They gave us love and attention, they taught us the difference between right and wrong, they gave us food. If there was ever a time when there was only enough food for one person, they would give it to the child. Our mothers carried us for 9 months, day and night before we were born.

This is one of the reasons why Islam has said that

"Heaven lies under the feet of your mother"

This means that if you displease your mother, you will never enter heaven, i.e. the way to heaven is through the pleasure of your parents.
This again is repeated when Allah says to one of the Prophets:

"I swear by My Honour that anyone who does not obey his parents, even if he comes with the deeds of the Prophets in front of Me, I will never accept him."

Allah says in Qur'an Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 4:36:

"Worship Allah and do not join any partners with Him; and do good to your parents."

He also tells us in Qur'an Surah Bani Isra-il, Ayat 17:23:

"Your lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. Whether one of them or both of them become old in your life, do not say a word of contempt (not even "UF") to them or repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility and say: "My Lord! Bestow upon them your mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."

Why have parents been mentioned in so many places in the Qur'an?
It is because parents play a very important role in the upbringing of the children. The Holy Prophet (S) has said:

"The parents are responsible with regard to the children in the same manner in which the children are responsible with regard to their parents."

Allah blesses those who assist their children in doing good things which they do themselves. Islam considers the training during our childhood to
be very important because the soul of a child is ready to accept every impression.

Imam Ali (A) has said:

"Things taught to children become engraved on their minds like engravings on stone."

A prayer for parents from the Holy Qur'an, Sura Bani Israil, verse 24:

Rabbirham huma kamaa rabbayani sagheera.

"My Lord, look have mercy on them (our parents), as they looked after me when I was little."