Everyday intentions
Niyyah for helping parents: a good intention
I help my parents for the sake of Allah, with kindness and patience.
A good niyyah for helping parents
Right after worshipping Allah. The Quran puts kindness to parents straight after worshipping Allah, and asks for gentle words and humility towards them (Quran 17:23–24).
Little things count. A lift to an appointment, a phone call, the shopping: done for Allah, each is counted by its intention (Sahih al-Bukhari 1).
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Habits that go with it
Small sunnahs around the act.
- Keep in touch with the wider family too: keeping family ties widens your provision (Sahih al-Bukhari 5986).
- Pray for them often, with the words the Quran teaches: “My Lord, have mercy upon them” (Quran 17:24).
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗا ٢٣
waqaḍā rabbuka allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu wabil-wālidayni iḥ'sānan immā yablughanna ʿindaka l-kibara aḥaduhumā aw kilāhumā falā taqul lahumā uffin walā tanharhumā waqul lahumā qawlan karīman
And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرٗا ٢٤
Wakhfid lahuma janahadh-dhulli minar-rahmati wa qul rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.
And lower to them the wing of humility, out of mercy, and say: “My Lord, have mercy on them, as they cared for me when I was small.”
A card for the niyyah for helping parents
“I help my parents for the sake of Allah, with kindness and patience.”
