In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I ask Allah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Fellow Nigerians, Today I will be discussing another very important concept in Islam, today I will be discussing the importance of respecting elders in Islam.
Some morals are not only Islamic but universal. These morals or lessons are present in every religion, but some religions emphasise on certain mannerisms or morals more than others. In the Religion of Islam, respecting the elders is considered a very important matter.
Islam is the religion of compassion and justice, a religion that teaches perfect morals and forbids bad conduct, a religion that grants man his dignity, if he adheres to the laws of Allah.
There can be no doubt that Islam has given the elderly a special status, as there are texts which urge Muslims to respect and honour them.
Human life can be divided into three stages: childhood, adulthood, and old age. Childhood is a time of play and exploration, while youth is dedicated to personal growth and achievement. In old age, however, individuals may experience physical ailments and vulnerabilities and need love, comfort, and care.
Imam Ṭawus rahimahullah states it is a sunnah to respect four types of people:
1. A scholar
2. An elderly person
3. A leader
4. and A father.
In Islamic sociology, senior citizens and the people with gray hair are held with great esteem and reverence whether they are ordinary ageing people of the community or old age parents living in a household.
Fellow Nigerians, I’m sending this piece as a reaction to the viral video of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu falling down on stage at Eagles Square.
If you can remember, President Tinubu missed his step while climbing into the truck at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration and tripped. It was a mild misstep. He immediately went on with the ceremonial rounds.
President Bola Tinubu had slipped while boarding the parade vehicle at the Eagles Square in Abuja, yesterday, Wednesday, 12/06/2024 during the 2024 Democracy Day celebrations. As he attempted to step onto the vehicle.
But despite the brief slip, the event continued without disruption, and the President carried on with the festivities marking the country’s Democracy Day celebrations.
Respected Nigerians, It’s not just President Tinubu who can trip and fall, as anyone alive can experience such a mishap. Prominent figures like President Biden, Fidel Castro etc. have had similar experiences. All the presidents and leaders are human beings and mortals, susceptible to ordinary human frailties. So it is not only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, anyone alive can trip and fall.
Here are some presidents and world leaders who fell during public ceremony:
1. June 1975 – US President Gerald Ford stumbled.
President Gerald Ford was helped to his feet after he slipped and fell deplaning Air Force One in Austria in 1975.
The then United States President Gerald Ford slid Air Force One in 1975 while visiting Vienna in Austria for talks with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. But Ford’s caught-on-camera stumbled down the rain-slicked steps of Air Force One in Austria.
2. October 2004 – Cuba leader, Fidel Castro falls from stage.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in 2004, fell off of the stage in Santa Clara, Cuba. Castro broke his knee and arm in the fall. The fall brought back memories of when he collapsed two years before the 2004 fall. Interestingly, Castro said he is fine after the fall.
3. Zimbabwe President Mugabe slid the staircase.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe falls after addressing supporters upon his return from an African Union meeting in Ethiopia on February 4, 2015.
In February 2015, Zimbabwe’s 90-year-old President, Robert Mugabe, fell down a staircase as he walked off a podium after addressing supporters at Harare International Airport. As reported, he had just returned from Ethiopia, where he took over the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.
4. Barack Obama missed his steps off the Air Force One.
Former US President Barack Obama on March 2015, came close to falling down the steps of Air Force One.
Obama was returning to Washington DC from a golfing trip in Florida when he bounded from the door of the plane only to lose his footing. He recovered and continued across the tarmac with the same spring in his step.
5. V.P. Mike Pence falls up the steps of Air Force.
Vice President Mike Pence had a moment remarkably similar to President Biden’s upward slip in June 2020. Pence was filmed running, then tripping, up the staircase of Air Force Two.
6. Russian President Vladimir Putin falls on the ice at hockey game.
The world saw Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in 2019 floored during another pursuit: playing ice hockey at Sochi’s Bolshoy Ice Dome. After winning the game, Putin glides around the rink in a victory lap clapping and waving at fans. The Russian leader then slammed into the floor before being helped up and skating off.
7. President Joe Biden trips three times on Air Force One stairs.
President Joe Biden trips three times on Air Force One stairs while scaling the steps to Air Force One to Atlanta to meet with Asian-American community leaders on a massacre.
8. Senator Tommy Tuberville.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has previously criticised President Joe Biden for falling in public view, was mocked online after a video showing him falling down a flight of plane stairs himself went viral in October 2023. Alabama Republican, who at the time was coaching the University of Cincinnati football team, appeared to lose his footing after three steps and slid the rest of the way down.
9. Former US Senator Hillary Clinton.
As reported by The Washington Post, a media frenzy ensued when Hillary Clinton, as Democratic presidential nominee, buckled and stumbled in 2016 after becoming sick during a 9/11 memorial service in New York.
The then-Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was boarding a plane to Yemen when she slipped to her knees at the doorway and was only saved from further embarrassment when an aide gave her a helping hand.
Dear Nigerians, Indeed, our faith is a religion of virtues, merits, and noble qualities. It has given everyone their due rights. The greatest of these rights is the right of Allah Almighty, by worshipping Him alone, dedicating deeds sincerely to Him, accepting His shari’ah, and being content with His decree. Then, the right of the Messenger (Peace be upon him) by accepting his message, following his guidance, learning his Sunnah, and spreading his guidance. Our perfect shari’ah and great faith have guaranteed the rights of all creatures, each according to what they are due.
Great Nigerians, Among the rights that Islam has guaranteed and stressed, and assigned virtue and reward to fulfilling, are the rights of the elderly, whether they are parents, relatives, neighbours, or strangers.
Allah, the Most High, says:
“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. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.” [Qur’an, 17:23-24]
Thus, the rights of parents are obligatory, and our Lord, the Almighty, has given a special instruction regarding them when they become elderly, as advanced age brings about weakness and need. How beautiful is dutifulness to parents! How great is kindness to them in their advanced age and weakness!
Fellow Nigerians, Our religion also preserves the rights of the elderly by respecting and honouring them in word and deed. When they grow old, they are given the title of uncle or daddy to make them feel respected and honoured. They are given priority upon entering a place. And when there are discussions they are given precedence in speaking. Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“We prayed zuhr with Umar Bin Abdul-Aziz, then we went out and entered upon Anas Bin Malik, and we found him praying Asr.’” I said: “O uncle, what is this prayer that you prayed?” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Both Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Sahl Bin Abi Hathmah said:
“Then Muhayyisa went with his brother Huwayyisa and Abdur-Rahman Bin Sahl to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and Muhayyisa started to talk. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said to him, “Let the elder speak first.” So Huwayyisa spoke, then Muhayyisa spoke.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) gave precedence in speaking to the elder out of respect.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) stressed the rights of the elderly. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Anyone who does not show mercy to our young and does not realise the right of our elderly is not one of us.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“The blessing is with your elders.” [Ibn Hibban]
Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Part of glorifying Allah is honouring the gray-haired Muslim, and the one who commits the Qur’an to memory and does not exaggerate pronouncing its letters nor forgets it after memorising, and honouring the just leader.” [Sahih Abu Dawud]
Fellow Nigerians, From the rights of the elderly upon us is initiating the greeting of peace. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“The young shall initiate the greeting to the elderly…” [Bukhari and Muslim]
And from their rights is not to speak in their presence on general matters except with their permission and go ahead. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed there is a tree that does not shed its foliage, and it is similar to the Muslim. Tell me what it is? The people started thinking about the trees of the desert. Abdullah said: It occurred to me that it is the date-palm tree, but I felt shy. Then they said: “Tell us what it is, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “It is the date-palm tree.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Observe the etiquette of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, as he did not speak in the presence of the elders.
And from their rights is visiting them in their homes. During the liberation of Makkah, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, brought his father to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). When the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) saw him he said:
“Why didn’t you leave the sheikh (respectful title for an elderly man) in his house so that I could go to him there?” Abu Bakr said: O Messenger of Allah, He has more right to walk to you than you to walk to him. He (Peace be upon him) then seated him in front of him, wiped his chest, and offered him saying “Accept Islam” and he did.” [Ahmad in Musnad]
And from their rights is honouring them in gatherings, sitting before them with respect, not stretching your legs out in front of them and treating them with kindness, compassion, and mercy. It is also very important not to be busy with your phone in their presence and neglect them. It is regrettable that some people visit their parents or elderly relatives, and after the greeting, they take out their phones and start switching between apps, leaving the elders to look at them with sadness and regret. What a bad habit.
And from their rights is for those leading the prayers to not lengthen the prayer in a way that goes against the Sunnah and causes them hardship. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“When one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief, for among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs. If he prays alone, he may pray as he wishes.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Fellow Nigerians, Fear Allah, and give your elders their due rights, especially in old age, for they are in the greatest need of care. How much we need effective upbringing and beneficial Islamic manners! People should know the value of their elders, respect them, greet them first, consult them for advice, listen to their speech, and show them reverence and respect.
People should be raised to respect the elderly, knowledgeable of their rights, whether on the road, in gatherings, or other situations. Also, to give them priority, stand with them, and facilitate their affairs.
It is regrettable that today, some people evade fulfilling the rights of their elderly parents. Sometimes, it even leads to them being left in nursing homes, forgotten even from visits. Undoubtedly, this is clear negligence and may even be considered being undutiful if the people are capable of caring for their parents but neglect them. Such individuals are likely to face reciprocal treatment. The days will pass and a time may come whereby their children abandon them just as they abandoned their parents. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Ya Allah, make us among those who honour their parents, whether they are alive or have passed, and help us to respect our elders and to have mercy upon the young. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected]; or +2348038289761.
