Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother Burhan, Please reply my this question soon.

It is said that we have to serve our old parent till they are alive and our key to Jannat is our parents. We as males always get this opportunity to serve our parents and give their rights (hukuk) some way or the other. But the females, once they are married, get busy with their family life and do not get the opportunity to serve their parents in life time. My question is how will the females go to Jannat as they do not serve their parents? What are their obligations towards their parents? And what is the key to enter jannat for them? 

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Answer:

How does woman go to paradise

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: ….It is said that we have to serve our old parent till they are alive and our key to Jannat is our parents.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 19:

19 For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes for their (good) deeds.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 31 Surah Luqmaan verses 8-9:

8 For those who believe and work righteous deeds there will be Gardens of Bliss.

9 To dwell therein. The promise of Allah is true: and He is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 47 Surah Muhammad verse 12:

12 Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 107:

107 As to those who believe and work righteous deeds they have for their entertainment the Gardens of Paradise

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 85 Surah Buruj verse 11:

11 For those who believe and do righteous deeds will be Gardens Beneath which rivers flow: that is the Great Salvation

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 23:

23 Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 56:

56 On that Day the Dominion will be that of Allah: He will judge between them: so those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Delight.

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Glorious Quran, the ‘master-key’ to Paradise is:

1. Belief, and
2. Righteous good deeds in accordance with the Quran and the Sunnah.

Being dutiful to one’s parents may not be the ‘master-key’ for one’s entry to Paradise, but without an iota of a doubt, it is one of the ‘keys’!

As meritorious and as rewarding the act of serving one’s parents is in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, it (and all of one’s deeds) would be worthless if one does not sincerely believe in Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: …But the females, once they are married, get busy with their family life and do not get the opportunity to serve their parents in life time. My question is how will the females go to Jannat as they do not serve their parents? What are their obligations towards their parents?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Mumin verse 40:

40 He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works righteous deeds, whether man or woman, and is a believer such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure.

It may indeed be true that a daughter, because of her added responsibilities as a wife and a mother, may not get the same opportunity to serve and spend on her parents as a son; but whatever opportunity she gets she must avail it.

What is of paramount importance for both, the sons and the daughters, is to display utmost reverence, respect, honor, and obedience unto their parents at all times….especially in their old age.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Bani Israel verses 23-24:

Your Lord has enjoined the following: You should not worship anyone but Him Alone! Treat your parents with great kindness; if either or both of them attain old age, do not even say ‘uff’ to them; nor rebuke them; but speak to them kind words. Treat them with humility and tenderness and pray, “O our Lord, be merciful to them, just as they brought me up with kindness and affection in my childhood.”

Your Question: And what is the key to enter jannat for them? 

The ‘master-key’ for a woman to enter Paradise is no different from the man; ie. sincere belief and the doing of righteous good deeds in accordance with the Guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah.

In addition to the obedience of her parents, the woman has been accorded an additional ‘key’ to Paradise….ie, to strive her absolute utmost to make sure her husband is pleased with her and devoutly obey all the lawful commands of her husband.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 34:

34   Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard (their chastity, their husband’s honor, property, etc.)

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3254 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "When a woman observes the five times of prayer, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of Paradise she wishes."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 286 Narrated by Umm Salamah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘If a woman dies while her husband was pleased with her, she will enter Paradise.’

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan