At Their Feet Piety Towards Parents By Ibn al-Jawzi

Allah placed birr al-walidayn — righteousness toward parents — immediately after the command to worship Him alone in the Qur'an: "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents." (17:23) The scholars of Islam observed this pairing carefully and understood from it the immense weight of this obligation. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi compiled a dedicated work on this subject — gathering the Qur'anic verses, the hadith, and the stories of the early Muslims who exemplified righteousness to their parents at great personal cost.

At Their Feet: Piety Towards Parents by Ibn al-Jawzi presents this classical material in a format that speaks to every Muslim who has parents living or who carries the grief of parents already gone.

What This Book Covers

The Qur'anic and Prophetic Texts

The book gathers the verses of the Qur'an and the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on parents in one place — establishing the obligation, its limits, the specific ways it is to be fulfilled, and the severe warning against disobedience to parents (uquq al-walidayn).

Stories of the Righteous with Their Parents

Among the most moving sections are the stories of the early Muslims who demonstrated extraordinary care for their parents — staying by their bedsides through illness, serving them through old age, and weeping after their deaths over deeds left undone.

Practical Guidance

The book also addresses specific situations — what to do when parents are non-Muslim, how to balance the rights of parents with the rights of a spouse, and the ongoing obligations toward deceased parents through dua and sadaqah.

About the Author

Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (510–597 AH) was one of the greatest scholars of the fifth century of Islam. Published by Dar as-Sunnah Publishers.

Who This Book Is For

Every Muslim with parents — which is every Muslim. Particularly valuable for those who feel they have fallen short in this obligation, those caring for aging parents, and those grieving parents who have passed away and seeking to honor them still.