The Rights of Elders in Islam – Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq Al-Abbad

About The Rights of Elders in Islam

The Rights of Elders in Islam is a short book by Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq ibn Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad al-Badr on the duties that Muslims owe to the elderly. The English edition is published by Maktabatul Irshad Publications as a softcover of about 78 pages. It reminds the reader that honouring older people is not only good manners but a part of faith, and that knowing these rights is of little value unless it leads to action.

The book is written in clear language for general readers, so a student, a parent or a young person can pick it up and follow the discussion without difficulty.

What the book covers

• The importance of knowing the rights of the elderly in Islam
• Why these rights must be fulfilled in practice and not only understood
• The place of respect, kindness and good treatment towards older people
• The link between knowledge and action in the life of a believer

About the author

Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq ibn Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad al-Badr was born in 1963 in Az-Zulfi, Saudi Arabia. He is the son of the hadith scholar Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad. He lectures at the Islamic University of Madinah and teaches at Masjid an-Nabawi, and he holds a PhD in ‘Aqeedah. His other works available in English include Asbab Ziyadat al-Iman, Fiqh of Du’a and Adhkar, Explanation of the Six Principles and Raising Children in Islam. Readers should take care not to confuse him with his father, who shares part of his name.

Why the rights of elders matter

In many homes today, older parents, grandparents and neighbours are busy with their own worries while the younger generation is busy with work, study and screens. It is easy to forget that those who came before us carried burdens on our behalf. Islam teaches that a person who honours the elderly is honouring a part of the community that Allah has given particular dignity. The Prophet ﷺ taught that one who does not show mercy to our young and respect to our old is not one of us. A book that gathers these teachings in one place helps families return to this important duty.

Who should read it

This book suits young adults who live with or near elderly relatives, parents who wish to teach their children good manners, teachers and imams preparing a talk on family duties, and older readers who want to remember what Islam says about their own place in the community. It is also a useful addition to a mosque or school library.

How to benefit from it

Read a few pages at a time and then choose one action for the week. You might visit an elderly neighbour, call a relative you have not spoken to for a while, give up your seat, listen patiently to a long story or help an older person with a task they find hard. The central lesson of the book is that knowledge should lead to action, so keep a short list of the rights you read about and tick them off as you act on them. Share what you learn with the rest of the family at the dinner table.

Respect in the home and the community

Respect for elders begins at home, with the way we speak to parents and grandparents, the tone of our voice and the patience we show when they repeat themselves. It extends to the wider community: teachers, neighbours, scholars and the older people who sit in the mosque. A community that honours its elders keeps its memory, its wisdom and its mercy alive. Children who see their parents serve grandparents with love will usually grow up to do the same.

A thoughtful gift

Because it is short and practical, this book makes a gentle gift for a young person who is about to start a job or move away from home, for a family with elderly parents at home, or for a gathering where a talk on family duties is planned. Families sometimes give it together with a book on the rights of parents, so that the whole subject is covered.

Edition details

Published by Maktabatul Irshad Publications in English, softcover, about 78 pages. For the year of publication and other details of the copy in stock, please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the author? Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq ibn Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad al-Badr.

Is it a long book? No, it is a short softcover of about 78 pages.

Who is the publisher? Maktabatul Irshad Publications.

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