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Are Children Accountable for Disrespecting Parents in Islam?

21 September, 2025
Q Is a child held accountable in Islam for showing disrespect to their parents?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

In Islam, children are accountable for their actions, and disrespecting parents is regarded as one of the gravest sins. The Quran emphasizes kindness and obedience to parents, while Hadiths make clear that Allah’s pleasure lies in theirs. Dishonoring parents, therefore, places a Muslim at risk of divine displeasure.


Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Every adult person, male or female, or children, is accountable for their actions, good or bad. Allah says: {Every soul is held in pledge for its deeds.} (Al-Muddaththir 74:38)

Disrespecting one’s parents is one of the grave sins. Allah orders us in the Quran to honor our parents, to serve them, and to speak to them gently. Honoring one’s parents is the second and foremost commandment issued to every Prophet, according to the Quran.

That is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) considered dishonoring one’s parents as the second of the most grievous sins, second only to associating partners with Allah.

The Prophet also said, “Allah’s pleasure lies in the pleasure of one’s parents, and His wrath lies in the wrath of one’s parents.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Several traditions stress the gravity of dishonoring parents. Therefore, no Muslim should risk losing their salvation by dishonoring their parents. I pray to Allah to forgive our shortcomings and bless us to gain the love of Allah by honoring our parents.

👉 Read more about parental rights in Islam

Almighty Allah knows best.

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada