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Dad, You Are a Miserable Parent

11 February, 2023
Q I'm not a parent, I'm a 15-year-old son. I live with my father alone because my parents divorced a long time ago. My father treats me very bad. I look after him and I try to help him, but what do I get in return? He tells me all the time that he wishes I were dead and I should go to hell, then he takes advantage of me. It would be great to have such a loving parent in my miserable life.

Answer

In this counseling answer:

“You need not become angry with him, but you should do everything possible to share your feelings with your father. Let him know how it makes you feel when he verbally abuses you by saying things like he wishes you were dead or even worse that you should go to hell. This behavior is not acceptable from a Muslim, especially not a parent. ”


As-salamu `Alaikum dear son,

Thank you for writing to us. Here are some thoughts for your consideration.

First, Allah Most High has ordained that parents and children have certain mutual rights and responsibilities towards one another. Among these are that the children will respect the parents and be merciful towards them and in turn the parents will raise the children in a nurturing, Islamic environment.

It is unclear to us what exactly the arrangement is for you at home since you write that you take care of your father. Do you mean you help him with just everyday household chores or do you actually take care of your father himself? Has he become ill? Is he very old and unable to take care of himself? What about your mother? What is her condition? How does she react to your father’s behavior?

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No matter what the situation is, while it is important for you to care for your father and to respect him, you have the right to advise your father to treat you better. Allah Most High is testing you and, in sha’ Allah, you should make du`aa’ to Allah to grant you the patience and the perseverance to bear your father’s treatment while at the same time helping him to change in sha’ Allah.

Second, you need not become angry with him, but you should do everything possible to share your feelings with your father. Let him know how it makes you feel when he verbally abuses you by saying things like he wishes you were dead or even worse that you should go to hell. This behavior is not acceptable from a Muslim, especially not a parent. If advising your father does not improve his behavior, then you need to involve your paternal
grandparents or your maternal grandparents if necessary. They need to appeal to your father to improve his behavior and to treat you better.

Dad, You Are a Miserable Parent - About Islam

Finally, you should make lots of du`aa’ to Allah Most High to guide your father and to grant him much better behavior so that he will treat you better. Do your best to overwhelm your father with kindness even in the face of his verbal abuse. Your father will at least never be able to say that you talked back to him or that you abused him in anyway. May Allah make it easy for you.

And Allah knows best.

 

Salam,

***

Disclaimer: The conceptualization and recommendations stated in this response are very general and purely based on the limited information provided in the question. In no event shall AboutIslam, its counselors or employees be held liable for any damages that may arise from your decision in the use of our services.:

Read more:

 

My Teen Son Hates His Father, What Should I Do?

Mom & Dad Hate Each Other!

About Dr. Abdullah Abdur Rahman
Dr. Abdullah Abdur Rahman had obtained his Masters and PhD in Social Work and has worked in the US as a licensed social worker since then. His focus is on counseling Muslims in non-Muslim countries, with special emphasis on life in North America, counseling adolescents, pre-marital counseling, online counseling for married couples and da`wah (inviting people to Islam).