The Meaning of the Hadith: "May the Nose of the Slave Who Reaches His Parents in Old Age and Is Undutiful to Them Be Crushed"

Question:
This questioner, Muhammad Amin from Jeddah, says: Regarding the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), "May the nose of the slave who reaches his parents in old age and does not enter them into Paradise be crushed," I said, "Ameen," and I said, "Ameen." Does this apply to undutifulness to parents? May Allah preserve you?

Answer:
Yes, this is undutifulness to parents. It means that a person reached the age of maturity while his parents or one of them was still alive, but he did not treat them with kindness; rather, he was undutiful to them and disobeyed them, and he did not fulfill the obligation of dutifulness to the parents. Undutifulness to parents is second only to shirk (associating partners with Allah) in degree, just as the right of the parents is second only to the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in kindness. Therefore, the Muslim should treat his parents, or the one of them who is still alive, with kindness, even after their death. Kindness to the parents does not end even after death. This is done by paying off their debts, carrying out their bequests, giving charity on their behalf, sacrificing on their behalf, and performing Hajj and 'Umrah on their behalf. All of this benefits the deceased. Yes.