Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again?

There is a story about an 80 year old man who was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 year old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window sill.

The father asked his son, "What is this?"

The son replied, "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, "What is this?"

The son said "Father, I just told you, It's a crow".

After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, What is this?"

The son said with some irritation, "It's a crow, a crow".

A little after, the father again asked his son for the 4th time, "What is this?"

This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Can't you understand this?"

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page.

When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again all 23 times".

So..

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.

Allah says in Quran

..and spread over them humbly the wings of thy tenderness, and say: "O my Sustainer! Bestow Thy grace upon them, even as they cherished and reared me when I was a child!" [Surah 17:24].

Old parents are a blessing. The dua (blessing, supplication to Allah for your well-being) that they give can never be given by anyone else.

That is why the Prophet (SAS) said, "YOur parents are like the two doors of Jannah (Paradise). When one dies, one door closes and when the other dies, the other door closes."

So make sure that your own entry to Jannah is assured before the two doors close.

For those whose parents are no more, make a lot of dua for them; give charity in their name and ask Allah to forgive them and enter them into the Jannah.

For those who have parents who are not old, may their blessing be with you for many years to come.