The word elderly means someone who has lived a long life, and has seen the signs of aging. In Arabic, the word elderly is usually translated with the word musin. Apart from this word, elderly can also be translated with several other words, such as the word harim, and syaikh. Human life in the world goes through several stages, beginning with a period of weakness when a person is born as a baby and is completely reliant on those around him, followed by a period of strength as he progressed through adolescence, youth, and adulthood, and finally a period of weakness as he grew older and began to lose one by one of his strengths. The elderly are revered in Islam, and they are glorified. In general, the Qur’an emphasizes children’s responsibility to serve their parents, although this requirement gets more forceful and repeated as both parents grow older. If both parents are still living, this is a unique opportunity for a youngster to commit himself to his parents. Quran says, “And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age while with you, say not to them so much as, “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.” This ayah above emphasizes the importance of filial piety to both parents in all conditions. Still, the verse above also requires that filial piety to both parents be emphasized even more when both are in an elderly need. Muslims are obliged to serve their parents with ihsân, especially when they are old. The word ihsân in the context of caring for the elderly is a comprehensive obligation that has practical implications, such as showing kindness, honor, compassion, patience, appreciation, ease, tenderness, justice, support, and solidarity. Children are required to take care of their parents when they are weak and unable to support themselves. “Doing good and becoming a good Muslim” can be realized by taking care of the elderly with ihsan. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also always reminded that it was not from his followers who did not love the juniors among Muslims and did not honor and know the rights of the seniors among Muslims.
“Children are required to take care of their parents when they are weak and unable to support themselves. “Doing good and becoming a good Muslim” can be realized by taking care of the elderly with ihsan. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also always reminded that it was not from his followers who did not love the juniors among Muslims and did not honor and know the rights of the seniors among Muslims.”
Unfortunately, many elderly people nowadays are cared for and neglected. The presence of the elderly in the family is usually viewed as a hardship. The importance of filial devotion to elderly parents as a path to Jannah is sometimes ignored. This may be observed in the rising number of older people being admitted to nursing facilities. This tendency has previously only grown in non-Muslim nations, particularly in the west, since most Muslim minority families are highly concerned with caring for their own parents at home as a custom. They believe that placing older Muslim families in nursing facilities will make it harder for them to get faith-related services, however this situation is increasingly common among the majority Muslim community in the Islamic world, particularly in cities. The elderly is given special attention in the Qur’an. That was represented not just in the numerous terms employed by the Qur’an to describe old age, such as al-kibar, ‘ajûz, syeikh, arzal al-‘umr, wahana al-‘azhm, dha‘f, and syaibah. According to the Qur’an, old age is a long span of time; there are ordinary elderly and late elderly people, each with their own set of traits. Several Quranic principles should always be considered when caring for the elderly, including: Allah honors humans by making them His vicegerents on earth; Allah creates humans from one soul; Allah commands every human being to be devoted to his parents as a manifestation of concern and care for the elderly; and the elderly go through life alone. It is anticipated that through following these Quranic principles, the Muslim society, particularly in Indonesia, will show more compassion and respect for the elderly.
