Social relations with the elderly in Islam

In an article on Social Manners with the Elderly from the book Islamic Manners By Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA), The youth are advised to recognize the status of the elderly and give them due respect. When walking with them, walk slightly behind, to their right. Let them enter and exit first. If you meet them, greet them properly and respectfully. If you discuss something with them, let them speak first, and listen to them attentively and graciously. If the conversation involves debate, you should remain polite, calm, and kind-hearted and you should lower your voice. Never forget to remain respectful.

Imam Ahmad, Al-Hakim and Al-Tabarani reported that ‘Ubada bin Al-Samit stated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘Whoever does not respect our elders is not one of us.’ Another version reported: ‘Whoever does not respect our elders, is not compassionate to our youth, and does not give our scholars due honour, he is not one of us.’

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught the youth the manners of companionship and the custom of giving precedence to elders.