down that old man from time to time and feed him like birds. I asked the young man: "What is this?"
He answered: "He is my father. As he became senile, I am taking care of him." Hence, I said to myself, "This is surely the most pious to his parents."
One of the disadvantages of filial impiety is that the impious individuals live in incessant unhappiness and discomfort because their parents curse them.
The Prophet (s) said: "Beware of fathers' imprecations, for they are sharper than swords." The impious, also, will certainly suffer horrible agonies of death.
Imam as-Sadiq (a) narrated: One day, the Prophet (s) attended before a young man who was suffering death struggles. He tried severally to instruct him to say 'la ilaha illa (a)llah-there is no god but Allah', but the man became tongue-tied.
The Prophet (s) asked the lady who was standing nearer to him: "Is this man's mother present?"
She answered: "Yes, it is I."
The Prophet (s) asked: "Are you dissatisfied with him?"
She answered: "Yes, I am. I have not talked to him for six years."
The Prophet (s) then asked her to be pleased with him.
She answered: "As long as the Messenger of God is pleased with him, I am pleased, too."
Then, the Prophet (s) instructed the dying man to say 'la ilaha illa (a)llah', and, finally, he could speak it.
The Prophet (s) asked him: "What is before you, now?"
The dying man said: "I now can see an ugly black man with dirty clothes and bad smell. He is