If a person’s parents are pleased with him is that a sign that Allah is pleased with him?

Praise be to Allah.

The parents’ rights are great indeed, honouring them goes along with the concept of Tawheed, being grateful to them is part of being grateful to Allah, and treating them well is one of the best of good deeds, and the dearest of good deeds to Allah. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents…”

[al-Nisa’ 4:36] 

“Say (O Muhammad): Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents…”

[al-An’aam 6:151]

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.

24. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young’”

[al-Isra’ 17:23, 24]

“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years __ give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination”

[Luqmaan 31:14]

And there are very many ahaadeeth on this topic, such as that narrated by al-Bukhaari (527) and Muslim (85) from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): Which deed is best? He said: “Prayer offered on time.” I said: Then what? He said: “Honouring one’s parents.” I said: Then what? He said: “Jihad for the sake of Allah.” 

It was also narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of one’s father and the anger of the Lord is in the anger of one’s father.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1821) and classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (516). 

“The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of one’s father”. This applies to the mother as well, and more so. Al-Tabaraani narrated it with the wording: “The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of one’s parents and His anger is in their anger.” 

End quote from Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi. 

Al-Manaawi said in Fayd al-Qadeer: 

“The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of one’s father and the anger of the Lord is in the anger of one’s father” because Allah has enjoined that the father be obeyed and honoured, so whoever obeys the command of Allah has honoured Allah and glorified him, thus He will be pleased with him, and whoever goes against His command, He will by angry with him.  

This applies so long as the father is not drifting away from the path of piety, otherwise pleasing the Lord is done by going against the father’s orders. This is a stern warning from which it may be understood that disobeying one's parents is a major sin, which is stated in the texts.  

We hope that what you have said about your parents being pleased with you will be a cause of Allah also being pleased with you.