What is the Islamic ruling on Mother's Day and Father's Day?

There is genuine scholarly disagreement on Mother's Day and Father's Day. The question is whether these are: (a) religious celebrations that constitute bid'ah (innovation), or (b) cultural customs ('urf) that are neutral and can be used for a good purpose.

Those who discourage or prohibit it argue that these holidays originated in Western non-Muslim culture, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) never designated specific days for parents, and that it falls under the hadith "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." More importantly, they argue that reducing respect for parents to a single day is contrary to the Islamic spirit — parents deserve honor every day.

Those who permit it argue that Mother's Day and Father's Day are not religious festivals — they have no theological significance, no ritual worship, and no claim to being divinely ordained. Using them as an occasion to call your mother, give her a gift, or express gratitude is simply a good deed on any day. The Quran says "be grateful to Me and to your parents" — and expressing that gratitude on a cultural occasion is not inherently problematic.

The universally agreed-upon point: Honoring parents is a Quranic obligation that applies every single day, not just on a designated holiday. The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed serving parents above jihad (voluntary fighting). If a Muslim only honors their parents once a year, that is spiritually insufficient regardless of any cultural holiday.