Özet:

The aim of this study is to examine, within the context of old age studies, the Prophet Muhammad’s attitudes and behaviours towards elderlies, and His statements related to old age. In order to achieve related data, through the literature review, explanations with regard to elderlies and old age in hadith books were searched, and it was focused on the Prophet Muhammad’s experiences with elders, and His statements related to old age. In this respect, His communication with elders, His therapeutic advices to elders, His easing up religious issues for elders, His perception of old age, His solutions to elders’ religious problems, and His attitudes and behaviours towards elderly parents and elderly relatives were treated as the centers of gravity. Thus, gathered data was categorized and, analyzed accompanied with studies related to old age. Accordingly, it was concluded that, in His statements and behaviours, there are tendencies affecting the ego integrity positively in the old age; that He considered familial support for elders as significant; that He emphasized social support for elders; that He referred to the old age from religious aspects. According to the study results, The Prophet Muhammed avoided defining old age as an illness, promoted doing good actions in youth before reaching old age, and stressed that the earthly love continues in the old age. Also, in relation to keeping in touch with elderly parents, giving familial support to elderly parents, serving elderly parents so as to obtain goodness in world and in hereafter, and keeping relationships with elderly relatives, His very important statements and behaviours were searched out. In relation to the acts of respecting elders, being merciful and kind-hearted towards elders, caring for them in social environments, encouraging them to do useful works without breaking with society in old age, consulting with the elders in crucial matters, and setting up social support mechanisms for them the Prophet Muhammad’s deeds and sayings were confirmed. The Prophet Muhammed emphasized that negative behaviours in old age can never be tolerated, and encouraged elders to keep religious life in old age. The data could serve as instructive samples to help the elders cope with problems of disengagement from life, weakening social position in society, and social prejudice towards them. Also, the data could be used as effective arguments not only in maintaining elders’ social and psychological needs but also sustaining their social roles.

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