Short answer
In a fard prayer, no, unless they call for help in an emergency. In a nafl prayer, if your parent does not know you are praying, the Hanafi school says break it and answer; if they know, finish quickly and then go to them. You must also break any prayer to save someone from real harm, such as a fall, a fire or drowning.
In the fard, do not answer a parent's call unless they are calling for help. In nafl, if the parent calls without knowing you are praying, break the prayer and answer; if they know, do not break it unless there is need. Breaking any prayer is required to save a life or prevent serious harm, and allowed to protect property of value.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ told the story of Juraij, a devout worshipper among the Children of Israel. His mother called him while he was praying, and he said to himself, "O Allah, my mother or my prayer?", and chose his prayer. This happened three times. She prayed against him, and he was later tested with a false accusation. Scholars took from the story that answering a parent can come before a voluntary prayer, since Juraij's prayer was nafl and his duty to his mother was greater.
The Hanafi details:
- Fard prayer, ordinary call: keep praying. Afterwards go to them straight away and explain kindly.
- Fard prayer, a call for help: break the prayer and help them, then pray again.
- Nafl or sunnah prayer, the parent does not know you are praying: break it and answer. You can make up a broken nafl later.
- Nafl prayer, they know you are praying: finish, keeping it short.
Emergencies for anyone: the four schools agree that you may break a prayer to save someone from harm, such as a child near danger, a person falling, a fire or a medical emergency, and that it becomes a duty when a life is at risk. In the Hanafi school you may also break it if a thief is taking something of value. Once the danger has passed, pray again.
Many parents simply do not realise you are praying. A quick word with them about it, or praying when they are settled, avoids most of these moments. See rights of parents, praying while holding a baby and what breaks your salah.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 2550
Sahih... فصادفته يصلي فقال اللهم أمي وصلاتي فاختار صلاته ...
"She found him praying, and he said: O Allah, my mother or my prayer? And he chose his prayer."
The story scholars use to show that answering a parent can come before voluntary prayer.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on what is disliked in the prayer. If a parent calls in the fard he does not answer unless it is a call for help; in nafl he answers if the parent does not know he is praying.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on what is disliked in the prayer. Breaking the prayer is allowed for fear of losing property of value and required to save a life.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.