If there is a worthy relation other than man and is his Creator is that of the man and his parents. No amount of payback can compensate for the love and care and the pain and discomfort the parents undergo to raise their children. Therefore, Islam lays great emphasis on man to care for his parents and give them a status more than any other relation. Man is expected to treat his parents with utmost respect and take care of them all along their life, specially when they are old and feeble. Man is expected to speak gently to the duo and make every effort to fulfill their needs. This care should extend beyond physical needs to include emotional support, honoring their opinions, and continuing to support them financially while they are alive and remember them in his prayers when they are long gone. Giving charity in their name will add to the best efforts one can do for his parents.
Although, there are many a verse in Al Qur'an which ask men to take care of his parents, we choose one of the verses, the 14th verse from Surah 31 Luqman with this Divine instruction for man to look after his parents as they did when he was being brought into the world through hard labour of nine months by his mothers and thereafter in rearing and raising him to be a man:
The Verse (31:14)
وَوَصَّيۡنَا الۡاِنۡسٰنَ بِوَالِدَيۡهِۚ حَمَلَتۡهُ اُمُّهٗ وَهۡنًا عَلٰى وَهۡنٍ وَّفِصٰلُهٗ فِىۡ عَامَيۡنِ اَنِ اشۡكُرۡ لِىۡ وَلِـوَالِدَيۡكَؕ اِلَىَّ الۡمَصِيۡرُ
“And We enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] return.”
| You should read our earlier post: Why Islam stresses on respect of parents to correlate with the verse being shared in this post |
Let us expand the meaning of this verse and its correlation with many other verses from Qur'an and emphasis by Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم:
Context in Surah Luqman
This verse comes right after Luqman’s advice to his son not to commit shirk (31:13). Allah interjects here to emphasize that after Tawḥīd, the most fundamental duty is obedience and gratitude to parents, especially the mother who bears immense hardship. It shows a natural link: true servitude to Allah also requires goodness to parents.
The Key Themes of the verse
Although both parents play a very difficult part all along their lives in raising their children, the part played by the mother is unparalleled for she alone bears the burden of the child nurturing in her womb, making her restless and in pain, the actual birth is the most painful and laborious to an extent of even losing her life in the child birth process. That is why mother is mentioned more than the father in Qur'an and Hadiths.
Here is the breakdown of the major theme of the above quoted verse:
- Burden of the Mother: Pregnancy described as “weakness upon weakness” highlights her physical and emotional sacrifice.
- Weaning in Two Years: Indicates natural dependence on parents, a period of extreme care and vulnerability.
- Dual Gratitude:
- To Allah: for life, guidance, and sustenance.
- To parents: for nurturing, protection, and sacrifice.
- Final Accountability: Even if parents are obeyed, ultimate return is to Allah, so obedience is never above Him (linked with 31:15).
Supporting Verses in the Qur’an
- 17:23–24: “Do not even say ‘uff’ to them… lower to them the wing of humility.”
- 46:15: Very similar wording about the mother’s suffering and gratitude due.
- 29:8: “We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents…” but reminds that obedience cannot lead to shirk.
Relevant Hadiths
- The three most beloved deeds: In a Hadith mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim, it is mentioned that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Which deed is best?” He replied:
- “Prayer at its time.”
- “Then what?” He said: “Kindness to parents.”
- “Then what?” He said: “Jihad in the path of Allah.”
- Paradise under the mother’s feet: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.” (Ahmad, Nasā’ī — Hasan)
- Disobedience to parents is a major sin: The Prophet ﷺ listed ‘ʿuqūq al-wālidayn (disobedience to parents) among the gravest sins alongside shirk. (Bukhari, Muslim)
- Father as the middle gate of Paradise: The Prophet ﷺ said: “The father is the middle gate of Paradise; you may lose it or protect it.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah)
Relevance Today
In a world where individualism often overshadows family responsibility, this verse reminds believers that gratitude is not complete without honoring parents. Especially the mother’s sacrifices, which is often undervalued, are divinely recognized.
Therefore, obeying parents is a duty, faith in Allah comes first (see 31:15, if they push towards shirk, don’t obey but still treat kindly).
Summary:
31:14 links Tawḥīd with birr al-wālidayn (kindness to parents). Gratitude is twofold — to Allah and parents. Islam elevates parents’ rights, especially mothers, next only to Allah’s rights, but also sets boundaries (no obedience in sin or shirk).
You may like to listen to eminent Muslim scholar Nauman Ali Khan explaining our responsibilities towards our parents. Please watch the video below:
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 31. Luqman - Wisdom of Luqman al-Ḥakīm (“Luqman the Wise”) already published.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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