All Divine religions preach the concept of Monotheism: That is belief and faith in One True God with no associates and partners. Qur'an, being the last of the Divine Scriptures, also teaches monotheism and cautions man about Shirk, the act of associating partners or associates with the sole Creator of the entire universe. In fact monotheism is the main theme of the Qur'an and at a number of time this concept has been mentioned for strict adherence by the believers.
Another foundational aspect of Islamic ethics is the filial piety: That is a very high degree of respect and kindness towards parents, and showing compassion to the parents specially when they have grown old and need to be tended the same way a child is tended and taken care of one's parents.
This is the theme of the 23rd verse of Surah 17. Al Israa being shared today for the information of our brothers and sisters in Islam in particular and everyone else in general:
وَقَضٰى رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِيَّاهُ وَبِالۡوَالِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَانًا ؕ اِمَّا يَـبۡلُغَنَّ عِنۡدَكَ الۡكِبَرَ اَحَدُهُمَاۤ اَوۡ كِلٰهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَّهُمَاۤ اُفٍّ وَّلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُلْ لَّهُمَا قَوۡلًا كَرِيۡمًا
(17:23) Your Lord has decreed: (i) Do not worship any but Him; (ii) Be good to your parents; and should both or any one of them attain old age with you, do not say to them even "fie" neither chide them, but speak to them with respect,
The verse in question, Surah Al-Isra (17:23), is a profound directive from Allah that emphasizes two foundational aspects of Islamic ethics: monotheism and filial piety. Let us know more about this verse in detail as enunciated by eminent Muslim scholars of the time.
1. Worship Allah Alone
The verse begins with the command: "Your Lord has decreed: Do not worship any but Him." Ibn Kathir explains that this is a reaffirmation of the principle of Tawhid (the oneness of Allah), underscoring that worship should be directed solely to Allah, without associating any partners with Him.
This commandment is very comprehensive. It prohibits not only the worship of anyone except Allah but also implies that one should obey and serve and submit to Allah alone without question. One should accept His commandments and law alone to be worthy of obedience and His authority to be supreme above all. This was not merely an instruction confined to a religious creed and individual practice but it served as the foundation of the moral, cultural, and political system which was practically established in Al-Madinah by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Its first and foremost principle was that Allah alone is the Master, Sovereign and Law-giver.
This order to offer all worship to God alone follows the one prohibiting the association of partners with God. It takes the form of a decisive ruling to be implemented without fail, by all mankind. The term, qadā, used in the Arabic text and translated as ‘ordained’, signifies a final verdict imparting additional emphasis to an already emphatic order that also uses the construction of a negation and exception: “You shall worship none but Him.” The mode is one of total emphasis and stress. When this basic ruling is well established, individual and community duties are outlined. These rely on a firm belief in the One God. Hence, motives and goals behind actions and practices work towards the same end.
The most important bond next to that of faith is the family. Hence the sūrah links kindness to parents with the worship of God, in order to emphasize its importance in God’s sight, details herein under:
2. Be Good to Your Parents
The subsequent command emphasizes kindness towards parents: "Be good to your parents." Ibn Kathir elaborates that this directive is not merely about avoiding harm but actively engaging in acts of kindness and respect towards one's parents .
With inspirational expression that is full of tenderness the Qur’ān enhances our feelings of compassion towards our parents. As life goes on, its momentum carries the living and focuses our attention on what lies ahead, on our own children, the new generation. Rarely are we motivated to look back and attend to the former generation of parents, who represent a life that is already on the decline. Hence, as sons and daughters we need a strong charge of conscience so that we will look hack and take care of our mothers and fathers.
3. Respect in Old Age
The verse further specifies: "Should both or any one of them attain old age with you, do not say to them even 'fie' neither chide them, but speak to them with respect." Ibn Kathir interprets this as a prohibition against even the slightest expression of frustration or disrespect, such as the word "uff," which is considered a mild form of discontent. Instead, one is instructed to speak to them with honor and dignity.
Parents are naturally motivated to look after their children, sacrificing everything in the process, even when the sacrifice includes them personally. An early green shoot absorbs every particle of nutrition in its seed to leave it as dust, and a chic eats up everything in the egg, leaving only the shell. Similarly, children take up all their parents’ vigour, health, effort and attention, leaving them in the weakness of old age, yet happy to have given their children everything they could give. But children soon forget all this and move ahead, caring more for their spouses and own offspring. This is the natural course of life.
Hence, sons and daughters are told: “Never say ‘Ugh’ to them or chide them.” This is the first step in taking care of one’s parents and being kindly to them. Sons and daughters must never use words which suggest their being vexed or bothered by their parents, or say anything that betrays disrespect. On the contrary, they must “always speak gently and kindly to them.” (Verse 23) This is a higher and more positive step. What sons and daughters say to their parents must always be coupled with genuine respect.
4. Humility and Compassion
The verse also advises lowering the "wing of humility" to parents, symbolizing a posture of servitude and compassion. This imagery conveys the importance of approaching parents with a humble and caring attitude, especially as they age and may require more assistance and patience .
Thus parents do not need any encouragement to be kind to their children. It is the children who need to be reminded of their duty towards the generation that has become dry, in need of tender care, after having spent most of its vitality in bringing up their young. Hence, the divine command to take good care of parents comes in the form of a ruling from God, following immediately after the command to worship God alone.
5. Prayer for Their Mercy
Finally, the verse encourages: "Say: 'My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" This supplication reflects a deep sense of gratitude and recognition of the sacrifices parents make. Ibn Kathir notes that this prayer is not only for the living but also for the deceased parents, highlighting the enduring bond and the continuous duty of a child towards their parents.
The next verse says it all:
وَاخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُلْ رَّبِّ ارۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيٰنِىۡ صَغِيۡرًا ؕ
(17:24) and be humble and tender to them and say: "Lord, show mercy to them as they nurtured me when I was small."
The verse (24) emphasizes emotional intelligence, gratitude, and moral responsibility. It's not just about obeying parents—it’s about doing it with love, humility, and deep appreciation. Even if they weren’t perfect, this verse still encourages us to show them kindness and pray for their well-being.
- "And say: 'My Lord, have mercy upon them...'":
- Here, we're taught not just to act kindly but to pray for them. That’s profound. You're not only giving them love physically but also spiritually supporting them by asking Allah to show them mercy.
- Why? Because they showed you mercy and care when you were helpless and small.
- It’s a cycle: they nurtured you when you were weak; now, you're asked to honor that love by caring for them and praying for them as they grow older.
- 3. "...as they nurtured me when I was small": This part is key—it reminds us of the sacrifice, love, and patience parents show in raising a child. When we were completely dependent, they were our protectors, providers, and emotional comfort.
In summary, Surah Al-Isra (17:23-24) encapsulates the essence of Islamic ethics by intertwining the worship of Allah with the dutiful treatment of parents. The teachings of scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse is not just about avoiding negative actions but actively engaging in positive behaviors that reflect respect, humility, and gratitude towards one's parents.
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.
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.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Divine Commandments in Qur'an.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān 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, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. 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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