Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (23) Surah: Al-Isrā’
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗا
(23) Your Lord has decreed that you ˹people˺ should worship none but Him[3543] and be beneficent to your parents[3544]. [3545]Should one of them or both of them grow old in your care, do not say to them ˹even˺ “ugh!”[3546], do not tell them off, but say what is ˹considerately˺ respectful to them[3547].
[3543] Given the significance of the purity of Faith and worshipping none but God Almighty Alone, it is reiterated and reemphasized in other, more direct words, thus no one is left in doubt about it (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar). Purity of Faith is the driver of good deeds because it implicates the reform of the heart and the mind. Such a heart and mind are ever heedful and willing to do good (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3544] The same Godly decree extends to parents; one’s first benefactors after the life-giving, sustenance-providing Benefactor of all creatures, God Almighty. Through His Will parents are the reason for one’s coming into existence and rearing and the caring for one as a small child and beyond. They are the most deserving of one’s beneficence (iḥsān) (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar, Ibn ʿĀshūr). The graveness of their right is highlighted through its almost invariable joining with none but that of God’s in many Qur’anic instances (cf. 2: 83, 4: 36, 6:151). In fact, Nufayʿ Ibn al-Ḥārith al-Thaqafī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Shall I inform you of the gravest of the gravest sins? They are three: Associating with Allah, being undutiful to one’s parents and perjury!” (al-Bukhārī: 2754; Muslim: 87).
[3545] Especially when they are old and frail and in need of their children’s service, they should be taken great care of and treated with utmost consideration and upmost respect (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wasīṭ, Ibn Kathīr).
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Woe to him, then woe to him, then woe to him!” It was then said: “Who, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Whoever lives to find his both parents, or one of them, in their old age and fails to enter Paradise ˹due to lack of dutifulness towards them˺!” (Muslim: 2551).
[3546] One is not to show disgruntlement in their service even in as small a word as “ugh”, let alone what is beyond that. They are not to be hurt in the slightest (cf. Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[3547] One should not only not hurt one’s parents with words, but one should make sure to say only good words to them (cf. al-Rāzī); words that please their hearts (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī).
[3544] The same Godly decree extends to parents; one’s first benefactors after the life-giving, sustenance-providing Benefactor of all creatures, God Almighty. Through His Will parents are the reason for one’s coming into existence and rearing and the caring for one as a small child and beyond. They are the most deserving of one’s beneficence (iḥsān) (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar, Ibn ʿĀshūr). The graveness of their right is highlighted through its almost invariable joining with none but that of God’s in many Qur’anic instances (cf. 2: 83, 4: 36, 6:151). In fact, Nufayʿ Ibn al-Ḥārith al-Thaqafī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Shall I inform you of the gravest of the gravest sins? They are three: Associating with Allah, being undutiful to one’s parents and perjury!” (al-Bukhārī: 2754; Muslim: 87).
[3545] Especially when they are old and frail and in need of their children’s service, they should be taken great care of and treated with utmost consideration and upmost respect (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wasīṭ, Ibn Kathīr).
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Woe to him, then woe to him, then woe to him!” It was then said: “Who, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Whoever lives to find his both parents, or one of them, in their old age and fails to enter Paradise ˹due to lack of dutifulness towards them˺!” (Muslim: 2551).
[3546] One is not to show disgruntlement in their service even in as small a word as “ugh”, let alone what is beyond that. They are not to be hurt in the slightest (cf. Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[3547] One should not only not hurt one’s parents with words, but one should make sure to say only good words to them (cf. al-Rāzī); words that please their hearts (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (23) Surah: Al-Isrā’
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.