Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 23

(Ayah 23) ➊ {وَ قَضٰى رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِيَّاهُ:} In the previous verse, after forbidding shirk, the word {’’ قَضٰى ‘‘} is used to emphasize exclusive worship of Himself, which contains the utmost emphasis, because a decision is final and unchangeable. Thus, it is said {’’ قَضٰى ‘‘} meaning a definitive command and decision has been made that none should be worshipped except Him, that is, remain only His servants, consider only Him as the possessor of unseen powers and ask only from Him. Adopt the utmost love and fear with the utmost humility only for Him. Every act of your heart, tongue, and every part of your body, such as standing, prostration, bowing, and sacrifice, in fact, your entire life, should be for Allah Almighty alone with such humility.

➋ {وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ۠ اِحْسَانًا : ’’ اِحْسَانًا ‘‘} is the verbal noun of {’’ أَحْسِنُوْا‘‘}, which is for emphasis and comes in place of a command. The word "command" is not mentioned with it, but what is meant is an emphatic command, that is, do great good to your parents. {’’ اِمَّا ‘‘} is originally {’’ إِنْ مَا‘‘ }, {’’مَا‘‘} is for emphasis of the condition, meaning "if ever." At the time of the revelation of these verses, both the father and mother of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had passed away, so the question of either or both reaching old age did not arise. It is clear that although the command appears to be addressed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the real command is for every person. Whether parents are old or young, in every situation, respecting them and speaking to them gently is obligatory, and rebuking them is a sin. However, since in old age the need for service increases and irritability develops in temperament, and sometimes due to extreme old age, senses are not in order, therefore, old age is specifically mentioned.

➌ Allah Almighty has, in several places, mentioned kindness to parents along with the emphasis on exclusive worship of Himself. See Surah An-Nisa (36) and Surah Al-Baqarah (83). In other places, it is clearly stated that good treatment of them is obligatory, whether they are disbelievers or polytheists, even if they call to shirk and disbelief. See Surah Luqman (15) and Surah Al-Ankabut (8). In hadiths as well, there is great emphasis on good treatment of parents. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ، ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ، ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ، قِيْلَ مَنْ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ !؟ قَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ وَالِدَيْهِ عِنْدَ الْكِبَرِ، أَحَدَهُمَا أَوْ كِلَيْهِمَا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَدْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ] [ مسلم، البر والصلۃ، باب رغم من أدرک أبویہ… : 2551/10 ] "May his nose be rubbed in dust, may his nose be rubbed in dust, may his nose be rubbed in dust." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Whose?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who finds his parents in old age, one or both of them, and then does not enter Paradise."

➍ The meaning of {’’ عِنْدَكَ ‘‘} is that previously you were with your parents and dependent on them, now due to old age and weakness, they are with you and dependent on you. Therefore, do not even say "uff" to them, which is the mildest word of annoyance and disrespect, so how can it be permissible to say anything harsher than that?

➎ In the explanation of { قَوْلًا كَرِيْمًا:}, some scholars have depicted "a gracious word" as speaking to them as a guilty slave would speak to a harsh master, and some have said that just as in childhood they felt no aversion while cleaning your urine and feces, but rather did so with love, now you should treat them the same way. (Baghawi)

23. 1. In this verse, after commanding His own worship, Allah, the Exalted, has ordered good conduct towards parents in the second place, which highlights the importance of obedience to parents, serving them, and showing them respect and honor. Thus, along with fulfilling the requirements of divine Lordship, fulfilling the requirements of obedience to parents is also necessary. The importance and emphasis of this have also been clearly explained in the hadiths, and especially in old age, it is forbidden to even say "uff" to them or to scold or rebuke them, because in old age, parents are weak, helpless, and powerless, while the children are young and in control of the means of livelihood. Moreover, there is a clash between the passionate emotions of youth and the cold and warm experiences of old age. In such circumstances, keeping in mind the requirements of respect and honor for parents becomes a very difficult stage. However, only the one who keeps these requirements in mind will be successful in the sight of Allah.

23. Your [23] Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him [24], and show kindness to parents [25]. If one or both of them reach old age with you [26], do not even say "uff" to them, nor scold them, but speak to them with respect.

[23]
Fourteen Fundamental Commands for an Islamic Society: The Summary of the Teachings of the Torah

From this verse onwards, in the next fifteen or sixteen verses, such fundamental principles and commands are being stated which serve as the foundation for the construction of an Islamic society. And upon which, in the near future, the foundation of an Islamic state was to be laid. In other words, this was the basic constitution of the Islamic state, the announcement of which was made in the last period of life in Makkah, stating upon which ideological, moral, social, economic, and legal principles the foundation of this new state would be laid. And Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ says that Allah Almighty has summarized the entire teaching of the Torah in these verses.

[24]
When Did Allah Decide the Matter of Tawheed?

When did Allah Almighty make this decision? The answer to this question is that Allah Almighty made this decision at the very time when, after creating Sayyiduna Adam ؑ, He brought forth all the souls to be born from his loins and presented them before Himself and asked, "Am I not your Lord?" So all replied, "Why not, we acknowledge this." Then Allah Almighty said, "I am taking this acknowledgment from you lest on the Day of Resurrection you say that it was our forefathers who committed shirk and we were unaware of it." [7: 172، 173]
The summary of that covenant is contained in this sentence, that the acknowledgment was, firstly, of the existence of Allah Almighty, and secondly, that no one else would be associated with Him.

Monotheistic Religions Have Always Existed in the World, Even If Few in Number

From a doctrinal perspective, mankind is divided into two groups: one group is those who do not believe in the existence of Allah at all, such as atheists and naturalists, etc. The second group is those who are followers of some religion and believe in the existence of Allah. In this respect, the first group is small, and the majority has always been those who believe in the existence of Allah. Then this second group, i.e., those who believe in the existence of Allah, is further divided into two: one, those who believe in Allah but also associate partners with Him; and the other, those who remain steadfast upon monotheism. Among them, the majority are of the first type, and those who are monotheists have always been few. And Allah's decision was that man should believe in His existence and not associate anyone with Him. Now, those who denied the existence of Allah also violated the covenant made with Allah, and those who committed shirk also violated it. Only a few remain who fulfilled the covenant made with Allah and lived according to Allah's decision, and that small group of monotheists has always existed in the world and will remain until the Day of Judgment, so that the proof is always established against the people. Thus, in this verse of Surah Yusuf: ﴿وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ اَكْثَرُهُمْ باللّٰهِ اِلَّا وَهُمْ مُّشْرِكُوْنَ﴾, this very reality has been stated.

[25]
Good Treatment of Parents and Fulfillment of Their Rights

Allah Almighty, in several places in the Noble Quran, has mentioned parents immediately after mentioning Himself. Then He did not say to fulfill the rights of parents, but rather said to treat them well, and it is clear that good treatment includes much more than just fulfilling rights. Similarly, in authentic ahadith, after shirk, the second greatest sin is considered to be disobedience to parents, and the meaning of 'uqooq' (disobedience) is generally taken as disobedience, whereas 'uqooq' means every act that causes mental or spiritual harm to the parents. For example, neglecting parents, especially when they are old and in need of attention. This does not fall under disobedience, but it certainly falls under the meaning of 'uqooq'. That is why the Quran, at every place, has mentioned kindness or good treatment towards parents.

[26]
Reasons for Good Treatment of Parents

When parents are old and can no longer earn, and their children are young and earning, then in many respects, parents are in need of better treatment from their children. Firstly, that the children should support them financially and provide for their sustenance. Secondly, the love of parents for their children remains constant, but the love of children shifts towards their own offspring, so the children remain attentive to their own children and their attention is diverted from their parents. Whereas, at this age, parents need special attention, love, and affection from their children more than ever. Thirdly, due to old age, the temperament of parents naturally becomes irritable, and since the children are now independent of them, instead of tolerating their parents' words, they start saying inappropriate things to them. For these reasons, children have been instructed to speak to them with respect and keeping in mind the demands of love and affection, so that they do not suffer any kind of mental or spiritual harm.