Surah Al-Isra • Ayah 23

The Command to Worship Allah Alone and to be Dutiful to One's ParentsAllah commands us to worship Him alone, with no partner or associate. The word Qada normally having the meaning of decree here means "commanded". Mujahid said thatوَقُضِىَ(And He has Qada) means enjoined. This is also how Ubayy bin Ka`b, Ibn Mas`ud and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim recited the Ayah as:«وَوَصَّى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاه»"And your Lord has Wassa enjoined that you worship none but Him." The idea of worshipping Allah is connected to the idea of honoring one's parents. Allah says:وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا(And that you be dutiful to your parents.) Here He commands good treatment of parents, as He says elsewhere:أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ الْمَصِيرُ(give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination) 31:14إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ(If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect,) means, do not let them hear anything offensive from you, not even say "Uff!" which is the mildest word of disrespect,وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا(and do not reprimand them) means, do not do anything horrible to them.وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا(and do not reprimand them) `Ata' bin Rabah said that it meant, "Do not raise your hand against them." When Allah forbids speaking and behaving in an obnoxious manner, He commands speaking and behaving in a good manner, so He says:وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًا(but address them in terms of honor.) meaning gently, kindly, politely, and with respect and appreciation.وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ(And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy,) means, be humble towards them in your actions.وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا(and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.") means, say this when they grow old and when they die. Ibn `Abbas said: "But then Allah revealed:مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators. ..)" 9:13 There are many Hadiths which speak about honoring one's parents, such as the Hadith narrated through a number of chains of narration from Anas and others, which states that the Prophet climbed up on the Minbar, and then said, ((Amin, Amin, Amin.)) It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, why did you say Amin" He said:«أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ ذُكِرْتَ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْمُيصَلِّ عَلَيْكَ، قُلْ: آمِينَ، فَقُلْتُ: آمِينَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَلَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ، قُلْ: آمِينَ، فَقُلْتُ: آمِينَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَ وَالِدَيْهِ أَوْ أَحَدَهُمَا فَلَمْ يُدْخِلَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ، قُلْ: آمِينَ، فَقُلْتُ: آمِين»(Jibril came to me and said, "O Muhammad, he is doomed who hears you mentioned and does not say Salla upon you." He said, "Say Amin," so I said Amin. Then he said, "He is doomed who sees the month of Ramadan come and go, and he has not been forgiven." He said, "Say Amin," so I said Amin. Then he said, "He is doomed who grows up and both his parents or one of them are still alive, and they do not cause him to enter Paradise." He said, "Say Amin," so I said Amin.)Another Hadith Imam Ahmad reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said:«رَغِمَ أَنْفُ، ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَ أَحَدَ أَبَوَيْهِ أَوْ (كِلَيْهِمَا) عِنْدَ الْكِبَرِ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلِ الْجَنَّة»(He is doomed, he is doomed, he is doomed, the man whose parents, one or both of them, reach old age while he is alive and he does not enter Paradise.) This version is Sahih although no one recorded it other than Muslim.Another HadithImam Ahmad recorded Mu`awiyah bin Jahimah As-Salami saying that Jahimah came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I want to go out to fight and I have come to seek your advice." He said,«فَهَلْ لَكَ مِنْ أُم»(Do you have a mother) He said, "Yes." The Prophet said,«فَالْزَمْهَا فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ عِنْدَ رِجْلَيْهَا»(Then stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet.) Similar incidents were also recorded by others. This was recorded by An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.Another HadithImam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miqdam bin Ma`dikarib said that the Prophet said:«إِنَّ اللهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِآبَائِكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُوصِيكُمْ بِالْأَقْرَبِ فَالْأَقْرَب»(Allah enjoins you concerning your fathers, Allah enjoins you concerning your mothers, Allah enjoins you concerning your mothers, Allah enjoins you concerning your mothers, Allah enjoins you concerning your close relatives then the next in closeness.) This was recorded by Ibn Majah from the Hadith of `Abdullah bin `Ayyash.Another HadithAhmad recorded that a man from Banu Yarbu` said: "I came to the Prophet while he was talking to the people, and I heard him saying,«يَدُ الْمُعْطِي الْعُلْيَا، أُمَّكَ وَأَبَاكَ، وَأُخْتَكَ وَأَخَاكَ، ثُمَّ أَدْنَاكَ أَدْنَاك»(The hand of the one who gives is superior. (Give to) your mother and your father, your sister and your brother, then the closest and next closest.)"

اٹل فیصلے محکم حکم ٭٭یہاں «قَضَىٰ» معنی میں حکم فرمانے کے ہے تاکیدی حکم الٰہی جو کبھی ٹلنے والا نہیں یہی ہے کہ عبادت اللہ ہی کی ہو اور والدین کی اطاعت میں ہمیشہ فرق نہ آئے۔ سیدنا ابی ابن کعب، ابن مسعود اور سیدنا ضحاک بن مزاحم رضی اللہ عنہم کی قرأت میں «قَضَىٰ» کے بدلے «وصی» ہے۔ یہ دونوں حکم ایک ساتھ جیسے یہاں ہیں ایسے ہی اور بھی بہت سی آیتوں میں ہیں۔ جیسے فرمان ہے آیت «أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ» [31-لقمان:14] ‏ ” میرا شکر کر اور اپنے ماں باپ کا بھی احسان مند رہ۔“ خصوصا ان کے بڑھاپے کے زمانے میں ان کا پورا ادب کرنا، کوئی بری بات زبان سے نہ نکالنا یہاں تک کہ ان کے سامنے ہوں بھی نہ کرنا، نہ کوئی ایسا کام کرنا جو انہیں برا معلوم ہو، اپنا ہاتھ ان کی طرف بےادبی سے نہ بڑھانا، بلکہ ادب، عزت اور احترام کے ساتھ ان سے بات چیت کرنا، نرمی اور تہذیب سے گفتگو کرنا، ان کی رضا مندی کے کام کرنا، دکھ نہ دینا، ستانا نہیں، ان کے سامنے تواضع، عاجزی، فروتنی اور خاکساری سے رہنا۔ ان کے لیے ان کے بڑھاپے میں ان کے انتقال کے بعد دعائیں کرتے رہنا۔ خصوصا یہ دعا کہ اے اللہ ان پر رحم کر جیسے رحم سے انہوں نے میرے بچپن کے زمانے میں میری پرورش کی۔ ہاں ایمانداروں کو کافروں کے لیے دعا کرنا منع ہو گئی ہے گو وہ ماں باپ ہی کیوں نہ ہوں؟صفحہ نمبر4673ماں باپ سے سلوک و احسان کے احکام کی حدیثیں بہت سی ہیں۔ ایک روایت میں ہے کہ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے منبر پر چڑھتے ہوئے تین دفعہ آمین کہی، جب آپ سے وجہ دریافت کی گئی تو آپ نے فرمایا میرے پاس جبرائیل علیہ السلام آئے اور کہا اے نبی (‏ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) اس شخص کی ناک خاک آلود ہو، جس کے پاس تیرا ذکر ہو اور اس نے تجھ پر درود بھی نہ پڑھا ہو۔ کہئے آمین چنانچہ میں نے آمین کہی۔ پھر فرمایا اس شخص کی ناک بھی اللہ تعالیٰ خاک آلود کرے جس کی زندگی میں ماہ رمضان آیا اور چلا بھی گیا اور اس کی بخشش نہ ہوئی۔ آمین کہئے چنانچہ میں نے اس پر بھی آمین کہی۔ پھر فرمایا اللہ اسے بھی برباد کرے۔ جس نے اپنے ماں باپ کو یا ان میں سے ایک کو پا لیا اور پھر بھی ان کی خدمت کر کے جنت میں نہ پہنچ سکا کہئے آمین میں نے کہا آمین۔ [سنن ترمذي:3545،قال الشيخ الألباني:صحیح] ‏صفحہ نمبر4674مسند احمد کی حدیث میں ہے جس نے کسی مسلمان ماں باپ کے یتیم بچہ کو پالا اور کھلایا پلایا یہاں تک کہ وہ بے نیاز ہو گیا اس کے لیے یقیناً جنت واجب ہے اور جس نے کسی مسلمان غلام کو آزاد کیا اللہ اسے جہنم سے آزاد کرے گا اس کے ایک ایک عضو کے بدلے اس کا ایک ایک عضو جہنم سے آزاد ہو گا۔ [مسند احمد:29/5:صحیح باشواھد] ‏ اس حدیث کی ایک سند میں ہے جس نے اپنے ماں باپ کو یا دونوں میں سے کسی ایک کو پا لیا پھر بھی دوزخ میں گیا اللہ اسے اپنی رحمت سے دور کرے۔ [مسند احمد:29/5:صحیح باشواھد] ‏ مسند احمد کی ایک روایت میں یہ تینوں چیزیں ایک ساتھ بیان ہوئی ہیں یعنی گردن آزاد کرنا خدمت والدین اور پرورش یتیم۔ [مسند احمد:344/4:صحیح لغیرہ] ‏ ایک روایت میں ماں باپ کی نسبت یہ بھی ہے کہ اللہ اسے دور کرے اور اسے برباد کرے الخ۔ [مسند احمد:344/4:صحیح لغیرہ] ‏ ایک روایت میں تین مرتبہ اس کے لیے یہ بدعا ہے۔ [صحیح مسلم:2551] ‏ ایک روایت میں نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا نام سن کر درود نہ پڑھنے والے اور ماہ رمضان میں بخشش الٰہی سے محروم رہ جانے والے اور ماں باپ کی خدمت اور رضا مندی سے جنت میں نہ پہنچنے والے کے لیے خود نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا یہ بدعا کرنا منقول ہے۔ [سنن ترمذي:3545،قال الشيخ الألباني:صحیح] ‏ ایک انصاری نے نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے سوال کیا کہ میرے ماں باپ کے انتقال کے بعد بھی ان کے ساتھ میں کوئی سلوک کر سکتا ہوں؟ آپ نے فرمایا ہاں چار سلوک (‏١) ان کے جنازے کی نماز (‏٢)‏ ان کے لیے دعا و استغفار (‏٣)‏ ان کے وعدوں کو پورا کرنا (‏٤) ان کے دوستوں کی عزت کرنا اور وہ صلہ رحمی جو صرف ان کی وجہ سے ہو۔ یہ ہے وہ سلوک جو ان کی موت کے بعد بھی تو ان کے ساتھ کر سکتا ہے [سنن ابوداود:5142،قال الشيخ الألباني:ضعیف] ‏صفحہ نمبر4675ایک شخص نے آکر نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے کہا یا رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم میں جہاد کے ارادے سے آپ کی خدمت میں خوشخبری لے کر آیا ہوں۔ آپ نے فرمایا تیری ماں ہے؟ اس نے کہا ہاں فرمایا جا اسی کی خدمت میں لگا رہ۔ جنت اسی کے پیروں کے پاس ہے۔ دو بارہ سہ بارہ اس نے مختلف مواقع پر اپنی یہی بات دہرائی اور یہی جواب نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے بھی دہرایا۔ [سنن نسائی:3106،قال الشيخ الألباني:صحیح] ‏ آپ کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم فرماتے ہیں اللہ تمہیں تمہارے باپوں کی نسبت وصیت فرماتا ہے اللہ تمہیں تمہاری ماؤں کی نسبت وصیت فرماتا ہے۔ پچھلے جملے کو تین بار بیان فرماکر فرمایا اللہ تمہیں تمہارے قرابت داروں کی بابت وصیت کرتا ہے، سب سے زیادہ نزدیک والا پھر اس کے پاس والا۔ [سنن ابن ماجه:3661،قال الشيخ الألباني:حسن] ‏ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم فرماتے ہیں دینے والے کا ہاتھ اونچا ہے اپنی ماں سے سلوک کر اور اپنے باپ سے اور اپنی بہن سے اور اپنے بھائی سے پھر جو اس کے بعد ہو اسی طرح درجہ بدرجہ۔ [مسند احمد:64/4:صحیح] ‏ بزار کی مسند میں ضعیف سند سے مروی ہے کہ ایک صاحب اپنی ماں کو اٹھائے ہوئے طواف کرا رہے تھے، نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے دریافت کرنے لگے کہ اب تو میں نے اپنی والدہ کا حق ادا کر دیا ہے؟ آپ نے فرمایا ایک شمہ بھی نہیں۔ [طبرانی صغیر:255:ضعیف] ‏ «وَاللهُ اَعْلَمُ» ۔صفحہ نمبر4676

آیت 23 وَقَضٰى رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْٓا اِلَّآ اِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ اِحْسَانًااللہ کے حقوق کے فوراً بعد والدین کے حقوق ادا کرنے کی تاکید اس سے پہلے ہم سورة البقرۃ کی آیت 83 اور سورة النساء کی آیت 36 میں بھی پڑھ آئے ہیں۔ اس کے بعد سورة لقمان کی آیت 14 میں یہی حکم چوتھی مرتبہ آئے گا۔فَلَا تَـقُلْ لَّهُمَآ اُفٍّ وَّلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيْمًااگر کبھی والدین کی بات کو ٹالنا بھی پڑجائے تو حکمت اور نرمی کے ساتھ ایسا کیا جائے۔ عقل اور منطق کے بل پر سینہ تان کر یوں جواب نہ دیا جائے کہ ان کا دل دکھے۔

CommentaryIt is very important to respect and obey parentsImam al-Qurtubi says that, in this verse (23), Allah Ta` ala has made it necessary (wajib) to respect and treat parents well by combining it with the command to worship Him. This is similar to what has been said in Surah Luqman where the inevitable need to thank Him has been combined with the need to thank one's parents: أَنِ اشْكُرْ‌ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ (Be grateful to Me, and to your parents - 31:14). This proves that, after the obligation of worshipping the most exalted Allah, obeying parents is most important and being grateful to parents like being grateful to Allah Ta’ ala is wajib (necessary). This has its confirmation in the Hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari where a person reportedly asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ "Which is the most favoured deed in the sight of Allah?" He said, "Salah at its (mustahabb: preferred) time." The person asked again, "Which is the most favoured deed after that?" To that he said, "Treating parents well." (Qurtubi)The merits of obeying and serving parents in Ilad! th narratives1. In the Musnad of Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Mustadrak Hakim, it has been reported on sound authority from Sayyidna Abu ` d-Darda' that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "A father is the main gate of Jannah. Now it is up to you to preserve or waste it." (Mazhari)2. According to a report from Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Umar ؓ appearing in Jmi' al-Tirmidhi and al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim (which Hakim rates as Sahih), the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "The pleasure of Allah is in the pleasure of a father and the displeasure of Allah in the displeasure of a father."3. Ibn Majah reports on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Umamah that a person asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ : "What rights do parents have on their children?" He said, "They both are your Paradise, or Hell." It means that obeying and serving parents take one to Jannah and their disobedience and displeasure, to Jahannam.4. Al-Baihaqi (in Shu'ab al-'Iman) and Ibn ` Asakir have reported on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "For one who remained obedient to his parents for the sake of Allah two gates of Paradise shall remain open. And for one who disobeyed them two gates of Hell shall remain open, and if he had just one of the two, either father or mother, then, one gate (of Paradise or Hell shall remain open)." Thereupon, someone asked, "Does it (the warning of Hell) hold good even when the parents have been unjust to this person?" Then he said thrice: وَ اِن ظَلَمَا وَ اِن ظَلَمَا وَ اِن ظَلَمَا which means, 'yes, there is that warning of Hell against disobeying and hurting parents even if they were unjust to the son.' (The outcome is that children have no right to settle scores with parents. If they have been unjust, it does not follow that they too back out from obeying and serving them).5. Al-Baihaqi has reported on the authority of Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Abbas ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "An obedient son who looks at his parents with mercy and affection receives the reward of one accepted Hajj against every such look cast." People around said, "What if he were to look at them like that a hundred times during the day?" He said, "Yes, a hundred times too (he will keep receiving that reward). Allah is great (His treasures never run short)."The punishment for depriving parents of their rights comes - much before Akhirah - right here in this world too6. In Shu'ab al-'Iman, al-Baihaqi has reported on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Bakrah ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "As for all those other sins, Allah Ta` ala defers whichever He wills up to the Last Day of Qiyamah - except the sin of depriving parents of their rights and disobeying them. The punishment for that is given, much before comes the Hereafter, right here in this world as well. (All Hadith reports given here have been taken from Tafsir Mazhari)Obedience to parents: When necessary and when there is room for oppositionMuslim scholars and jurists unanimously hold that the obedience to parents is wajib (necessary) only in what is permissible - and definitely not in what is impermissible or sinful. Says the Hadith:لا طاعۃ لمخلوق فی معصیۃ الخالقThere is no obedience to the created in the disobedience of the Creator.To deserve service and good treatment it is not necessary that the parents be MuslimsTo support this ruling, Imam al-Qurtubi has quoted an event related with Sayyidah Asma' ؓ from the Sahih of al-Bukhari. According to this report, Sayyidah Asma' asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، "My mother, a Mushrik, comes to see me. Is it permissible for me to entertain her?" He said," صِلَی اُمَّکِ " (sili ummaki: that is, respect the bond of relationship with your mother and entertain her). And as for disbelieving parents, there is that statement of the Qur'an itself (Luqman, 31:15): صَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُ‌وفًا (that is, if the parents of a person are kafirs and order him too to be-come like them, then, it is not permissible to obey them in this matter. But, while living in this world, they should be treated in the recognized manner). It is obvious that 'recognized manner' means that they should be treated with courtesy.Rulings1. As long as Jihad does not become an absolute individual obligation (Fard al-` Ain), rather remains within the degree of a collective obligation (Fard al-Kifayah), until then, it is not permissible for any son to participate in Jihad without the consent of parents. It has been reported in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Umar ؓ that a person presented himself before the Holy Prophet ﷺ in order to have his permission to participate in Jihad. He asked him, "Are your parents alive?" He submitted, "Yes, they are." He said, " فَفِیھِمَا فَجَاھد " (fafihima fajahid: Then you carry out Jihad in [ the service of ] them both). The sense is that 'by serving them alone you will get the reward of being in Jihad.' Another report also adds that the person said, "I have come here leaving my parents crying behind." Thereupon, he said, "Go. Make them laugh as you made them cry." In other words, he was to go back home and tell his parents that he would not be going for Jihad without their consent. (Qurtubi)2. From the event reported above, we learn the ruling that anything that rates as a collective obligation - and is not an individual obligation, or necessity - then, sons and daughters cannot do that without the permission of parents. Also included here is the injunction to acquire the most perfect knowledge of religion (the 'ilm of din) at the highest level, and to travel to communicate and promote it (the tabligh of din). It means that anyone who has the knowledge of religion to the measure one is obligated with individually cannot travel in order to become an ` alim of din (scholar of religion), or travel for the da'wah and tabligh of din, for it is not permissible without the permission of parents.3. Also included under the injunction of treating parents well appearing in the Qur'an, and Hadith is good treatment with relatives and friends close to parents, specially when they are dead. In the Sahih of al-Bukhari, it has been reported from Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Umar ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, The noblest regard one can show to a father after his death is to treat his friends well." And Sayyidna Abu Usayd al-Badri رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ reports that he was sitting with the Holy Prophet ﷺ when an Ansari came and asked, "Ya Rasulallah, is it that some right of my parents remains due against me even after they have died?" He said, "Yes. Praying and seeking forgiveness for them, fulfilling the promises they had made to someone, being kind and respectful to their friends and showing mercy and generosity to such relatives who are linked in kinship only through them (Silatu 'r-rahim). These are the rights of your parents still due against you, even after them."It was the blessed habit of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that he used to send gifts to lady friends of Ummal-Mu'minin Sayyidah Khadijah ؓ after her demise which was a way of fulfilling the right of Sayyidah Khadijah ؓ on him.Treating parents well: Special consideration in their old ageAs for serving and obeying parents, as parents, it is not restricted to any given time or age. In fact, it is necessary (wajib) to treat parents well, under all conditions, and in every age. But, there are circumstances that usually impede the fulfillment of what is necessary and obligatory. Under these circumstances, the typical response pattern of the Holy Qur'an comes into action to suggest ways and means through which acting according to given injunctions becomes easy. With this objective in sight, it grooms and trains minds through different angles and, at the same time, it continues to emphasize that compliance of these injunctions is imperative despite such circumstances.The old age of parents, when they become helpless, depend on children for everything they need and their life is at the mercy of children, is a terrible condition to be in. The slightest indifference shown by children at such a time breaks their heart. Then, there are those physical infirmities and diseases associated with old age which make one naturally irritation-prone. Furthermore, during the period of extreme old age, when usual reason and comprehension do not seem to be working, some of their wishes and demands assume the kind of proportions which children find difficult to take care of. The Holy Qur'an takes cognizance of these circumstances, but, while giving children the instruction to comfort them, it reminds them of their own childhood. It tells them that there was a time when they too were far more helpless, far too depending on their parents than their parents were on them at that point of time. Then, was it not that their parents sacrificed their desires and comforts for them and went on bearing by the unreasonable child talk with love and affection. Now when they have become so helpless, reason and nobility demanded that the past favour done by them should be paid back. When it was said: كَمَا رَ‌بَّيَانِي صَغِيرً‌ا (as they have brought me up in my child-hood) in the verse, this is what has been alluded to. Some other important instructions relating to the old age of parents have also been given in the verses under study. They are as follows:1. Do not say even 'uff to them. Briefly explained parenthetically in the accompanying translation as 'a word of anger or contempt,' 'uff covers every word or expression that shows one's displeasure. The limit is that breathing a long breath after having heard what they said and thereby betraying displeasure against them is also included under this very word 'uff.' In a Hadith narrated by Sayyidna ` Ali ؓ ، it has been reported that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "Had there been some other de-gree of hurting lesser than the saying of 'uff,' that too would have certainly been mentioned." (The sense is that even the thing that hurts parents in the lowest of the low degree is forbidden).2. Do not scold them: وَلَا تَنْهَرْ‌هُمَا . This is the second instruction. The word: نھر (nahr) in the text: means 'scold' or 'reproach.' That it causes pain in already obvious.3. Address them with respectable words - (وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِ‌يمًا). This is the third instruction. The first two instructions related to the negative aspects where bringing the least emotional pressure on parents has been prohibited. Given in this third instruction is a lesson in the art of conversation with parents - talk to them softly with love, grace and concern for them. Says the revered Tabi` i, Said ibn Mussaiyyab, ' like a slave talking to his strict master!'