Quran Verses about Kindness to parents

16 ayahs · from 10 surahs

Allah commands kindness to both parents right after the command to worship Him, forbids saying "uff" to them or scolding them, and recalls the hardship of the mother who carried and nursed her child. Parents are to be accompanied kindly in this world, but not obeyed if they call to shirk. The verses also contain prayers for parents, the example of Yahya and Isa who were dutiful, and a rebuke of the child who rejects them.

The command to be kind to parents

  1. وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانٗا وَذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسۡنٗا وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنكُمۡ وَأَنتُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٨٣

    Wa idh akhadhnā mīthāqa banī isrāʾīla lā taʿbudūna illallāha wabil-wālidayni iḥsānaw wa dhil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wa qūlū lin-nāsi ḥusnaw wa aqīmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātuz-zakāta thumma tawallaytum illā qalīlam minkum wa antum muʿriḍūn.

    And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

  1. ۞ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـٔٗاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنٗا وَبِذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡجَارِ ذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡجَارِ ٱلۡجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلۡجَنۢبِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخۡتَالٗا فَخُورًا ٣٦

    Waʿbudullāha wa lā tushrikū bihī shayʾā, wabil-wālidayni iḥsānaw wabidhil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wal-jāri dhil-qurbā wal-jāril-junubi waṣ-ṣāḥibi bil-janbi wabnis-sabīli wa mā malakat aymānukum, innallāha lā yuḥibbu man kāna mukhtālan fakhūrā.

    Worship Allāh and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side,1 the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allāh does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful,

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., those whose acquaintance you have made. Also interpreted as the wife.
  1. ۞ قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـٔٗاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنٗاۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُم مِّنۡ إِمۡلَٰقٖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكُمۡ وَإِيَّاهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِي حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ١٥١

    Qul taʿālaw atlu mā ḥarrama rabbukum ʿalaykum, allā tushrikū bihī shayʾā, wabil-wālidayni iḥsānā, wa lā taqtulū awlādakum min imlāqin naḥnu narzuqukum wa iyyāhum, wa lā taqrabul-fawāḥisha mā ẓahara minhā wa mā baṭan, wa lā taqtulun-nafsal-latī ḥarramallāhu illā bil-ḥaqq, dhālikum waṣṣākum bihī laʿallakum taʿqilūn.

    Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."

  1. ۞ 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 ٢٣

    Wa qaḍā rabbuka allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu wabil-wālidayni iḥsānā, immā yablughanna ʿindakal-kibara aḥaduhumā aw kilāhumā falā taqul lahumā uffiw wa lā tanharhumā wa qul lahumā qawlan karīmā.

    And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff,"1 and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. An expression of disapproval or irritation.
  2. وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرٗا ٢٤

    Wakhfiḍ lahumā janāḥadh-dhulli minar-raḥmati wa qul rabbirḥamhumā kamā rabbayānī ṣaghīrā.

    And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

  3. رَّبُّكُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُمۡۚ إِن تَكُونُواْ صَٰلِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِلۡأَوَّٰبِينَ غَفُورٗا ٢٥

    Rabbukum aʿlamu bimā fī nufūsikum, in takūnū ṣāliḥīna fa innahū kāna lil-awwābīna ghafūrā.

    Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.1

    Footnotes (1)
    1. For those who intend righteousness, hastening to repent from sins and errors committed through human weakness, Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) promises forgiveness.
  1. وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ١٥

    Wa waṣṣaynal-insāna biwālidayhi iḥsānā, ḥamalathu ummuhū kurhaw wa waḍaʿathu kurhā, wa ḥamluhū wa fiṣāluhū thalāthūna shahrā, ḥattā idhā balagha ashuddahū wa balagha arbaʿīna sanatan qāla rabbi awziʿnī an ashkura niʿmatakal-latī anʿamta ʿalayya wa ʿalā wālidayya wa an aʿmala ṣāliḥan tarḍāhu wa aṣliḥ lī fī dhurriyyatī, innī tubtu ilayka wa innī minal-muslimīn.

    And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me1 to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Literally, "gather within me the utmost strength and ability."
  2. أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ ١٦

    Ulāʾikal-ladhīna nataqabbalu ʿanhum aḥsana mā ʿamilū wa natajāwazu ʿan sayyiʾātihim fī aṣḥābil-jannah, waʿdaṣ-ṣidqil-ladhī kānū yūʿadūn.

    Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.

No obedience to parents in shirk

  1. وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ حُسۡنٗاۖ وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشۡرِكَ بِي مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَآۚ إِلَيَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ٨

    Wa waṣṣaynal-insāna biwālidayhi ḥusnā, wa in jāhadāka litushrika bī mā laysa laka bihī ʿilmun falā tuṭiʿhumā, ilayya marjiʿukum fa unabbiʾukum bimā kuntum taʿmalūn.

    And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge,1 do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., no knowledge of its divinity. There can be no knowledge about something which is non-existent or untrue.
  1. وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٖ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِي عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيۡكَ إِلَيَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٤

    Wa waṣṣaynal-insāna biwālidayhi ḥamalathu ummuhū wahnan ʿalā wahniw wa fiṣāluhū fī ʿāmayni anishkur lī waliwālidayka ilayyal-maṣīr.

    And We have 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] destination.

  2. وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِي مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَاۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفٗاۖ وَٱتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ مَنۡ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّۚ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ١٥

    Wa in jāhadāka ʿalā an tushrika bī mā laysa laka bihī ʿilmun falā tuṭiʿhumā, wa ṣāḥibhumā fid-dunyā maʿrūfā, wattabiʿ sabīla man anāba ilayy, thumma ilayya marjiʿukum fa unabbiʾukum bimā kuntum taʿmalūn.

    But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge,1 do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. See footnote to 29:8.

Spending on parents

  1. يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَۖ قُلۡ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّنۡ خَيۡرٖ فَلِلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۗ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٞ ٢١٥

    Yasʾalūnaka mādhā yunfiqūn, qul mā anfaqtum min khayrin falil-wālidayni wal-aqrabīna wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wabnis-sabīl, wa mā tafʿalū min khayrin fa innallāha bihī ʿalīm.

    They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."

Prayers for parents

  1. رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيَّ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلۡحِسَابُ ٤١

    Rabbanaghfir lī waliwālidayya walil-muʾminīna yawma yaqūmul-ḥisāb.

    Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established."

  1. رَّبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيۡتِيَ مُؤۡمِنٗا وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارَۢا ٢٨

    Rabbighfir lī waliwālidayya waliman dakhala baytiya muʾminaw walil-muʾminīna wal-muʾmināt, wa lā tazidiẓ-ẓālimīna illā tabārā.

    My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."

Examples of dutiful children

  1. وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ وَلَمۡ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيّٗا ١٤

    Wa barram biwālidayhi wa lam yakun jabbāran ʿaṣiyyā.

    And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

  1. وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِي وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡنِي جَبَّارٗا شَقِيّٗا ٣٢

    Wa barram biwālidatī wa lam yajʿalnī jabbāran shaqiyyā.

    And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.

The child who rejects his parents

  1. وَٱلَّذِي قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ أُفّٖ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِيٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِي وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٧

    Wal-ladhī qāla liwālidayhi uffil lakumā ataʿidāninī an ukhraja wa qad khalatil-qurūnu min qablī wa humā yastaghīthānillāha waylaka āmin inna waʿdallāhi ḥaqqun fayaqūlu mā hādhā illā asāṭīrul-awwalīn.

    But one who says to his parents, "Uff1 to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -

    Footnotes (1)
    1. An expression of distaste and irritation.
  2. أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِيٓ أُمَمٖ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ ١٨

    Ulāʾikal-ladhīna ḥaqqa ʿalayhimul-qawlu fī umamin qad khalat min qablihim minal-jinni wal-ins, innahum kānū khāsirīn.

    Those are the ones upon whom the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.