وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَٱتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 15
Translations
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, 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.
Transliteration
Wa-in jahada-ka 'ala an tushrika bi majala laysa laka bihi 'ilmun fa-la tuti'huma wa-sahahbhuma fi ad-dunya ma'rufan wa-ittabi' sabila man ana-ba ilayya thumma ilayya marji'ukum fa-unabbikum bima kuntum ta'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the obligation to honor one's parents while maintaining absolute monotheism and refusing to commit shirk (associating partners with Allah), even if parents pressure one to do so. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that obedience to parents is conditional and cannot override the fundamental Islamic principle of tawhid (monotheism). The ayah instructs believers to treat disobedient parents with kindness and good treatment in worldly matters ('ma'ruf') while spiritually following the path of those who have turned to Allah, ultimately reminding that all will return to Him for judgment.
Revelation Context
This verse appears within Surah Luqman's didactic section where Luqman counsels his son. It addresses a practical scenario faced by many early converts whose parents remained non-believers and attempted to pressure them into idolatry. The broader context of the surah emphasizes moral instruction and monotheistic guidance for believers.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah record that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.' This principle directly supports this ayah's message that parental authority cannot supersede divine commands.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must balance honoring and caring for parents with unwavering commitment to Islamic principles; no earthly relationship justifies compromising core Islamic beliefs. This teaches that true respect for parents means treating them kindly while remaining firm in faith and following the righteous path that leads back to Allah.
Related Ayahs
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۖ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, "Worship Allāh and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.
إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ رَبَّ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْبَلْدَةِ ٱلَّذِى حَرَّمَهَا وَلَهُۥ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
[Say, O Muḥammad], "I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, who made it sacred and to whom [belongs] all things. And I am commanded to be of the Muslims [i.e., those who submit to Allāh].
ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ
Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me?