Quran · Topic
Quran verses about parents
The Quran places kindness to parents immediately after worship of Allah: "be kind to parents" (17:23), and teaches a dua for them: "My Lord, have mercy on them as they cared for me when I was small" (17:24). These verses name the mother's hardship in carrying and nursing, and tie gratitude to parents to gratitude to Allah.
Honouring parents (birr al-walidayn) is commanded right after tawhid. Read these verses for the Quran's guidance on how to treat parents — and the dua to make for them.
5 key verses at a glance
- Quran 17:23— Be kind to parents — do not even say 'uff' to themMyQuran.io
- Quran 17:24— Lower the wing of humility and mercy, and pray for themMyQuran.io
- Quran 31:14— We commanded people to honour their parents — their mother bore them in hardshipMyQuran.io
- Quran 46:15— Be grateful to Me and to your parents — to Me is the returnMyQuran.io
- Quran 4:36— Worship Allah, associate none with Him, and be kind to parentsMyQuran.io
Be kind to parents — do not even say 'uff' to them
Parents
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلًا كَرِيمًا
Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them ˹even so much as˺ 'uff,' nor scold them. Rather, speak to them respectfully
Worship none but Him, and be kind to parents — not even "uff" to them.
Reference
Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) — Quran 17:23Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
Lower the wing of humility and mercy, and pray for them
Parents
وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
And lower your wing ˹of humility˺ to them, in mercy, and pray, "My Lord! Have mercy on them as they cared for me when I was small."
Lower the wing of humility and pray for mercy on them.
Reference
Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) — Quran 17:24Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
We commanded people to honour their parents — their mother bore them in hardship
Parents
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنۡسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنࣲ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِي عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيۡكَ إِلَيَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
And We have commanded people to ˹honour˺ their parents. Their mothers carried them in much hardship and nursed them for two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return
The mother bore them in hardship upon hardship — honour is owed.
Be grateful to Me and to your parents — to Me is the return
Parents
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنۡسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ اِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهًا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهًاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًا
We have commanded people to be good to their parents. Their mothers carried them in much hardship and nursed them for two years... So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return
Be grateful to Me and to your parents — to Me is the return.
Reference
Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-Curved Sandhills) — Quran 46:15Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
Worship Allah, associate none with Him, and be kind to parents
Parents
وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَٰنًا وَبِٱلۡقَرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡجَارِ ذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡجَارِ ٱلۡجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلجَنۢبِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡ
Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, fellow travellers, and ˹your˺ slaves
Worship Allah and be kind to parents, relatives, orphans and neighbours.
English: The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, via MyQuran.io. Arabic: Tanzil / Uthmani text.