وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا 24
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Wa-akhfid lahuma janaha al-dhull min al-rahmah wa-qul rabbi arhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to lower the wing of humility and mercy toward their parents, treating them with gentleness and compassion as they cared for the believer in childhood. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'lowering the wing' is a metaphor for complete humility and tender treatment, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the supplication 'Lord, have mercy upon them as they raised me when I was small' reflects reciprocal gratitude, making du'a for parents a central act of filial piety. The ayah establishes parental rights as a divine obligation immediately following the command to worship Allah alone (mentioned in the previous ayah), underscoring the spiritual significance of honoring parents.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra (Chapter 17), a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic principles and ethics. It appears within a passage (17:23-25) dedicated entirely to parental rights, revealed during the early Meccan period when the Muslim community was being instructed on core moral values. The broader context emphasizes the balanced life of worship ('ibadah) and righteous conduct ('amal salih).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds is to treat parents with kindness' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'Paradise lies at the feet of your mother' (Sunan An-Nasa'i) reflects the high status of parental care emphasized in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring parents is not merely an obligatory duty but an expression of gratitude and mercy grounded in spiritual devotion—believers should treat their aging parents with the same tender care their parents provided in childhood, remembering that compassion toward parents is inseparable from compassion in one's relationship with Allah.