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
وَأَنْ أَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
And [commanded], 'Direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth, and never be of those who associate others with Allāh;
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allāh has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.
مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allāh]. And he was not of the polytheists.
وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.