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Filial Piety

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Filial Piety

بر الوالدين

Filial piety, known in Arabic as *Birr al-Walidayn* (بر الوالدين), is a profoundly cherished virtue in Islam, signifying the utmost kindness, respect, and good treatment towards one's parents. It is a duty considered second only to the worship of Allah Himself, underscoring its immense importance in a Muslim's life. The Quran frequently emphasizes this bond, reminding believers to [do good to parents] immediately after enjoining the worship of God. This encompasses showing gratitude, speaking gently, providing care, and honoring their sacrifices throughout their lives. Islam encourages believers to always prioritize the well-being of their parents, even directing them to [spend of good for parents] first. Prophets are highlighted as exemplars of this virtue, with figures like Yahya (John the Baptist) described as [dutiful to his parents] and Isa (Jesus) similarly stating, [He has made me dutiful to my mother]. However, this obedience is not absolute; while Muslims are enjoined to [goodness to parents], they must not obey if parents command them to associate partners with Allah. Even in such a case, kindness and respect in worldly matters must still be maintained, recognizing that [to Me is your return]. This sacred duty reflects the deep value Islam places on family bonds and gratitude.

Quran 7 verses

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqa Baneee Israaa'eela laa ta'budoona illal laaha wa bil waalidaini ihsaananw wa zil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni wa qooloo linnaasi husnanw wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuzZakaata summa tawallitum illaa qaleelam minkum wa antum mu'ridoon

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

اور جب ہم نے بنی اسرائیل سے عہد لیا کہ خدا کے سوا کسی کی عبادت نہ کرنا اور ماں باپ اور رشتہ داروں اور یتیموں اور محتاجوں کے ساتھ بھلائی کرتے رہنا اور لوگوں سے اچھی باتیں کہنا، اور نماز پڑھتے اور زکوٰة دیتے رہنا، تو چند شخصوں کے سوا تم سب (اس عہد سے) منہ پھیر کر پھر بیٹھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: This verse speaks of the pledge which Allah had made the Israelites take, and the few people it refers to as having been true to the pledge were those who acted upon the Shari'ah of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) (Moses) as long as it was in force, and when it was abrogated, followed the Shari` ah of S...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel in the Torah where We said ‘You shall not worship a variant reading for lā ta‘budūna has third person plural lā ya‘budūn ‘they shall not worship’ any other than God lā ta‘budūna illā Llāha is a predicate denoting a prohibition; one may ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Covenant that Allah took from the Children of Israel Allah reminded the Children of Israel of the commandments that He gave them, and the covenants that He took from them to abide by those commands, and how they intentionally and knowingly turned away from all of that. Allah commanded them to wo...

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ

Yas'aloonaka maazaa yunfiqoona qul maaa anfaqtum min khairin falil waalidaini wal aqrabeena walyataamaa wal masaakeeni wabnis sabeel; wa maa taf'aloo min khairin fa innal laaha bihee 'Aleem

They ask you, [O Muhammad], 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, Allah is Knowing of it."

(اے محمدﷺ) لوگ تم سے پوچھتے ہیں کہ (خدا کی راہ میں) کس طرح کا مال خرچ کریں۔ کہہ دو کہ (جو چاہو خرچ کرو لیکن) جو مال خرچ کرنا چاہو وہ (درجہ بدرجہ اہل استحقاق یعنی) ماں باپ اور قریب کے رشتے داروں کو اور یتیموں کو اور محتاجوں کو اور مسافروں کو (سب کو دو) اور جو بھلائی تم کرو گے خدا اس کو جانتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Imperatives such as - 'leave disbelief and hypocrisy and enter Islam completely', 'listen to none when it comes to obeying the command of Allah', 'spend your wealth and give your life to seek the pleasure of Allah' and 'show fortitude against all sorts of hardships and sufferings' - have ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They will ask you O Muhammad (s) about what they should expend. This was the question posed by ‘Amr b. al-Jamūh. He was a wealthy elderly man and went to ask the Prophet s what and for whom he should expend; Say to them ‘Whatever you expend of good min khayrin ‘of good’ is an explication of mā ‘what...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Who deserves the Nafaqah (Spending or Charity) Muqatil bin Hayyan said that this Ayah was revealed about the voluntary charity. The Ayah means, `They ask you (O Muhammad ) how they should spend,' as Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid have stated. So, Allah explained it for them, saying: قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن...

وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا

Wa barram biwaalidayhi wa lam yakum jabbaaran 'asiyyaa

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

اور ماں باپ کے ساتھ نیکی کرنے والے تھے اور سرکش اور نافرمان نہیں تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: حَنَانًا Literal meaning of this word is soft heartedness, compassion and mercy, and these qualities were specially granted to Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) .
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and dutiful to his parents that is virtuous towards them. And he was not arrogant or rebellious disobedient to his Lord.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to r...

وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا

Wa barram biwaalidatee wa lam yaj'alnee jabbaaran shaqiyyaa

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

اور (مجھے) اپنی ماں کے ساتھ نیک سلوک کرنے والا (بنایا ہے) اور سرکش وبدبخت نہیں بنایا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَبَرًّ‌ا بِوَالِدَتِي "and (He has made me) good to my mother." - 19:32. Here only the mother is mentioned and not both the parents. Hence it is implied that his birth was a miracle, being without a father. Such a discourse coming from an infant was a miracle by itself to prove his miraculous birth...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and He has made me dutiful towards my mother barran in the accusative because of the implicit verb ja‘alanī ‘He has made me’. And He has not made me arrogant haughty wretched disobedient to his Lord.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Maryam with Al-Masih before the People, Their Rejection of Her and His Reply to Them Allah, the Exalted, informs of Maryam's situation when she was commanded to fast that day and not to speak to any human being. For verily, her affair would be taken care of and her proof would be established. Thus, ...

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَآ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Wa wassainal insaana biwaalidaihi husnanw wa in jaahadaaka litushrika bee maa laisa laka bihee 'ilmun falaa tuti'humaa; ilaiya marji'ukum fa unabbi'ukum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon

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, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

اور ہم نے انسان کو اپنے ماں باپ کے ساتھ نیک سلوک کرنے کا حکم دیا ہے۔ (اے مخاطب) اگر تیرے ماں باپ تیرے درپے ہوں کہ تو میرے ساتھ کسی کو شریک بنائے جس کی حقیقت کی تجھے واقفیت نہیں۔ تو ان کا کہنا نہ مانیو۔ تم (سب) کو میری طرف لوٹ کر آنا ہے۔ پھر جو کچھ تم کرتے تھے میں تم کو جتا دوں گا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ (And We have instructed man - 29:8). Wasiyyah (وَصِیَّۃ) means to call someone for some action, when the call is based on advice and well wishing. (Mazhari) بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا (to do good to his parents - 29:8). The Word Husn (حُسن) is an infinitive which means...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents that he should be dutiful towards them; but if they urge you to ascribe to Me as partner that of which you do not have any knowledge any knowledge that accords with reality and so is meaningless then do not obey them in such incitements to idolatry...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah commands His servants to be dutiful to parents, after urging them to adhere to belief in His Tawhid, because a person's parents are the cause of his existence. So he must treat them with the utmost kindness and respect, his father for spending on him and his mother because of her compassion fo...

وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَٰنُ لِٱبْنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ

Wa iz qaala luqmaanu libnihee wa huwa ya'izuhoo ya bunaiya laa tushrik billaah; innash shirka lazulmun 'azeem

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."

اور (اُس وقت کو یاد کرو) جب لقمان نے اپنے بیٹے کو نصیحت کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ بیٹا خدا کے ساتھ شرک نہ کرنا۔ شرک تو بڑا (بھاری) ظلم ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Out of these wise advices, first comes the soundness of beliefs, the primary article of which is that one believes in Allah Ta’ ala to be the Creator and master of the entire universe without any association or partnership of anyone or anything. In consequence, one should not take anyone other than ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when Luqmān said to his son when he was admonishing him ‘O my son yā bunayya is an affectionate diminutive of yā ibnī do not ascribe partners to God idolatry is truly a tremendous wrong’ so return to him in repentance and submit to Him.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Luqman's Advice to His Son Allah tells us how Luqman advised his son. His full name was Luqman bin `Anqa' bin Sadun, and his son's name was Tharan, according to a saying quoted by As-Suhayli. Allah describes him in the best terms, and states that he granted him wisdom. Luqman advised his son, the cl...

وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Wallazee qaala liwaali daihi uffil lakumaaa ata'idanineee an ukhraja wa qad khalatil quroonu min qablee wa humaa yastagheesaanil laaha wailaka aamin inna wa'dal laahi haqq, fa yaqoolu maa haazaaa illaaa asaateerul awwaleen

But one who says to his parents, "Uff 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 Allah for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former people" -

اور جس شخص نے اپنے ماں باپ سے کہا کہ اُف اُف! تم مجھے یہ بتاتے ہو کہ میں (زمین سے) نکالا جاؤں گا حالانکہ بہت سے لوگ مجھ سے پہلے گزر چکے ہیں۔ اور وہ دونوں خدا کی جناب میں فریاد کرتے (ہوئے کہتے) تھے کہ کم بخت ایمان لا۔ خدا کا وعدہ تو سچا ہے۔ تو کہنے لگا یہ تو پہلے لوگوں کی کہانیاں ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَا (And, [ contrary to this is the case on the one who said to his parents, 'Fie upon you both!' - 46:17). The previous verse has laid down the order to serve and obey the parents; this verse announces punishment for one who maltreats his parents and is impe...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: As for him who says to his parents li-wālidayhi a variant reading has li-wālidihi ‘his parent’ denoting the generic noun ‘Fie read uffin or uffan as a verbal noun meaning ‘something putrid and disgusting’ on you both I am exasperated at both of you. Do you threaten me a-ta‘idāninī a variant reading ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Mention of the Undutiful Children and Their End In the previous Ayat, Allah mentions the dutiful offspring who supplicate for their parents and treat them with kindness. He describes the success and salvation He has prepared for them. Here He connects to that discussion the situation of the wretched...

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