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Surah Al-Isra, Verse 23

سورة الإسراء، الآية ٢٣

17:23 Juz 15 Hizb 29 Page 284 of the mushaf Meccan surah

Text of verse 17:23

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ۝٢٣

Transliteration

waqaḍā rabbuka allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu wabil-wālidayni iḥ'sānan immā yablughanna ʿindaka l-kibara aḥaduhumā aw kilāhumā falā taqul lahumā uffin walā tanharhumā waqul lahumā qawlan karīman

Translation

And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff,"735 and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

Notes

[735] An expression of disapproval or irritation.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 23 of Surah Al-Isra (17:23), a Meccan surah, is in juz 15, on page 284 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

Listen to verse 23 of Surah Al-Isra

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Tafsir of verse 23

Al-Mukhtasar

Your Lord - O servant - has instructed and made obligatory that you worship none but Him, and He has instructed that you be good to your parents, especially when they become old. If either of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not become annoyed with them by uttering words that indicate the same, do not scold them and do not be harsh when speaking to them, but say to them kind words that are soft and courteous.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Isra

Other translations of verse 23

Your Lord has ordained that you worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, do not say to them a word of annoyance21 nor scold them, rather speak to them noble words,

Notes

[21] ’uff: an expression of irritation and disapproval.

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.

Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.

Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.

And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.

And your Lord has decreed that you should not worship any except Him (only) and (to show) fairest companionship to parents; in case ever one or both of them reaches old age (Literally: being great "in years") in your presence, do not say to them, "Fie!" nor scold them; and speak to them respectful words (Literally: say to them an honorable saying).

Verse 23 word by word

  1. وَقَضَىٰ waqaḍā And has decreed ق ض ي
  2. رَبُّكَ rabbuka your Lord ر ب ب
  3. أَلَّا allā that (do) not
  4. تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ taʿbudū worship ع ب د
  5. إِلَّآ illā except
  6. إِيَّاهُ iyyāhu Him Alone
  7. وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ wabil-wālidayni and to the parents و ل د
  8. إِحْسَٰنًا iḥ'sānan (be) good ح س ن
  9. إِمَّا immā Whether
  10. يَبْلُغَنَّ yablughanna reach ب ل غ
  11. عِندَكَ ʿindaka with you ع ن د
  12. ٱلْكِبَرَ l-kibara the old age ك ب ر
  13. أَحَدُهُمَآ aḥaduhumā one of them أ ح د
  14. أَوْ aw or
  15. كِلَاهُمَا kilāhumā both of them ك ل و
  16. فَلَا falā then (do) not
  17. تَقُل taqul say ق و ل
  18. لَّهُمَآ lahumā to both of them
  19. أُفٍّ uffin a word of disrespect أ ف ف
  20. وَلَا walā and (do) not
  21. تَنْهَرْهُمَا tanharhumā repel them ن ه ر
  22. وَقُل waqul but speak ق و ل
  23. لَّهُمَا lahumā to them
  24. قَوْلًا qawlan a word ق و ل
  25. كَرِيمًا karīman noble ك ر م

Hadiths that cite this verse

Not graded Al-Adab al-Mufrad 23

'Lord, show mercy to them as they did in looking after me when I was small." (17:23-24) He said, "This was abrogated in Surat at-Tawba: 'It is not right for the Prophet and those who have iman to ask forgiveness for the mushrikun even if they are close relatives after it has become clear to them…

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ‏:‏ ‏{‏إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ…

Verses related to verse 23

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Luqman 31:14

    وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

    And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Yusuf 12:40

    مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

    You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

All similar verses of Surah Al-Isra

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