Quran 17:23 — Al-Israa, verse 23
M. A. S. Abdel Haleem · selected translation
Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
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
Other translations
- A. J. Arberry
- Thy Lord has decreed you shall not serve any but Him, and to be good to parents, whether one or both of them attains old age with thee; say not to them 'Fie' neither chide them, but speak unto them words respectful,
- Muhammad Asad
- for thy Sustainer has ordained that you shall worship none but Him. And do good unto [thy] parents. Should one of them, or both, attain to old age in thy care, never say "Ugh" to them or scold them, but [always] speak unto them with reverent speech,
- Sahih International
- 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," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
Words
| # | Word | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ۞ وَقَضَىٰwaqaḍā | And has decreed | قضي |
| 2 | رَبُّكَrabbuka | your Lord | ربب |
| 3 | أَلَّاallā | that (do) not | — |
| 4 | تَعْبُدُوٓا۟taʿbudū | worship | عبد |
| 5 | إِلَّآillā | except | — |
| 6 | إِيَّاهُiyyāhu | Him Alone | — |
| 7 | وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِwabil-wālidayni | and to the parents | ولد |
| 8 | إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚiḥ'sānan | (be) good | حسن |
| 9 | إِمَّاimmā | Whether | — |
| 10 | يَبْلُغَنَّyablughanna | reach | بلغ |
| 11 | عِندَكَʿindaka | with you | عند |
| 12 | ٱلْكِبَرَl-kibara | the old age | كبر |
| 13 | أَحَدُهُمَآaḥaduhumā | one of them | أحد |
| 14 | أَوْaw | or | — |
| 15 | كِلَاهُمَاkilāhumā | both of them | كلو |
| 16 | فَلَاfalā | then (do) not | — |
| 17 | تَقُلtaqul | say | قول |
| 18 | لَّهُمَآlahumā | to both of them | — |
| 19 | أُفٍّۢuffin | a word of disrespect | أفف |
| 20 | وَلَاwalā | and (do) not | — |
| 21 | تَنْهَرْهُمَاtanharhumā | repel them | نهر |
| 22 | وَقُلwaqul | but speak | قول |
| 23 | لَّهُمَاlahumā | to them | — |
| 24 | قَوْلًۭاqawlan | a word | قول |
| 25 | كَرِيمًۭاkarīman | noble | كرم |