23–24. “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and show kindness to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them even ‘ugh,’ nor rebuke them, but address them with gracious words. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them, as they raised me when I was small.’”

After forbidding association of partners with Him, Allah Most High commanded monotheism, saying: “Your Lord has decreed”—a religious decree and a command prescribed by divine law—“that you worship” no one among the inhabitants of the earth or the heavens, whether living or dead,

“none but Him,” for He is the One, the Unique, the Self-Sufficient Master. Every attribute of perfection belongs to Him in its highest degree, in a manner unlike any of His creation. He bestows all outward and inward blessings, repels every affliction, creates, provides, and governs all affairs. He alone possesses all of these qualities, and no one besides Him has any share in them.

After mentioning His own right, He then mentioned the duty of fulfilling the parents’ rights, saying: “and show kindness to your parents.” That is, treat them well in every way, through both words and deeds. They are the cause of a person’s existence, and their love for their child, kindness toward him, and closeness to him make their right all the more binding and dutiful care for them obligatory.

“If one or both of them reach old age in your care”—that is, when they reach the age at which their strength declines and they require the tenderness and kindness that are well known—“never say to them even ‘ugh.’” This is the slightest form of hurt, and by mentioning it Allah draws attention to everything more severe. In other words, do not cause them even the slightest harm.

“Nor rebuke them”—that is, do not scold them or speak harshly to them—“but address them with gracious words”: use words they love, speak respectfully and gently, and employ kind, tender speech that delights their hearts and puts their souls at ease. This varies according to circumstances, customs, and times.

“And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy.” That is, humble yourself before them out of submission and compassion, seeking Allah’s reward—not because you fear them, hope to obtain their wealth, or harbor any similar motive for which a person receives no reward.

“And say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them.’” That is, pray for Allah to have mercy upon them, whether they are alive or deceased, as a recompense for raising you when you were small.

This indicates that the greater the care devoted to one’s upbringing, the greater the right that follows from it. Likewise, if someone other than one’s parents undertakes to give a person a sound upbringing in matters of religion and worldly life, that person has a right arising from that upbringing over the one whom he raised.