[Commentary]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitled this chapter: “Dutifulness to Parents and Maintaining the Ties of Kinship.”

The term “parents” refers to the father and the mother. Their right is expressed with the word birr (dutifulness) because that is how it occurs in the revealed texts, while the upkeep of kinship bonds is denoted by sila (maintaining ties) for the same reason. The arḥām are one’s blood relatives.

Being dutiful to one’s parents is among the most excellent of deeds; indeed, after the right of Allah and His Messenger it is the very next obligation.

For this reason the author cited many Qur’anic verses, such as the Almighty’s statement:

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and be good to parents.” (Q 4:36)

and His statement,

“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and show kindness to parents.” (Q 17:23)

and His statement,

“We have enjoined upon man kindness toward his parents.” (Q 29:8)

and His statement,

“We have enjoined on man care for his parents. His mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final return.” (Q 31:14)

and His statement,

“If one of them—or both of them—attains old age in your care, never say to them even ‘uff,’ nor repel them, but speak to them noble words. Lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy on them as they reared me when I was small.’” (Q 17:23–24)

All of these verses and others show the tremendous right of the parents. Allah, Exalted is He, has described the mother’s condition: she carries her child in weakness upon weakness—from the moment of conception until she gives birth—while enduring frailty, hardship, and pain. The same applies at the time of delivery, as He says: “His mother carried him in hardship and delivered him in hardship….”