Rights of Parents — The Obligatory and Forbidden
fiqh
Level: basic
family
fqh-012
وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ
— الإسراء 23
Verse: "Your Lord decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be good to your parents." (17:23)
"Qadhaa" (decreed) not just "commanded": More binding — indicating the enormity and decisiveness of this right.
Obligations toward parents: Obedience in good, hearing and obeying, spending on them when needed. Prohibition of even saying "uff" — the least expression of irritation is forbidden. Prohibition of raising voice at them. Speaking to them only with honor.
Limit of obedience: "No obedience to a creature in disobedience of Allah" — no obedience in disbelief or sin.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (10/237); Ibn Al-Arabi (3/200); Ibn Kathir (5/65)
Question: Why does the prohibition of even saying "uff" to parents demonstrate the enormity of their right?
Answer: Because "uff" is the minimum expression of annoyance — if this is forbidden, then everything more severe is prohibited by greater reason (a fortiori).