Comparative Theology · Common Ground
Honour your father and your mother
In short
- 1.Exodus 20:12 commands honouring parents.
- 2.Qur'an 17:23 pairs it directly with worship of God.
- 3.This is warm, universal ground.
The claim being examined
The commandment to honour parents is in the Decalogue and repeated by Jesus (PBUH).
The Islamic position
The Qur'an places kindness to parents immediately after the command to worship God alone.
Analysis
The Qur'anic placement is theologically striking: kindness to parents is mentioned in the same breath as in several passages.
From the Qur'an
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا
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
Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents.
From the Bible
Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Read it in their BibleFor Moses said, Honour your father and mother.
Read it in their BibleSources
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