Al-Ahqaf · Makki · ayah 17 of 35

Al-Ahqaf 46:17

وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

“But one who says to his parents, "Uff[1483] to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -”

Saheeh International

Essence

Two ayat after the grateful son comes another: he blows his believing parents off like dust, while they cry out to Allah for him.

A reflection

Two sons, back to back

Read this ayah straight after 46:15 and the design is unmistakable. Both describe a grown child and his parents. Both contain a sentence spoken aloud. But the first son turns to Allah and says 'My Lord', thanking Him for His favour on him and on his parents. The second turns to his parents and says 'uff to you'.

A narration-based commentary describes the movement plainly. Having described those who pray for their parents and are good to them, Allah turns to the wretched who are undutiful. Another commentary, on the earlier ayah, notes that the passage shows how differently people stand towards their parents: some obey, some defy. It suggests the passage is a mirror for the Prophet's own mission, where some of his people answered him and some refused.

Picture a couple's fortieth wedding anniversary dinner in a restaurant's back room. Their elder son stands and gives a short speech, voice shaking, thanking them for every sacrifice he only understood when he had children himself. Their younger son spends the meal on his phone. When his mother asks him to say a few words, he sighs, mutters 'do we have to', and makes a joke at her expense. Same parents, same house, same table.

The surah places these two sons side by side and lets the reader stand between them. There is no third option offered, no neutral son who is simply busy. Every grown child is moving towards one or the other.

Ask yourself honestly which sentence your recent behaviour has been saying to your parents, alive or dead. 'My Lord, make me grateful for Your favour on them'? Or a small, tired breath that means: uff.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.