Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider): Verse 8

Question: What is the connection between this verse and what preceded it?

Answer: After Allah (SWT) clarified the nature of the obligations (takālīf) and their fulfillment, along with the reward for those who perfectly adhere to the fundamentals and branches of these obligations, as an encouragement for the accountable person toward obedience, He mentioned the impediment (the parents' potential opposition).

He stated that if a person is to submit to anyone, it should be their parents. However, even if they command him to commit disobedience, it is not permissible to obey them, let alone anyone else. Therefore, nothing should prevent any of you from obeying Allah, and no one should follow someone who commands disobedience to Allah.

There are different readings for the word:

1. Ḥusnan (goodness/kindness, in the form of an action).
2. Iḥsānan (good treatment, as a verbal noun).

The reading Ḥusnan is more apparent here. The reading Iḥsānan aligns with the verse: {And to parents, good treatment} (Al-Baqarah: 83).

Interpretation based on the famous reading (Ḥusnan): Allah (SWT) enjoined upon man to act with the best form of conduct toward his parents, both in action and speech. The indefinite form (Ḥusnan) is used to indicate perfection, similar to saying, "Zayd possesses wealth" (implying abundant wealth).

This verse, {And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment}, is evidence that following them in disbelief is not permissible.

Reasoning: Good treatment toward parents is obligatory by the command of Allah (SWT). If a servant abandons the worship of Allah based on the parents' command, he abandons obedience to Allah. Thus, he should not comply with what they command him to do, nor should he treat them well (in the context of their command to sin).

Following the parents for the sake of treating them well (in worldly matters) leads to abandoning the true good treatment (which is obedience to God). That which leads to its own negation is invalid. Therefore, following them (in sin) is invalid.

However, if the person refrains from polytheism (Shirk) while maintaining obedience and good treatment toward them (in permissible matters), he fulfills the obligation. Abandoning this specific form of good treatment (i.e., refusing to commit Shirk) results in the actual, true good treatment (i.e., obedience to God).

Good treatment toward parents is commanded because they are the means (the cause) of the child's existence through birth and the means of their survival through customary upbringing. Thus, they are the metaphorical cause.

Allah (SWT) is the true cause of existence through His Will, and the cause of survival through His Reinstatement to eternal happiness. Therefore, the servant is more deserving of maintaining a good state with Him.

Then Allah (SWT) said: {But if they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them.}

The phrase {that of which you have no knowledge} means imitation (Taqlīd) in faith is not good, let alone imitation in disbelief. If a person refrains from imitation and does not obey based on mere assumption, he will not obey them at all, because knowing the truthfulness of their statement (regarding Shirk) is impossible to attain. If he refrains from Shirk by imitation, and Shirk is impossible with true knowledge, then Shirk will never occur from him.

Then Allah (SWT) said: {To Me is your return, and I will inform you of what you used to do.}

This means your consequence and destination are to Me. Even if today you mingle and associate with fathers, children, relatives, and tribes, and undoubtedly, one who knows that his association with one person is temporary and finite, while his presence before another is perpetual and unending, he will not prefer pleasing the one whose companionship ends quickly for the sake of pleasing the one whose companionship will cease later.

There is a subtlety in the statement {And I will inform you}: Allah (SWT) is saying: Do not assume that I am absent while your fathers are present, leading you to conform to the present company based on the assumption of My absence or lack of knowledge of your deviation from Me. I am present with you, I know what you do, and I do not forget, so I will inform you of all of it.