Tafsir of Al-Ahqaf 46:17-18

{And he who said to his parents...} The phrase is a subject (mubtada’), and its predicate (khabar) is: {Those are the ones upon whom the word has come into effect.}

The intent behind "he who said" is the genus (category) of those who utter such words; hence, the predicate is plural.

• Al-Hasan said: It refers to the disbeliever who is undutiful to his parents and denies the Resurrection.
• Qatadah said: It is a description of a wicked servant, undutiful to his parents and immoral toward his Lord.
• It is said: It was revealed regarding Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr before his Islam. His father, Abu Bakr, and his mother, Umm Ruman, called him to Islam, but he said "Uff" to them and said, "Bring me Jud'an ibn 'Amr and Uthman ibn 'Amr" (his ancestors), "so I may ask them about what Muhammad says and they may testify to its falsehood."

However, the intent of "he who said" is the genus of those who say such things, and the phrase "those upon whom the word has come into effect" refers to the people of the Fire. Abd al-Rahman was actually among the most virtuous and noble of Muslims.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) denied that it was revealed regarding him. When Mu'awiyah wrote to Marwan to have the people pledge allegiance to Yazid, Abd al-Rahman said: "You have brought it in the manner of Heraclius, pledging allegiance to your sons." Marwan replied: "O people, he is the one about whom Allah said: {And he who said to his parents, 'Uff to you both!'}" Aisha heard this and became angry, saying: "By Allah, it is not him! If I wished to name him, I would name him. But Allah cursed your father while you were in his loins, so you are a remnant of the curse of Allah."

{Uff to you both!} It is read with a kasra or fatha without tanwin, and with all three vowels with tanwin. It is a sound that, when uttered by a person, indicates they are annoyed—just as when one says "Hass," it is known they are in pain. The lam is for clarification, meaning: "This expression of annoyance is for you specifically, and for your sake alone, not for anyone else."

{Do you promise me?} Read with two nuns, or with one nun, or with assimilation (idgham). Some read it with a fatha on the nun, as if they found the combination of two nuns, two kasras, and a ya burdensome, so they opened the first for ease, just as those who assimilated or dropped one of the nuns did.

{That I shall be brought forth} Meaning: That I shall be resurrected and brought out from the earth.

{And generations have passed before me} Meaning: And none of them have been resurrected.

{While they both call for help to Allah} They say: "We seek aid from Allah against you and your words." This is an expression of their horror at his statement.

{Woe to you!} A prayer for his destruction. The intent is to urge and incite him toward faith, not a literal prayer for his ruin.

{Among nations} Similar to the verse: {Among the companions of Paradise}. It is also read with fatha on the alif (an), meaning: "Believe that the promise of Allah is true."

{And for all are degrees from what they have done, and that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.}