وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship anyone except Him, and [He has enjoined] kindness to parents. Should any of them or both reach old age at your side, do not say to them, ‘Fie!’ And do not chide them, but speak to them noble words.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 17:23
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 17:23] In these verses we have been commanded to honour our parents, be kind to them and show humility before them. This command is bracketed with the command to worship the one true Allah. Our spiritual advancement is tested by our behaviour towards our parents. We cannot expect Allah's forgiveness if we are rude to those who brought us up. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: In verses 23 to 39 instructions have been given to regulate, harmonise and refine the human society so as to eradicate sharr (evil) and establish khayr (good) among the individuals in a community. They are turned into a source of wisdom revealed to the Holy Prophet in verse 39, and then the belief in the absolute unity of Allah (monotheism) is mentioned which implies and carries in it all the virtues stated here and elsewhere in the Quran.
Ali Muhammad Fazil Chinoy Commentary
Commentary on Quran 17:23-30
1. Obligation to parents is brought in close proximity to Divine worship, as an injunction neglecting which is a major sin alike association (for further elucidations vide Moral Paragraph 2, Mary). 2. As per Divine Light Six, this refers to the Prophet and Ali, spiritually and superseding any of these two or one renders condemnable to hell, under disinhersion. 3. Passion to acquire riches to support vain glory corrupts the purest soul and extravagance will invite poverty, leading to dependence and corruptions.