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Does the prohibition against inclining toward those who do wrong in the noble verse "And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you, for you have no protectors besides Allah, nor will you be aided" include disbelieving or polytheistic parents? If so, how does accompanying them with kindness reconcile with this prohibition? And does going out with them and sitting with them count as inclining?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Leaning towards disbelieving parents may fall under leaning towards those who do wrong, if the Muslim child accepts following them in their religion, or approves of their acts of disbelief, or aids them in their wrongdoing, or seeks their help in it.

However, this does not prevent accompanying them with kindness and showing them good treatment, for Allah Almighty says: {But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. But accompany them in [this] world with kindness.}

Leaning towards those who do wrong means not inclining towards them, or seeking their help, or approving of their actions.

Sitting with disbelieving parents and going out with them is not considered leaning towards those who do wrong; rather, it is part of accompanying them with kindness, provided that it does not involve endorsement or assistance to them in wrongdoing or disbelief.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy