بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imām al-Rāzī explains,

“Most scholars (‘ulamā’) agree that it is obligatory to honor one’s parents, even if they are disbelievers (kuffār).

This is supported by several arguments.

The first: The phrase in this verse:

«وبالوالدين إحساناً»

“and (show) kindness to parents.” – [Qur’ān 2:83]

It is not restricted to whether they are believers (mu’minīn) or not. It is established in the principles of jurisprudence (usūl al-fiqh) that a ruling that is based on a description indicates that the description is the reason for the ruling.

Thus, this verse indicates that the obligation to honor parents is solely due to them being parents, which implies generality.

This is similar to the argument based on Allāh’s saying:

«وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحساناً»

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and (show) kindness to parents.” – [Qur’ān 17:23]

The second: Allāh’s saying:

«فلا تقل لهما أف ولا تنهرهما»

“So do not say to them [so much as], ‘uff’, and do not repel them.”

This is the utmost emphasis on the prohibition of causing them harm. Then, at the end of the verse, Allāh says:

«وقل رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيراً»

“and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.’” – [Qur’ān 17:23]

This is the utmost emphasis on the prohibition of causing them harm. Then, at the end of the verse, Allāh says:

«وقل رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيراً»

“and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.’” – [Qur’ān 17:24]

This clearly states the reason for this obligation to honor them. The third: Allāh ta’ālā recounts how Ibrāhīm (alayhi as-salām), gently invited his father from disbelief (kufr) to faith (īmān), as in Allāh’s saying:

«يا أبت لم تعبد ما لا يسمع ولا يبصر ولا يغني عنك شيئاً»

“O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear, does not see, and will not benefit you at all?” – [Qur’ān 19:42]

Even though his father would harm him and respond harshly, he (Ibrāhīm) continued to endure it. If this holds true for Ibrāhīm (alayhi as-salām), it applies similarly to all Muslims (ummah), as indicated by Allāh’s saying:

«ثم أوحينا إليك أن اتبع ملة إبراهيم حنيفاً»

“Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Ibrāhīm, inclining toward truth.” – [Qur’ān 2:135]”

[al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr Volume 3]