You must still honour and be kind to them. The Quran commands good treatment of parents even when they try to pull you away from Islam: you do not obey them in disbelief, but you keep them company in this world with kindness. The Prophet ﷺ told a Companion to keep good relations with her non-Muslim mother.
Becoming Muslim does not cancel your parents' rights. The Quran speaks directly to this situation: "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 appropriate kindness" 1. The same instruction appears in another surah 2. So there are two
parts: firmness in your faith, and gentleness in how you treat them.
The Companions lived this. Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, had a mother who was not Muslim. When her mother came
to visit hoping for her kindness, Asma asked the Prophet ﷺ what to do, and he said, "Yes, keep good relation with
her" 3. Allah also says He does not forbid kindness and fairness towards those who do not fight Muslims over
their religion 4.
The best example of speaking to a non-Muslim parent is Ibrahim (AS). He spoke to his father with "O my father"
again and again, explained gently, and when his father threatened him, he replied, "Peace will be upon you. I will
ask forgiveness for you of my Lord" 5.
In practice: stay in touch, visit, help them, eat with them (avoiding what is haram), and let them see that Islam
has made you a better son or daughter. Many scholars allow being present at family occasions while avoiding
religious rituals of another faith and anything haram. Pray that Allah guides them: Abu Hurairah asked the Prophet ﷺ
to pray for his polytheist mother's guidance, and she accepted Islam 7. (Asking forgiveness
for someone who has died upon shirk is not allowed, and Ibrahim's prayer for his father was a promise he later
stepped back from 6.)
If they are hostile, be patient and do not answer harshness with harshness. Many parents soften over time when
they see their child's character. Where there is real danger or pressure to leave Islam, seek help from a trusted
local imam or community, and if you are in danger, put your safety first and contact the authorities.
The evidence
1
Quran Luqman · 31:15
If parents strive to make you commit shirk, do not obey, but accompany them in this world with kindness.
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 appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do
2
Quran Al-Ankaboot · 29:8
Goodness to parents is enjoined, but do not obey them in associating partners with Allah.
And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do
3
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 2620
SahihBukhari
The Prophet ﷺ told Asma to keep good relations with her non-Muslim mother.
Narrated Asma' bint Abu Bakr:My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and she was a pagan. I said to Allah's Apostle (seeking his verdict), "My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Yes, keep good relation with her
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَتْ قَدِمَتْ عَلَىَّ أُمِّي وَهْىَ مُشْرِكَةٌ، فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَاسْتَفْتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ {إِنَّ أُمِّي قَدِمَتْ} وَهْىَ رَاغِبَةٌ، أَفَأَصِلُ أُمِّي قَالَ " نَعَمْ صِلِي أُمَّكِ ".
4
Quran Al-Mumtahana · 60:8
Allah does not forbid kindness and justice towards those who do not fight you over religion.
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly
5
Quran Maryam · 19:42–47
Ibrahim (AS) calls his idol-worshipping father gently and answers his threat with peace.
42 [Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all 43 O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path 44 O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient 45 O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire] 46 [His father] said, "Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time 47 [Abraham] said, "Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me
6
Quran At-Tawba · 9:113–114
Believers do not ask forgiveness for polytheists once it is clear they are people of the Fire; Ibrahim's request was due to a promise.
113 It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire 114 And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient
7
HadithSahih Muslim 2491
SahihMuslim
The Prophet ﷺ prayed for the guidance of Abu Hurairah's polytheist mother, and she became Muslim.
Abu Huraira reported:I invited my mother, who was a polytlieist, to Islam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which I hated. I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) weeping and said: Allah's Messenger, I invited my mother to Islam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allah that He may set the mother of Abu Huraira right. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Allah, set the mother of Abu Huraira on the right path. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and when I came near the door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: Abu Huraira, just wait. And I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath and put on the shirt and quickly covered her head with a headdress and opened the door and then said: Abu Huraira, I bear witness to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His bondsman and His Messenger. He (Abu Huraira) said: I went back to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: Allah's Messenger, be happy, for Allah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of Abu Huraira. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: Allah's Messenger, supplicate to Allah so that He may instill love of mine and that of my mother too in the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Allah, let there be love of these servants of yours, i.e. Abu Huraira and his mother, in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants. (Abu Huraira said: This prayer) was so well granted by Allah that no believer was ever born who heard of me and who saw me but did not love me
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24