Must a child obey their parents even when they ask for something wrong?

No. Whatever does not go against the will of God, a child should do for their parents’ sake. Whatever goes against God’s will, the child must not do, even if the parents demand it, while still remaining kind to them.

Islam gives parents a very high place. The first verse above mentions kindness to them right after the worship of God. A child should be grateful to them, help them gladly, and never speak a harsh word to them, even in their old age.

Yet parents do not stand above God. The other two verses speak of parents who press their child to associate partners with God. This does not only mean worshipping idols. It covers anything a person does for someone else’s sake against the will of God. Whoever does something God has forbidden because their parents told them to is placing their parents’ will above God’s will.

A simple example makes this clear. If a father tells his son to steal something, the son must not obey. The same applies to lying, to wronging other people, or to anything God has clearly forbidden. The first hadith above sums this up in a principle that applies to all obedience.

This gives a clear and simple rule. Whatever does not go against the will of God is permitted, and here a child should follow their parents, even when the child sees things differently. Whatever goes against the will of God, the child must not do.

Even then, kindness remains. A child who turns down a wrong request should do so calmly and respectfully, and should go on honouring and caring for their parents in daily life. The second hadith above shows that this kindness applies even when the parents follow a different faith.