Paradise Lies at the Feet of Your Mother
A mother’s love is unmatched. A mother’s love is unmatched. Whether young or old, healthy or handicapped, troublesome or obedient, the child is still beloved to the mother. The mother lays the basic foundation of the child’s behaviour and character. As though her mild, she provides nourishment for the body, through her teachings, she strengthens his spirit. Consequently, the child inherits his mother’s mannerisms, habits and other characteristics since early infancy and will keep them throughout his life. Allah says:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا – وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
“And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “off,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”(Surah Al-Isra 23-24)
A mother gives up a great deal for the sake of the child. She gives up her time, her sleep, her pleasures, etc. to ensure that the child is all right. Finally, the child’s happiness depends on the way he is reared by his mother. This is one of the most convincing things about Islam – the treatment of women in general and especially the high position mothers hold in Islam. Allah says in Sura Luqman: And says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ
“And We have enjoined (upon) man for his parents – carried him his mother (in) weakness upon weakness, and his weaning (is) in two years that “Be grateful to Me and your parents; towards Me (is) the destination.” (Surah Luqman 31:14)
The word mother is not only a word. It’s a blessing and a gift from Almighty Allah. It is the first word a baby utters, loves and calls out loud no matter it is a happy or sad moment of its life. The mother-child relationship is the most important one and it’s reciprocal.
وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
“And We made (the) son (of) Maryam and his mother a Sign, and We sheltered them to high ground, of tranquillity and water springs.” (Surah Al-Mu`minun 23:50)
A mother loves her baby without any condition, bears pain with a smile and sacrifices everything without any complaint. When the babies grow up, it’s their duty and responsibility to be kind and at the service of their parents, especially their mother. And says:
“And We have enjoined on the man doing of good to his parents; with troubles did his mother bear him and with troubles did she bring him forth; and the bearing and the weaning of him was thirty months.” (Quran 46:15)
How to Behave with Your Mother – Islamic Teachings:
- Be at the service of your mother whenever she needs you
- Always show gratitude towards your mother
- Always be kind to your mother
- Do not repel her and speak softly
- Always obey her if it is not against Deen
- Never express annoyance even if she is doing something annoying
- Pray for her. The best prayer is the one Allah teaches us in the Quran
The prayer Allah Himself taught us is: “رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا” My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”
A good mother places the needs of the child, both physical and emotional needs, first. A mother always tries to safeguard the child from danger and difficulties. A coddled child will be unable to face the realities of the world when he grows up, a world that will not be as considerate of him as his mother. And says:
فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“So We restored him to his mother that might be comforted her eye, and not she may grieve and that she would know, that the Promise of Allah (is) true. But most of them (do) not know.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:13)
Motherhood is a career, and those who take it up must try and excel at it. Every mother must look into better techniques and strategies of parenting.
A good mother has outstanding qualities. No one can replace her in the life of her children. The following are some of the things which make her so unique:
- Mother is the highest and the most unselfish form of love
- Mother is the property of a bud to bloom into a flower
- Mothers are the emotional backbones of the family
- Mother’s status is much higher than the father`
- Mother is the most beautiful creation of God
- Mother possess tender love for her children
- Mother is the one who supports our dreams
- Mother, a window of the child to the world
- Mother has a deep love for her children
- Mother always sacrifice and dedication
- Mother has more rights than the father
- Mother keep protection and security
- Mother is a model for the child
- Mother is a career of future
- Mother worked hard and made sacrifices
- Mother has an awareness of responsibility
- Mother taught you to be a functioning adult
- Mother do their best to keep us from being hurt
- Mothers have the magic touch and heal wounds
- Mother’s smile makes your day a whole lot better
- Mother makes every effort to make her child happy
- Mother is the property of the sweet smell of a flower
- Mother encourages children according to their potential
- Mother provides the holding place for everyone’s feelings
- Mother-child relationship, cannot stand comparison with any other
“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth.” (Quran 46:15)
The Prophet (ﷺ) showed respect to every woman in his life. There is no misbehaving has been reported in history. One of the most amazing things about Islam is Islam gives mothers (as well as any woman) the highest position and commands children to be grateful, respectful, kind and obedient to their mothers. And says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“And We have enjoined (on) man goodness to his parents, but if they both strive against you to make you associate with Me what not you have of it any knowledge, then (do) not obey both of them. To Me (is) your return, and I will inform you about what you used (to) do.” (Surah Al-`Ankabut 29:8)
Many great people remember their mothers and the role they played in nurturing their greatness. It is never too late to become a better child of your mother and make Allah pleased with you. O Allah, have mercy upon my mother and keep her happy in the world as well as in the hereafter. Ameen.