Mother: A Soul to be Cherished

A woman fully attains womanhood when she becomes a mother. Mother is a beautiful word, incomparable beyond means! Regardless of the language used to say it, the beauty of the word ‘Mother’ never dies. In Islam the status of women is unambiguously unique and bears no comparison to any other depiction with regard to women, particularly mothers, in any faith known to mankind.

A mother's love for her unborn child is generally instinctive from the time she learns of her pregnancy. A mother loves and tries all that she can to keep the baby away from harm even before the baby’s arrival. She is ready to risk her life to shield her baby from harm. She is more concerned about the life, which came out of her than her own..

When a mother feeds her baby, she is ready to forgo her comfort and sleep for the baby. A mother sacrifices her comfort and sleeps when she is feeding her baby. This proves she is more concerned about her child than herself. A mother’s worth cannot be measured and her sacrifices for her child are inexhaustible. That is why Islam stresses so much on the importance of a mother.

"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (46:15)

The following statements of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) refers to the apparent gentleness of mothers and the respect that ought to be paid to them, for in a patriarchal (before Islam), the focus was mainly on the man in his years of strength.

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother” (Ahmad, Nasai).

Narrated by Abu Huraira:A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Narrated by Asma bint Abu BakrDuring the period of the peace treaty of Quraish with Allah's Apostle, my mother, accompanied by her father, came to visit me, and she was a pagan. I consulted Allah's Apostle, "O Allah's Apostle! My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relation with her?" He said, "Yes, keep good relation with her." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Every human, as a child , yearns for a mother’s touch and affection but the moment one walks into adolescence one tends to take their mother for granted. If they utter any word against our wish, we start to look at them as a rival instead of realizing that they are trying to protect us and guide us. We seem to forget all that they did right from the time Allah put us in their womb. I completely realized my mother’s worth only after I had a child. Can we imagine what or how our lives would have been without our mother? What would we have done? Who would have changed our diapers? Who would have fed us? Who would have kissed us ? Who would have hugged us? Who would have comforted us when we are going through hardship?…

Our Prophet Muhammad’s beloved mother, Amina, passed away when he was barely six years. His mother took him from his foster mother with the hopes of showering love and affection to her wonderful child. But he was not destined to enjoy the warmth, love and affection of his mother. Just imagine what that tender heart would have felt? With how much hope and dreams he would have left with his mother from his foster mother Halima. Just imagine how much he would have missed his beloved mother.

Reading Prophet’s Muahmmad childhood life would bring tears to people’s eyes.

**Even after losing his mother at such a tender age his perseverance never died. He bore everything patiently. Whenever He visited the grave of his beloved mother, tears used to stream down through his cheeks. Off and on he remembered his gentle mother on memorable occasions.

It is fard (obligation) for every Muslim to seek forgiveness for our parents and to pray for their well-being .

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood' "(17:23-24).

We have the privilege of enjoying the warmth and affection of our mothers right from our childhood and still lack gratitude for this wonderful soul, which our Creator blessed us with. We should be thankful to Allah for giving us this wonderful opportunity to be with our mother and take pleasure in her affection. Let us acknowledge this blessing and do our best for this beautiful soul. Indeed mothers are the souls to be cherished!

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Copyright Amatullah Abdullah