Author: Um Ayesha
The Position of Women in Islam (Part 31)
The position of Mothers in the Light of the Prophet’s Hadiths (Peace Be Upon Him)
From a scientific perspective, the role of the mother is greater and more effective than that of the father when it comes to heredity and the development of a child’s personality. This is due to several reasons:
1. The father’s role ends with the transfer of sperm, but the mother’s role continues throughout the nine months of the child’s embryonic life and beyond, nurturing the child for up to two years through blood and milk.
2. The father’s role can be replicated by a physical factor, but the mothers cannot be replaced; every embryo needs the mother’s womb to grow and develop. The child in the womb is a part of her and is under her influence. The mother’s well-being—her physical and emotional condition, her nourishment, and her medical care—directly impact the fetus.
The role of a mother in human life begins from the very start of creation and remains crucial throughout the child’s life. A mother dedicates herself to raising, educating, and developing her child. However, neglecting either parent invites severe reprimand.
It is said about Hazrat Zain al-Abidin (Abul Hasan bin Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Talib), one of the elders and leaders of the Tabe’een, that he was extremely kind and generous toward his mother. People would remark, “You are the most charitable person toward your mother”; yet they had never seen him eat alongside her. When asked why, he replied, “I fear that my hand might reach for the part of the food that my mother’s eyes are watching, and by doing so, I would disobey my parents.”
In a hadith, a man approached the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have carried my mother on my shoulders and taken her to Hajj. Did I fulfill her rights?” The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “No; even if you performed the circumambulation between Safa and Marwah and all the acts of Hajj, you would not have compensated for even a fraction of her pain during childbirth.”
It has been narrated by Hazrat Ayesha that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When I entered Paradise, I heard the recitation of the Qur’an. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They said, ‘It is Haritha bin Nu’man.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remarked, ‘Such is the goodness and kindness to the mother.’ Hazrat Haritha (may Allah be pleased with him) was very kind to his mother.”
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “In my opinion, there is no action closer to Allah Almighty than goodness and kindness to a mother.”
Hazrat Ka’ab (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “Whoever is disobedient to his parents, Allah Almighty will hasten his departure from this world to punish him; and if someone is kind to his parents, Allah Almighty will extend his life.”
A person once approached Hassan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) and said, “I went to Hajj this year, and my mother gave me permission.” Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) replied, “You’re sitting at the table with her once is better and more acceptable to me than your Hajj.”
Given the above-mentioned hadiths and sayings, it is evident that the mother holds an esteemed position that very few can attain. Therefore, it is essential for us to honor our mothers and maintain their respect so that the Almighty Allah will honor us in return. Let us fulfill their rights and obey them; whoever obeys their parents will enter Paradise, and Allah will be pleased with them. Those whose parents are alive should respect and honor them. By doing so, they provide the means for Allah’s satisfaction in this world and the hereafter, and they can enlighten their lives through the good prayers of their parents.
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