Undoubtedly, a mother is one of the most precious and significant blessings from Allah given to humanity. She is the cornerstone of every home and family, whose presence symbolizes the structure of the family. Islam, as one of the foremost legal systems recognized in the international community, pays special attention to the irreplaceable role and dignity of the mother. The respect and value afforded to mothers in Islam and in our holy book far surpass that granted to this esteemed position in other religions. The rights specified by Islam for mothers are greater than those allocated to others, including fathers. Consequently, the mother is viewed as the teacher of humanity (the “man-maker,” both materially and spiritually) and is, in effect, the nurturer of society. She is the one who can guide individuals and communities towards true happiness or, conversely, misery and failure. In this part of the article, we will discuss the rights of mothers in Islam.
Mother’s Rights in Islam
Islam has a profound recognition of the role of mothers and mandates respect for and fulfillment of the rights due to this earthly angel. From the perspective of the Islamic legal system, just as children have rights over their parents, parents also have rights over their children. The rights that Islam establishes for mothers significantly surpass those granted to others. The mother, as the architect of education in the home and society, is a moral guide and, fundamentally, the nurturer of humanity. She is capable of bringing happiness to both the individual and the community by shaping personality development from childhood.
As you know, the Western world, despite its advancements and technology, has overlooked the virtues and rights of parents, often treating the mother as a commodity within its laws. Once her utility is exhausted, she is perceived to hold no rights. The ultimate acknowledgment given to parents is exemplified by the establishment of a single day each year known as Mother’s Day, when children offer gifts as an expression of love. However, this token gesture raises the question: is this truly respect for parents’ rights, or can it genuinely be termed fulfilling a parent’s obligations?
Many remain oblivious to their parents’ rights and fail to recognize their value. In contrast, Islam approaches this issue with utmost seriousness. This significance is articulated through numerous verses and hadiths highlighted in previous sections of this research. Islam strictly forbids disobedience to parents and emphasizes the gravity of this transgression by categorizing disobedience as a major sin and equating it with polytheism in relation to Allah.
To underscore this matter, consider the following verse from Allah Almighty: «فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا» Translation: (“Do not say to them [your parents] a word of disrespect, nor berate them, but speak to them a noble word.”)
From this verse, we understand that Allah Almighty has deemed it inappropriate to utter even the word “oaf” or any word that may cause distress to parents, underscoring the importance of refraining from saying anything more severe. Respecting the rights of parents is an eternal covenant that Allah Almighty extracted from humanity, reiterating that covenant while cursing those who breach it: «وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِيإِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا» Translation: (“And [remember] when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel that you do not worship except Allah and to parents, do good.”)
This verse conveys profound respect for parents and warns against being rude or hostile toward them. Thus, disobeying parents and denying their good deeds constitutes one of the major sins that is unfitting for a Muslim, as it is mentioned alongside the gravest of sins, polytheism against Allah.
Numerous hadiths illustrate this issue. It was narrated from Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Major sins include polytheism to Allah Almighty, disobeying parents, killing people unjustly, and swearing falsely.”
