Imam Zijad’s Corner: MOTHERS IN ISLAM-THE QUR’AN & HADITH

The Quran reminds the believers of ‘who’ mother is:

1. “We have enjoined on a man/woman kindness to his/her parents; in pain did his/her mother bear him/her, and in pain did she give him/her birth.” (46:15).1718

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

3. “We have enjoined on man and woman kindness to parents…'” (29:8)

4. “We have enjoined on man and woman (to be good) to his/her parents; show gratitude to Me and to your parents; to Me is (the final) Goal.” (31:14)

The Hadith also asserts mother’s position in Islam and what the believers must do in this regard:

1. The Prophet Muhammad said, may Allah’s peace and blessngs be upon him: Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother. (Ahmad, Nasai)i

2. A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim)

3. Abu Usaid Saidi said: We were once sitting with Rasulullah when a man from the tribe of Salmah came and said to him: O Messenger of Allah! do my parents have rights over me even after they have died? And Rasulullah said: Yes. You must pray to Allah to bless them with His Forgiveness and Mercy, fulfill the promises they made to anyone, and respect their relations and their friends. (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)

4. It is narrated by Asma bint Abu Bakr that during the treaty of Hudaibiyah, her mother, who was then pagan, came to see her from Makkah. Asma (radiyallahu ‘anha) informed the Messenger of Allah (S) of her arrival and also that she needed help. He said: “Be good to your mother.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Action ITEM: Be KIND to your mother every day when the sun rises! It is FARD (an obligation) on every person!