wHAT IS OUR ROLE TOWARDS OUR MOTHERS?

Salam Alaykum everyone,

Following on the discussion from Topic 2 by my husband on the relationship with the father, my objective for the next four weeks in sha Allah (God willing) is to enlighten on the relationship with the mother. 

Why? 

 The most vital concept of family is Silatul Rahim (upholding ties) where regardless of their faith, all must be respected. The most invaluable possession that has been given to me by Allah after Islam is my parents; especially my mother, may Allah protect and have mercy on them. Our mothers are our pillar of kindness, love, care, patience, wisdom and who are the essence of our tarbiyah (upbringing) and comes naturally due to our fitrah (natural inclination).

To understand our role towards our mothers, we need to reflect. Our mothers have undergone the painful route of pregnancy, labour and breastfeeding to bring us into this world. Her womb was a form of a vessel and provided us with nourishments from her breasts. The uterine muscle contractions and the pressure of the cervix could be felt in the bladder, abdomen and back even the thighs. During the labour progression, the time to relax between the contractions is less each time which increases the severity of the pain experienced.

Our mothers stay up with us at night as they hear our tears and bear it patiently. Even when we become older, her concerns for our health, well-being, education, happiness and the children of our own is a worry and supports us endlessly. We should not utter a word that should upset her and speak appropriately.

"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], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word."

 [Quran, Surah al-Israa, 17:23]

"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, Surah Al-Ahkaf, 46:15]

“The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling”
​
 [Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:233]

So our role towards our mothers is not to pay them back for what they have done when we were young to date because we will be forever indebted. Our mothers are a diamond that cannot be brought nor sold. She is our oxygen in which we breathe. 

There is numerous evidence that highlights the status of our mothers in Islam where they are treated with respect, kindness, love, companionship and obedience and hold a higher importance than our fathers.

A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon them) 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.
 [Al-Bukhari 5626, Muslim 2548]

Al Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said
“We should honour relatives, the mother most deserving followed by the father, followed by the next closest then the next closest. The scholars stated that the reason why our mothers have this precedence is because of the effort she puts into raising her child, her compassion and her service, and the hardships that she suffered in carrying him then giving birth to him, then breastfeeding him, then bringing him up, serving him, caring for him when he was sick, and so on.”
[Sharh Muslim (16/102)]

Whatever we do will aid us into our ultimate goal to Jannah just like how a seed germinates through the earth and grows into a tree or a flower.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said
"Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother." 
[Ahmad, Nasai]

If your mother is alive, value and care for them. If she has returned to Our creator, pray for her and have mercy upon her and grant her Jannah. S

May Allah grant my mother and yours, long life of continuous happiness, peace, good health, smiles and mercy.  Ameen.