Islam has raised the position of Mother to the highest pedestal of reverence and respect. She is the embodiment of love.
Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times
By Sayyarah Chowdhry | May 11, 2013
Today man has reached the acme of scientific and materialistic progress. He is trying to conquer the forces of nature. He has reached the moon and mars, but he is groping in the spiritual darkness. The modern age is an age of hurry, worry, and divided aims. This sick hurry and mad rush has snatched man’s peace of mind and rest of soul.
And the pain of the heart and cry of the soul cannot be subdued by machines when single moms raising kids alone, broken-homes left with depressed children, families falling apart, are common phenomena.
In this cyclic rut what about some of the dearest of human relations - for example, between parents and their children and vice versa?
In the US Parents’ Day was introduced in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution, introduced by Republican Senator Trent Lott, into law for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”
Times have changed. In the western societies parents now have to sort of seek appointment to meet with their children, and it is a fashion to send old parents to old folks’ homes. How pathetic, poignant and tragic is the lot of miserable parents who are now a picture of dejection, depression, and loneliness.
In Eastern societies such examples are very rare. Parents command great respect and reverence. It is a sorry sight to observe that many immigrants from Muslim countries in the mad race of hoarding wealth have started ignoring their parents.
Such practice is against our moral, spiritual, and Islamic values. Islam lays great stress on the reverence and tender care of our parents. They are the symbol of selfless love, total devotion and dedication for us. It is only when we become parents ourselves that we realize how much children mean to us. They are the light of our lives and become the sole purpose of our existence. According to Islamic teachings parents have great rights over their children and the children have greatest duties to their parents. The Holy Qur’an instructs us that when our parents reach old age, we should not reproach them. We should spread our wings of tenderness and solace for them and pray, “O my Lord be merciful to them, as they were merciful in rearing me in my childhood.”
Throughout the centuries, the concept of family has carried great sanctity in civilized societies. When a couple enters wedlock, builds a nest, with the purpose of raising a family, it starts dreaming of kids with rosy cheeks and lovely eyes, who are going to be the pride of the family. Especially, the mother is the image of God on earth. The kids are the extension of her body. She bears up gladly the hard task of carrying the child in her womb for nine months and then delivers the baby after undergoing agonizing labor pains. In fact she falls in love with the baby as soon as she conceives it. The father is equally happy; the light, the joy of their life is here-their creation. They dedicate their ease, leisure and comfort to raise a child as life has assumed new meaning for them now. It is a pleasant responsibility for them. As the children get settled in their lives and have children, they become a delight for the grandparents. They are of great help in raising the new kids. In fact the bondage of friendship is greater now between grandparents and grandchildren. So, in their old age it is our biggest responsibility to look after our parents in the best possible manner. We have to please our Lord and our parents to earn their prayers.
Islam has raised the position of mother to the highest pedestal of reverence and respect. She is the embodiment of love. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Paradise lies under the feet of your mother.” A companion once asked him, “My mother is ill, but I want to go for Hajj.” The Holy Prophet said, “First is your mother.” The companion asked the same question three times and he was given the same answer by the Prophet of God.
It is the greatest of sins to disobey parents. According to the Prophet Muhammad if the father curses his son it is instantly accepted by God. A man came to the Holy Prophet and asked, “Which of the people deserves my kind treatment?” The Prophet said, “Your mother, your mother, your mother and then your father.” He also said, “Unfortunate is the person, who found his parents in old age, but could not enter paradise.” The Prophet Muhammad meant that such a person lost his salvation by not serving them.
-- Perspective: Mothers and Father’s Day - Parents Day
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Thank you for a great Article! It very succinctly highlights the degrading of respect for old age and parents in the current age.
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