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Paradise in Our Homes
Episode 10
In the Name of Allah,
the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
First, I would like to
point out to the fact that we are approaching the closing stages of mercy of the
first ten days of Ramadan. Thus, it is most appropriate in this episode to talk
about the main source of mercy in our world which is the mother.
The main objective of
this episode is not to highlight the roles and obligations of the mother.
Instead, we want to emphasize her value and preciousness inside of us.
Therefore, even calling this episode a plaque to the mother would not be
satisfying; the greatness and value that Allah granted her is far beyond this.
Thus, let us consider
our episode an appreciation to the mother. Let us set another principle of our
simple yet crucial principles, a principle of love and appreciation to the
mother.
The best way to start
our episode is to give a brief portrayal to our mothers’ maternity. Without a
doubt, being granted a ‘mother’ title is more precious to Allah
(SWT)
and humans than any other title a man could have (after the prophets and the
messengers of Allah (AS).
It is more valuable than the title of President, General, and Doctor. You, my
dear lady, became so valuable to Allah, the day you became pregnant and the day
you delivered your baby.
The All-Merciful and
the Ever-Merciful are among the most beautiful Names of Allah without which we
could not live; we could perish. Allah (SWT) has granted the mankind in
this life with a single portion of His Mercy and kept ninety nine portions until
the Judgment Day, when He grants us all of His Mercy; that single portion is
almost merely represented by a mother’s maternity.
The Prophet (SAWS)
described Allah’s Mercy when he showed that it is impossible for a mother,
who is earnestly trying to protect her infant from the heat of sun, to throw her
baby into the fire; Allah’s Mercy far exceeds that.
The Prophet (SAWS)
wants to draw our attention that the ultimate example of mercy on this earth is
a mother; she is the preeminent and live representation of Allah’s Mercy by whom
we can realize how unlimited Allah’s Mercy is.
Thus, a mother is the
live representation of Allah’s Mercy which we are so close to and can feel every
moment. It is beyond all the other tacit forms of His Mercy, e.g. the sun, the
water, and the air.
Therefore, a mother has
special traits which can help her do special tasks that only she can do. Above
all qualities, is her ability to accept a new human being to survive on her body
and use her own blood to grow; she could simply abandon this baby who causes her
to suffer for a whole nine months. For that, the Prophet (SAWS) informed
us that a mother is forgiven all of her sins with the first contractions of the
birth process. In addition, He (SAWS) told us that he used to shorten
the prayer whenever he hears the crying of a child because he knew how disturbed
and worried his mother would be.
Thus, we understand the
Prophet’s (SAWS) concern about a mother’s maternity. It was narrated
that a wolf once preyed one of two babies of two different mothers. Each mother
then claimed that the baby is hers and went to Dawud (AS) (David) to
solve the dispute. Dawud (AS) (David) decided to give the baby to the
older mother. Nevertheless, the dispute continued. Solaiman (AS)
(Solomon) passed by and suggested that he shall divide the baby into two halves,
one for each mother. One of the two mothers instantly refused such a solution
with anguish and asked Solaiman (AS) (Solomon) to give the
baby to the other mother. Thus, by searching the maternity feelings of each
mother, he managed to realize the actual mother and returned her baby back.
Allah (SWT) mentioned this in what can be translated as,
“So We made Sulayman to
understand it…”, (TMQ,
21:79).
The Prophet (SAWS)
mentioned that the regular daily duties of a mother towards her children can
grant her the same good deeds granted to the one who fasts and performs qiyam
(voluntary night prayer) steadily.
The motherhood is
frequently mentioned in the heavenly books of Allah. In the Qur’an, we see what
can be translated as, “And We revealed to Mûsa’s
mother, (saying), “Suckle him…”, (TMQ, 28:7).
The suckling scene here
represents one important aspect of motherhood that is worth to be mentioned in
the Qur’an; it implies a mother’s mercy and maternity.
Thus, today’s rule is,
“you are very precious, my mother.” It can be said that the mother is the
factory of life, by which the family is being built. The fathers’ role in the
reproduction process is no more than a provider of semen. Meanwhile, the
mother’s role is more inclusive in a way that ensures the continuity of the
mankind.
Here comes the role of
the menstruation period; it is simply the revival of the mother’s capabilities
for its mission to continue. Thus, the Prophet (SAWS) emphasized on
different occasions that a menstruating woman is not an impurity, as was
believed by the Jews of Madinah. He insisted to read the Qur’an close to Lady
Aisha (RA) as well as drinking from the same cup and from the position of
her lips on the cup while in her period. He also insisted to handle the objects
directly from Lady Umm-Salamah’s hands while she was having her menses. Thus,
it is implied that menstruation is rather a natural revival process which
relieves the woman from some religious obligations (fasting and praying) in
order to relax her for her grand mission, which is the continuity of this life.
Thus, based on such an idea, the imperfection of religion indicated by the
Prophet (SAWS) to women was not meant as a blemish; it is only
quantitative; it is a relief of some obligations in order to fulfill some other
vital commitments.
Therefore, we conclude
that Islam exalts the woman and contest those who claim that Islam degrades her.
Being a mother is an
honor for every woman. It is not something to be ashamed or scared of. The
west used to debase the value of motherhood and wanted to spread this thought.
However, they have been suffering from such an idea, and are hardly trying to
convince their women to retrieve their motherhood. Each woman is emboldened to
be proud of her motherhood and work on enriching it. This is detailed in the
book “”The death of the West”.
It is quite interesting
that we find the motherhood disposition in every woman
from her early stages of childhood. We can see this interest in the types of
toys a little girl chooses, e.g., dolls, toys of babies, house wares, and
brides. Such a trend was explained by psychologists as a preparation for the
motherhood stage.
Thus, it is understood
why the movement proposed in the late 1960s, to coequal men to women and boys to
girls failed miserably due to its opposition to the disposition. They even
called for unifying the toys of girls and boys so as to nullify the natural
differences. The aim was to create a generation of men who can handle all the
duties of women. The end result was that toy companies suffered great losses.
Allah differentiated a boy from a girl even from the early stages of formation;
a girl is born as a mother. This was proved by sonographic observation of
female and male fetuses.
A mother’s maternity
and mercy is essential for life to continue, and without it, life would simply
cease. The entire mankind existence is connected to the motherhood. How can a
newly born survive, when it is so delicate and weak, without this mercy on the
part of the mother?!
Mothers can understand
every reaction and need of their babies, unlike fathers who are not able to
withstand the difficulties mothers face when they look after their babies; it is
a secret that Allah granted to every mother. Is it due to some form of
interaction or intermingling, perhaps hormonal or chemical, that took place
during pregnancy? Maybe; Allah knows best.
Moreover, mothers
practice several tasks simultaneously when raising their children. A man can
only be a teacher, a cook, or a doctor, but cannot be all these at the same
time. However, mothers can teach, cook, iron, supervise, treat, and protect
their children. Mothers are even known for a better ability to control the
household expenses than fathers. Muhammad Yunus who founded the Bank of the
Poor had the same concept and therefore used to give financial aids to mothers.
Mother is Allah’s embodied mercy on earth, who is alive with His Secrets.
A woman’s child was
once isolated in the intensive care unit away from his mother due to medical
reasons. His mother couldn’t resist her natural touching disposition and kept
playing with a light torch with him, while standing in front of the unit’s door,
to fulfill her motherhood needs.
Studies confirm such a
need. They show that babies, who are not carried and touched by their mothers
as usual, are more likely to undergo states of depression known as the maternal
deprivation syndrome. The effects of this deprivation could continue until
adulthood.
Therefore, this episode’s rule
implies that we should always appreciate our mother’s value inside each of us,
respect her, and obey her; she is precious and her satisfaction is simply
connected to Allah’s Satisfaction.
Let’s
continue in our next episode
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