Mother ~ Unique among all human beings
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
148 |
| Khutbah Date: |
05/06/05 |
وَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًاWe have enjoined on man kindness to parents: With great inconvenience did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. [Qur’an 46:15]We come into the world through the agency of parents; parents who are our nurturers, our caretakers, our protectors and our supporters. When Allah commands us with duties, he puts a priority on parents above all social relations. We are commanded
وَاعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًاوَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ...worship none but Allah, and to be good to parents, to near and dear ones, the orphans, the poor, the neighbors… [Qur’an 4:36]Appreciation of ParentsThe first in a series of commandments appearing in
surah al-Israa' , Allah has decreed وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا that
you worship none but Allah and be good to parents. It goes on to say that ….
إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَاأَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًاWe should respect them and take care of them in old age, not to be verbally abusive to them; but to speak kindly and gently to them [Q17:24]Consider ...
- the important position of parents in Islam [Qur'an 17:23]
- the significance of appreciating parents, especially the mother [Q 46:15]
- the historic role of mothers in the lives of Prophets (e.g. Hajirah and Maryam)
- the continuous celebration of the selflessness of the mother as manifested in the running / sa'ee between the Makkan hills of Safa and Marwa, and drinking from the well of Zam-Zam
The Position of the MotherOf all the bonds of relationships, the mother holds a unique position. We are asked to reflect on and appreciate the selfless nature of the mother
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِأَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ"And We have enjoined upon the human being concerning his parents? His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years? Give thanks unto Me and unto your parents. Unto Me is the return." [Qur'an 31:14]. The Prophet said that
the womb of the mother is attached to the throne of Allah; so whosoever cuts their ties with their mother, cuts off their relationship with Allah.A man came to the prophet
(S.A.W.) and asked, مَن احق بحُسن ِ صَحَابَتِي
"O Messenger of Allah, which person of all the people is best entitled to kind treatment and the good companionship from me?" He answered, اُمَّك
“Your mother.” The man asked, And after her? He said,
"Your mother. "And then?" " He said,
"Your mother." and after her? The Prophet said,
"Your father then the rest of humanity.
َوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيإِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ[Q 46:15]We have enjoined on man kindness to parents: With great inconvenience did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favor which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou may approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow to Thee in submission." [Q 46:15]Wise ones have said that …
- a mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us; still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to remove the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
- the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
Honoring Motherhood - if you are a mother, realize your status and live up to that unique standard
- if you are father, realize that the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother
- if you had a mother and she has passed on, value the memories, pray for her and respect her friends who are still alive. A man entered asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Is there anything left for me to do to be kind with to parents after their death?" The prophet (S.A.W.) answered, نعم ، الصلوة عليهما و الاستغفار لهما و انفاذ عهدهما و صِلة الرَّحِم ِ التي لا توصَلُ الا بهما و اكرامُ صديقِهِمَا “Yes, by praying for them and asking for Allah’ forgiveness for them, fulfilling their promises and undertakings, doing kindness to those who may be related to you through them, and respecting their friends.”
- if you have a mother who is alive, do the best you can for her, appreciate her, cherish the time you have with her and pray for her.
Sweetest Title for the Noblest PositionIn any language, whether we say
mother, ma, ummi … any way you say it, it sounds sweet and loving. A teenager came to the Prophet on the battlefield while the outnumbered Muslims were on the verge of being attacked and he offered to fight and thus attain Paradise. The Prophet asked هل لك من أم
do you have a mother? He said,
“yes”. The Prophet advised him, فالزمها ، فانَّ الجنة تحت رجليها
“Take care of her, for Paradise lies at her feet.”
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