Paradise Is At the Feet of Mothers

A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about taking part in a
military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still
living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "(Then)
stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet." (Al-Tirmidhi) On another
occasion, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "God has forbidden for you to be
undutiful to your mothers." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

One of the things I have always appreciated about my adopted faith is
not only its emphasis on maintaining the bonds of kinship, but also the
high regard in which women, particularly mothers, are held. The Quran,
Islam's revealed text, states: "And revere the wombs that bore you, for
God is ever watchful over you." (4:1)

It should be obvious that our parents deserve our utmost respect and
devotion - second only to God. Speaking in the Quran, God says: "Show
gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final Goal." (31:14)

The fact that God has mentioned parents in the same verse as Himself
shows the extent to which we should strive in our efforts to serve the
mothers and fathers who sacrificed so much for us. Doing so will help us
to become better people.

In that same verse, God says: "We have enjoined on man (to be good) to
his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him."

In other words, the debt we owe to our mothers is magnified due to the
difficult nature of pregnancy - not to mention the nurturing and
attention paid to us in infancy.

Another narration, or "Hadith," from the life of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) again shows us just how much we owe to our mothers.

A man once asked the Prophet (PBUH) to whom he should show the most
kindness. The Prophet replied: "Your mother, next your mother, next your
mother, and then your father." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood) In other words, we
must treat our mothers in a manner befitting their exalted position -
and, again, revere the wombs that bore us.

The Arabic word for womb is "rahem." Rahem is derived from the word for
mercy. In Islamic tradition, one of God's 99 names is "Al-Raheem," or
"the Most Merciful."

There exists, therefore, a unique connection between God and the womb.
Through the womb, we get a glimpse of the Almighty's qualities and
attributes. It nurtures, feeds and shelters us in the early stages of
life. The womb can be viewed as one manifestation of divinity in the world.

One cannot help but make the parallel between a Loving God and a
compassionate Mother. Interestingly, the Quran does not portray God as
exclusively male or female. As a matter of fact, by revering our
mothers, we are paying respect to God.

Each of us should appreciate what we have in our mothers. They are our
teachers and our role models. Every day with them is an opportunity to
grow as a person. Every day away from them is a missed opportunity.

For me, Islam is the best reminder of my mother's presence. With daily
encouragement from the Quran and the living example of the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), I know I will always keep her memory close to my heart.
She is my rahem, my connection to the divine. On this Mother's Day, I am
grateful for the occasion to reflect on that