By Nooruddin Hashmi & Noor Shahin
Imagine that you are offered a job, and that you accept taking part in an interview for the job. The person interviewing you tells you that the hours are very long, almost 24 hours a day, every day of the week. On top of that the job requires physical labor and a lot of bending down and carrying of heavy items. You consider the job slightly less after hearing this, but continue to listen to the interviewer. He then tells you that the job has NO pay.
At this point you may decide to tell the guy that he is crazy and that no one would take such a job. However, this job being offered, the one that drains the life out of a person for no pay, is the number one job in the world. This job is the job of a mother. Ahh, think about that.
Where would you be right now if it were not for your mother? Your mother was the one who fed you, cleaned you, and cared for you when you were little. She is the one who still loves you, cares for you, and misses you when you are not by her side. She has done so much for you, but what have you done for her? Islam teaches us that after your love for Allah (God) and the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon him) you should love your parents, specifically your mother first. It is related from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (two trustworthy sources), “When a man came up to the Prophet and said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me?
He replied: ‘Your Mother.’ The man asked: Then who? So he replied: ‘Your mother.’ The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: ‘Your mother.’ The man then asked: Then who? So he replied: ‘Then your father.’” The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) extols the position of the mother by putting her thrice in front of the father. The work of a mother begins with pregnancy and does not end until her children grow up to become parents and later grandparents. A mother is given the highest rank in Islam next to the Prophet (pbuh) due to the responsibilities and difficulties that she must endure.
A mother’s job is harder than any fathers’ and is one that comes without any material pay. For this reason the Prophet (pbuh) has said: “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother”[Musnad Ahmad, Sunan An-Nasai, Sunan Ibn Majah]. The greatest reward for all of mankind lies at the feet of your mom. From this massive statement one can understand the position of a mother in this world.
Treat your parents with respect. Several times in the Holy Quran there is mention of respecting your parents. “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor”[Chapter 17: Verse 23-24]. The rank of parents is way above that of a child. No child has the right to be disrespectful to their parents.
No matter how tough parents can be, we must remember that they too are human and are having just as hard of a time dealing with you as you them. Remember that one day you will be a parent and bring yourself to forgive your parents for their shortcomings as you would want your kids to forgive yours. Go home and hug them, tell them how much you love them. Get your mom something special before Mother’s Day (May 11th) and show her that every day is mother’s day and I assure you that you will not be disappointed with her reaction.