Better Mothers, Better Families, Better Humanity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (14)

[Qur'an Luqman 31:14]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.

[Musnad Ahmad Sunan An-Nasa I, Sunan Ibn Majah]

Motherhood is one of the most challenging roles, burdened with difficulty and responsibility, yet a role which brings a woman an honorable position and a privileged status in Islam. This role is also fulfilled with great qualities and numerous skills. If she has the ability to understand this role and to implement the teachings of Islam and raise her children in the best manner, using Islamic knowledge and the guidance of Allah Almighty she can attain great success in this world and the hereafter.

Motherhood is a career that requires certain qualities and skills. Some of these qualities are naturally in the mother because Allah created her biologically different from man, but others are acquired.

Among her greatest qualities for being a mother are sacrifice and dedication. She sacrifices her sleep, her hunger, her social time, her friendships, and her social pleasures for her children. These are among the hardest things to do, but not only does this teach the mother patience, it becomes an investment from which she will reap great rewards.

A good mother can protect her children from the dangers of the world around them. With her Islamic knowledge she can give them security by being wise in managing the home with the stability of the provision of food, clothing, and comforts without being excessively materialistic.

Her awareness of responsibility as a mother encourages her to learn and use techniques and strategies of better parenting. Teaching is one of the key skills used in motherhood, as it is used daily in everything as well as in informing her children about life. Her abilities to nurse her children when they are sick and counsel them when they are faced with trials is a valuable skill. Her other skills involve time management, planning, organizational skills, and even financing. The list is endless.

Allah, in His infinite mercy, has instilled in the nature of the mother one great quality, and that is love. No matter how bad the children are, a mother will always find it hard to hate them, she will always forgive them, love them, care for them. This is the natural true quality of a mother.

Allah has surely created the mother a unique individual. Look at all the qualities she uses in her lifetime to play such a major role -- patience, love, sacrifice, gratitude, commitment, dedication, wisdom, etc., and the list is endless.

For the development of strong families, the mother plays a vital role. The deep love and affection she shows in raising her children, in treating them equally and individually and understanding their abilities, can lead to great achievements, whilst her gentleness can remedy any flaws and weaknesses in their character. The skills of a mother help her to identify her children’s abilities and can develop them in reaching their potential. Raising sensible, virtuous children is extremely vital in Islam so that they can move on to build strong blocks in society which will form stronger societies.

Better mothers mean better families and better families better humanity.

We have to take a serious look at how we treat the women in our household and what we are doing to help women in unfortunate situations. If we don't raise our daughters properly and they grow up to be materialistic and worldly, if we (men) oppress and abuse women, if we (men) neglect their duties to provide for and protect their womenfolk, if we don't respect our mothers, if we close our eyes to the plight of women, then we are directly attributing to the destruction of humanity.

May Allah increase us in Iman, and relieve the suffering of our sisters who are suffering and being oppressed wherever they maybe and grant them patience. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam