The Importance of The Mother In Islam

A mother has always been considered the backbone of a family and the society at large. Islam has placed a special emphasis on the importance of loving and respecting the mother, as is illustrated by the following Hadith (Tradition of the Prophet Mohamed S.A.W)

Abu Hurairah R.A. narrates that a man asked The Prophet S.A.W. "For whom should I be most concerned in maintaining good relations?" The Prophet S.A.W. answered "Your Mother."

The man then asked "Who next?" a second and a third time and each time The Prophet S.A.W. gave the same reply.

When he repeated the question for the fourth time, then The Prophet S.A.W. answered "Your Father, and then other relatives, in order of the nearness to you in kinship."

Some scholars of Islam have said that the reason that the mother has been given three times the amount of importance is that the mother has to go through 3 hardships for her child:

* Pregnancy
* Child Birth
* Breast Feeding


Some Islamic Theologians have said that if a person does not have the means to take care of both his parents, then preference should be given to the mother.

Another Hadith (Tradition Of The Holy Prophet S.A.W) says "Begin with your mother in your good treatment, then comes your Father, then your sister, then your brother and then other kinsmen in order of their nearness in relationship. Do not ignore your neighbours and the needy."

Another Hadith has stated that Allah Ta'alah will make the hour of death easy for the person who has the following three qualities:

* He is kind to his parents
* He treats his parents with loving care
* He shows favor to his subordinates


There was a man in the time of The Prophet S.A.W. who was on his deathbed and could not recite the Kalmia (this declaration of faith is essential if one is to die as a Muslim) The Prophet S.A.W. was called and asked for his advice. He said that the reason the man could not recite the Kalima (declaration of faith) was because his mother was displeased with him.

The Prophet S.A.W. then called the mother. He (S.A.W) then had a huge fire lit and asked the mother if she would like her son to be thrown into it. Naturally, she replied that she wouldn't. Then The Prophet S.A.W. told the mother that if she did not forgive her son he would be thrown into the fire of Hell for all eternity. The mother forgave her son and he was able to recite the Kalima and thus he died with Imaan (faith)

As you can see, Islam does not relegate the rights of the Mother to one day of the year - Mother's Day. In Islam, every day is Mother's Day.