In the name of Allāh,

the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Peace and Blessings of Allāh on Mohammad.

DEDICATED TO

Allāh–the Glorious and the High,

Lord of the worlds

AND TO

Mohammad–who brought the world

to our feet and eternity to our arms.

*

PARENTS

Allāh God the Glorious and the High tells us in His Qur’an that one of His reasons for creating us is for us to give thanks to Him. We give thanks to Allāh not because He needs anything from us. But as a reminder and reflection that He is the cause of our existence, and that He is the only presence greater than us.

   After worship of Allāh, next in line for our service is our parents. Foremost, our mothers. A mother has three degrees of excellence over a father: she having carried us for nine months, given birth to us, and nursed us–(Ref. Bokhari Vol. 8, # 2). And as the Prophet Mohammad taught, paradise lies at the feet of our mother. Islam esteems womanhood as the symbol of purity and motherhood as the gateway to Paradise.

   In Islam everyday is “Mothers’ day” and “Fathers’ day.” Allāh, the Glorious and the High tells us in His Qur’an:

“And thy Lord has decreed that you serve none but Him,

and do good to parents. And if either or both of them reach

old age with thee, say not “Fie” to them, nor chide them,

and speak to them a generous word”

(Qur’an 17:23)

“And We have enjoined on man concerning his parents

–his mother bears him with faintings upon faintings and his

weaning takes two years– saying: Give thanks to Me and

to thy parents. To Me is the eventual coming”

(Qur’an 31:14)

   Man –his mother carried him for nine months, endured pain giving birth to him, nursed him for two years, spent countless sleepless hours cleaning and comforting him, and maintained him to maturity– for him to revel in sanctimonious, self-glory for the few hours he spent at her sick bed is pathetic. Disgraceful. He may walk a million miles to vigil her and spend a million dollars to comfort her yet it would not repay her not even for a single drop of her milk she fed him.

   Longevity –even with its attendant ailments (and even young people have ailments)– is a blessing in that it affords one more time to glorify Allāh and to seek His mercy and forgiveness. It is also a tremendous opportunity for children to serve their parents and accumulate the invaluable rewards associated with service to parents.

   Whereas food and drink are nourishment for the body, Islamically, worship of Allāh, Prayer, Charity Fasting, Hajj, and duty to parents are nutrients for the soul.

   The opportunity to serve parents should not be neglected. Once this opportunity has passed it can never be regained. Ever! Much like the tick of the clock….Gone forever!  

   (Why children resembles father/mother–Bokhari Vol. 6, # 7).