appreciating mothers

A Child’s Conversation with Heaven: Appreciating Mothers

Appreciating Mothers

Mohammed-Khaku MohammedAbbas Khaku (Allentown, USA) is the past president of Al Ahad Islamic Center in Allentown. He is a Social and criminal justice writer and regularly writes for a number of international publications. He is the Senior Derivatives Financial Analyst at Freddie Mac and holds the ODE Economic Honors Society associated with Moravian University

H

ello Operator, does heaven have a phone number? I was told by my dad Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today, My tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away, Operator can you tell me how to find her in the yellow page of heaven… I do not know where to look. I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.

I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really do not know why. Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me. Is Heaven very far away, is it across the ocean? She has been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!

 I really need to reach her, but I simply do not know how. Help me find the number please, is it listed under Heaven or is it unlisted. I cannot read these big words; I am only five. I am sorry operator, I did not mean to make you cry, Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye?

I did call Al Ahad operator they said she is buried at Bagh-e-Mustafa and gave me the direction I will tack it up on the bedroom wall and the refrigerator. Thank you, operator, I will give heaven a call or visit the Bagh-e-Mustafa on Jummah – Friday! Wish you happy Jummah

I want to remind that when we were young especially at night with thunderstorm, lighting, or bad dreams, we use to say to our Mums I am sacred – Maa Mujhe Dar Lagta Hai” Sakht Raston Mein Bhi Aasan Safar Lagta Hai, Ye Mujhe Maa Ki Duaon Ka Asar Lagta Hai, Ek Muddat Se Meri Maa Nahi Soi, Jab Maine Ek Baar Kaha Tha “Maa Mujhe Dar Lagta Hai”

Maa I am sacred, however my journey to success look peaceful, all this is because of your prayers, nor did you sleep when I told you once I am sacred.

I pin this tribute from Karbala, Iraq. The purpose of this tribute, reflection or commentary is to share a few thoughts and reflections on the passing away of parents of our community members. In last few weeks we have witness the death of our beloved mothers/fathers in our community. The death of a mother is the hardest to bear for she is the one who is there for us the most.

Time in my opinion really does not seem to heal us, but it helps us learn to deal with our loss and continue to move forward. The tears will always continue to be shed, but we have the memories that will be forever locked in our minds and in our hearts.

This small tribute should remind us of our parents and pray for their Maghfira –  Clemency, forgive their sins and shortcomings from the Almighty Allah.

I will be in Iraq for pilgrimage (Ziyarat), while Millions of Americans will be celebrating Mother’s Day. On May 14th.

It is a day when families get together to honor the mothers in their lives. However, we do not need one special day to appreciate our mothers. In Islam every day is mother’s day.

However, Mother’s Day has become a money-making celebration and to provide expensive gift once a year to mother is a shame.

Gift to our beloved mothers should come from the heart and it should be done every day and not just once a year!  

We need to be conscientious of our obligations to our mothers whose challenges and difficulty began prior to us coming into this world.

So, let us cherish our mothers every day and not wait an entire year to show her how special she really is.

All scriptures have given mother and daughters an honorable status. We all are indebted to our mothers not only for nourishing us in the womb, but for going through pain and suffering.

Mothers loved us even before we were born. They toiled when we were helpless infants. They spent sleepless nights, suffering anxieties, while caring for us.

They provided shelter against heat and cold. Surely, it is not possible to repay that fully. In lieu of this, it becomes obligatory for us to show utmost kindness, respect, and obedience to our mothers.

The Quran places the importance of kindness to parents as second only to worshipping God Almighty.

In Islam, the honor, respect, and esteem attached to motherhood are unparalleled. Prophet Muhammad has eloquently described the status of mothers in Islam:” A man asked the Prophet:

“Whom should I honor most?’ The Prophet replied: “Your mother.’ “And who comes next?’ asked the man. The Prophet replied: “Your mother.’ “And who comes next?’ asked the man. The Prophet replied: “Your mother!’ “And who comes next?’ asked the man. The Prophet replied: “Your father.”‘

This Mother’s Day is even more special for I live with a mother who is as important to me: my wife. For me, she has been my partner in worshipping God. She is a precious gift from God. She has remarkable character, her courage, her responsibility, her strength of will is nothing short of inspiring to me.

She is the one who is up earliest. And at night, she is last to go to bed. She prepares the breakfast for all of us. And when everyone leaves the house, be it for work or school, it is she who is left alone to clean and cook.

She does not rest but continues to do daily chores and goes to work, too. And when the children come home from school, the dinner is ready, and she helps them with their homework.

I thank God for this most undeserved blessing of a wife, who is a mother, too. The compassion she has for our four children, even at times of hardship and fatigue, overflows from her heart.

She is truly a remarkable and wonderful woman with strength that outshines mine. This Mother’s Day has also caused me to reflect on the greatness of my daughters, (Zainab & Zahra).

They deserve the world from me, and I can only ask God for forgiveness for me not being able to give them the world that they deserve. May the Lord God shower his mercy, love and blessing upon my wife and daughters.

As I reflect on this Mother’s Day from Karbala invariably the saying of Prophet Muhammad also comes to mind: “Paradise is underneath the foot of the mother.”

How true that statement is. Growing up with my mom and living with my wife have made me truly understand why the Prophet stressed allegiance to one’s mother.

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.

People who disobey their mothers are held in God’s eyes as the worst type of sinners. Such is the place of a mother in the eyes of God.

My mother was the source of energy and success for me. She taught me how to be a man, a husband, a father, and a son. Most importantly, she instilled the love of God and she taught me how to pray and worship.

She ingrained in me the importance of developing a personal relationship with God and developing that relationship throughout my life. Had it not been for my mother, I most probably would not have either known or discovered the beauty of the worship and love of God.

I lost my own mother in October of 1997. Though the pain of losing her is still with me and her memory lives on in my siblings and me, I sometimes worry that I might forget what a blessing she was for me.

For me, Islam is the best reminder of my mother’s presence. With daily encouragement from the Quran and the living example of Prophet Muhammad, I know I will always keep her memory close to my heart.

On this Mother’s Day, let us reach out to all the mothers in our lives and let them know how much we truly love, care, and honor them. On this Mother’s Day, let us show our love and respect by kissing our mothers’ hands.

My respect and admiration go out for those moms who have lost their dear ones in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Mothers will always have my deepest gratitude, admiration, honor, and respect.

A tribute to my Mom who passed away in Oct 1977 and My dad when I was only 14 years old.  A day to remember your beauty, your grace, your quiet strength,
your love for others, your devotion to all eight of us, your gentle righteousness, and commitment to oneness of God and the love of Ahlul Bayt. I love you, mom,
and am so thankful and so lucky that you were my mother.

In honor of Mother’s Day, lets appreciate the beauty of spring and the blessing of rain, but there is another mother in far corners of the world crying under the terror of bombs and bullets.

Sure, every mother is looking for the breakfast in bed on the Mother’s Day, but there is another mother who hungry, homeless, stateless, and fleeing from war. Also, when you think about the mass incarceration crisis, it is probably another mother who comes to mind. 

More from this writer:

Visit our Facebook page

Visit our Instagram page

Writers Panel | A Simple Thought | Obituaries | Ziarat Ashura | Islamic Calendar | Facebook | Instagram

About the author

Leave a Reply