Jharoka

What is love anyway? Love can be described in so many ways by so many. For me, love is deeply rooted in respect, intense affection, compassion, forgiveness, and loyalty. True love is the combination of these, unconditionally.

On a day that is a commercial celebration of romance, public displays of affection and love in many regions of the world, there’s no love that is more beautiful, pure, unconditional and fulfilling beyond the love of the Almighty than the love of a mother.

The mother’s role in Islam is monumental and my mother’s role was no exception. The bond between a mother and a child is no doubt the most cherished and forms the basis of all life. By the will of the Almighty, my mother gave me life and with her passing took a part of my life with her, but I feel I remain shrouded with her love. It was and will remain that powerful.

Her love was felt through her cosmic energy, through her touch, through her words, through her eyes, through her laughter, through her actions, through her innumerable silent sacrifices and through her unspoken words. Her love was dignified and never ostentatious. She didn’t needed it validated or need an audience to show it. It was simple and pure, just like her.

It is because of this kind of love that our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.” In a narration of a Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) Abu Huraira reported: A man asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Who is most deserving of my good company?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your father.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5626, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2548.

This underscores the importance and magnitude of the role of the mother that the Almighty has given and how she must be treated. The Almighty is Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious) and Ghafoor-ur-Raheem (the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful). After the Almighty, which humans tend to have these qualities in human form? MOTHERS. I know my mother did. She was gracious, forgiving and compassionate. She also believed you had to embody these Divine qualities in order to receive them.

As many around the world celebrate romantic love today, I celebrate the love of my Mother today and every day, my first and only true love. My Lord, have mercy upon them [my parents] as they brought me up [when I was small]. Quran 17:24. Ameen.

If you have made it to this post / page, I would be most appreciative if you could say a prayer for my beloved mother. Thank you.