Sunday, June 15, 2008

Allah's Jewel/s

Have you ever felt so close to someone or rather loved someone so much, your heart physically feels this? At the age of 21 I realised what love truly is and what it means. Love for my dearest dearest mother.

Like many I grew up in her care and unconditional love, a love, which was enough to cure the most painful young ‘ill-health’. Being a single mother, my beloved mother was not just a parent, but a friend, a teacher and amongst other things.

It shames me to say this but I took this devotion of my mother for her children for granted, I believe there are many more of my kinds inhibiting this earth. It took me to experience something I would not wish for any other soul to go through to realise my mother’s essence.

As I grow up in a relatively multi-cultured society, I see all kinds of behaviour. One, which catches my attention the most, is that of the lifestyle of our young generation. The young one’s who spend more time with their friends smoking ‘weed’ than spending time in things that will benefit them.

Often we would hear this, as I call ‘cliché’ of the ‘parents are to blame for the immorality the young ones go about in’. But we should really ask ourselves, ‘do we really mean this? No we do not mean this, of course some parents are more careless than others, but in the hearts of ever parent is a deep love for their child/ren. A love so profound and so unique no words I am sure will do any justice to explain it. It is just like the love I; you and others have for their parent/s, every parent deserves some form of praise…


And the paradise is under the feet of your mothers. - Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Ali bin Hussain, the great-grandson of the Prophet, said: "Coming to the rights of relatives, it is the right of your mother that you should appreciate that she carried you [in her womb] as nobody carries anybody, and fed you the fruits of her heart which nobody feeds anybody, and protected you [during pregnancy] with her ears, hands, legs, hair, limbs, [in short] with her whole being, gladly, cheerfully and carefully; suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows [of pregnancy], till the hand of God removed you from her and brought you into this world."

"Then she was most happy feeding you, even if she herself had no clothes; giving you milk and water; not caring for her own thirst; keeping you in the shade, even if she had to suffer from the heat of the sun; giving you every comfort with her own hardship; lulling you to sleep while keeping herself awake."

"And [remember that] her womb was your abode, and her lap your refuge, and her breast your feeder, and her whole existence your protection; it was she, not you, who was braving the heat and cold of this world for your safety."

"Therefore, you must remain thankful to her accordingly, and you cannot do so except by the help and assistance from Allah." (The Charter of Right, p.18)


Do you see how precious a mother is? Do you not, after reading these words of Ali bin Hussain, want to raise your hands and plead to Allah SWT to bless, honour and look after her in the best of health in this duniyah and the hereafter?

I can go on and on listing the essence of a mother, as well as father, for I lost my beloved Baba at the age of 5 years of age. But I do not want to list, because listing is far too unjust to these jewels of our lives. I want my brothers and sisters to appreciate such profound love and to feel it before regret pains our souls. This Ummah of ours really needs to delve into the origins of our beings. For then will not the fruits of success be enjoyed?

I make du’a for all the parents out there, whether alive or in Allah's SWT mercy. May Allah SWT give us the tawfiq to look after them and consume their du’as for their children so we feel it not just in this duniyah but on the day when we stand before the creator who fashioned these beautiful creatures of His, InshAllah.

"Your Lord has commanded that you shall not worship (anyone) but Him and to be good to the parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) 'Ugh' nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And lower for them 'the wings of humility' out of mercy; and pray; 'O my Lord! Have mercy on them as they brought me up (when I was) little.'" (17:23-24)

May you all make dua for my Baba who has passed away, and for my dearest Ammi-Ji, for Allah SWT to protect her from the harm of this duniyah and for Him to continue to give me the pleasure to look after her and honour her, inshAllah.

Peace.

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