But it is sad to admit that role of mothers are not being sufficiently appreciated especially in this day and age. The influence of a father however, is often secondary and this is fact indicated by the Prophet Muhammad himself when he said that a person should be three times more indebted to the mother than to the father.
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Being a good wife is crucial in a family institution, so does being a mother. Parents are custodians to their children and this role is more ingrain in mothers. While a father may have similar importance in raising their child but since a father is expected to bring food on the table, a child spends most of their growing up lives with their mothers.
Small children, for instance, are more attached to their mothers than fathers. Mothers have greater roles in teaching their children for the most basic things in life like eating habits, proper ways of dressing, respecting elders and having good manners. Mothers should tell her children about stories of prophets in Islam and their companion in order to develop them to be good practising Muslims.
But it is sad to admit that role of mothers are not being sufficiently appreciated especially in this day and age. The influence of a father however, is often secondary and this is fact indicated by the Prophet Muhammad himself when he said that a person should be three times more indebted to the mother than to the father.
In the Qur’an, Allah SWT said,” We have enjoined man to respect his parents; his mothers bears him with fainting after fainting while his weaning takes two years. Thank Me as well as your parents, towards Me lies the goal” (31:14).
It is reported that a man came to the Prophet and asked:
"Messenger of Allah, who is the most deserving of good care from me?" The Prophet replied: "Your mother (which he repeated three times) then your father, then your nearest relatives in order".
In another hadith the Prophet has said: "Paradise lies at the feet of mothers". In other words Paradise awaits those who cherish and respect their mothers.
The Muslim mother has consequently a great feeling of security about the type of care and consideration she can expect from her children when she reaches old age. As the verse of the Qur'an quoted above indicates, thankfulness to parents is linked with thankfulness to Allah, and a failure in either of these respects is indeed a major failure in one's religious duties.
The Prophet Muhammad said reported by Mu`awiya ibn Jahima. He said that his father approached Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "I intend going on jihad. I seek your advice." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) inquired, "Is your mother alive?" He answered, "Yes." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Go and serve her, for Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers" (Ahmad, An-Nasa’i, Al-Bayhaqi).
Mothers should muse over these words by the Prophet Muhammad and think over how significant they are to these sayings of the Prophet thus live up to the traditions of wives of the prophet. Granted, it is not an easy task but they should also try their best amidst the odds. The wives of the Prophets are given the names “Mothers of the Believers” to honour them of the roles in raising the family.
