mother

One of my colleagues lost her mum yesterday - she found out at work that her mum passed away and subhanallah, she was completely hysterical. Completely distraught. Normally I find dramatic outbursts of crying and pain completely uncomfortable to be around - I just dont know what to do!

But with Shell I empathised very strongly with her - her sense of pain and guilt and helplessness. It all resounded in me.

I wondered if her reaction was more normal than mine - my lack of a reaction to my mothers death - I was so accepting of it when it happened although of course, I did react in my own teenage way. But my reactiong was so slight - I feel like a barely even cried at the time - I really dont think I did. Although some tears have been shed over the years.



Mothers are a precious gift to the world from Allah - appreciate yours, u never know how long you have.

Remember that paradise is at the feet of your mother; and that you are not even allowed to say "uff" to your parents in disagreement. The Quran says "Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood' "(17:23-24).

Remember: "We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (46:15).

For those of us whose parents have passed away and are, Insha'Allah, in a much better, more peaceful place, remember: Abu Usaid Saidi said: We were once sitting with Rasulullah when a man from the tribe of Salmah came and said to him: O Messenger of Allah! do my parents have rights over me even after they have died? And Rasulullah said: Yes. You must pray to Allah to bless them with His Forgiveness and Mercy, fulfill the promises they made to anyone, and respect their relations and their friends (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).

I remember the wonder of my mother - and now as an adult (or trying to be at least!), I realise how hard she must have worked to be as good a mother as she was.
Subhanallah the patience and fortitude with which she bore her trials makes me proud to be her daughter and I can only pray that Allah will make me deserving of her, that He will make me as good, as kind, as patient, as forbearing, as faithful, as strong, as pious as her.

I do not want her good work, i.e. me, to go to waste - I do not want to be a failure to her. I want to make her proud - so that when I am finally, Insha'Allah reunited with her in jannah she will be proud to acknowledge me.

Allah makes some people special and these people He tests severely - I truly believe that my mother was one of these people. It is not easy to be calm and patient when in excruciating pain or going through withdrawal from high doses of morphine - but somehow she managed it.

I pray that Allah rewards her for every one of my good deeds twice, three times over - because if I am good, if there is any good in me, it is because of her. Because of her faith in HIm, in Allah. Her faith was never shaken - it was firm and resolute - as faith should be.
I pray that Allah makes my faith unshakable, and makes me impenetrable to the whispers of the shaytaan and keeps my feet solid on the path of truth and justice. I pray he makes me an obedient and submissive slave to His divine Will. I pray He grants me Jannatal Firdous, together with my mum, my sister and my father. I pray He makes me a strong and virtuous Muslim.

I pray I find the strength, fortitude and patience to be obedient to my father who has sacrificed much in his life for us and struggles daily to be better. I remember that Abdullah ibn Amr related that the Messenger of Allah said: The major sins are to believe that Allah has partners, to disobey one's parents, to commit murder, and to bear false witness (Bukhari, Muslim).

So I remember and I pray.