~*~ Motherhood in Al-Quran ~*~

The cases of the Mothers as mentioned in Qur'an are always accompanied by a sense of testing, challenge, anguish and for each one of these cases there are a good reason lies behind.

Mother of Musa Alayhis 'Salam

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala told the Mother of Hazrat Musa alayhis 'salam ( through inspiration to do this unbelievable, challenging, trying and testing act that is to place her newborn son in the chest and throw it into the river to be picked up by one who is an enemy of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and an enemy of Hazrat Musa alayhis 'salam. How much faith and comfort a mother would have to respond to this call from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to throw her son and some people say that after all she did not have a choice because Pharaoh is killing the sons.

Nonetheless it is quite difficult to convince a mother to throw her son to the unknown like that. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala did not say that her son will be taken to safety and instead He said the baby will be picked up by one who is an enemy of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and an enemy of Musa alayhis 'salam. It must have been a very strong and faithful mother.


Mother of Hazrat Yahya Alayhis 'Salam

Hazrat Yahya alayhis 'salam's father Hazrat Zakariya alayhis 'salam was an old man and there was a need for an heir to carry the legacy of the message. Hazrat Zakariya alayhis 'salam's wife was also old. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala wanted him to have a very special child (Qur'an 19:7-11). We know that Hazrat Yahya alayhis 'salam played an important role in the chain of messengers because he was the one who conveyed the message and also who took care of Hazrat Isa alayhis 'salam.

The trial is not to Hazrat Zakariya alayhis 'salam but to his wife, the old woman who has to go through the tribulations to having that child. Nonetheless the father was sceptical of having a child in the old age but on the contrary the mother was joyful and cheerful about that situation and she came laughing aloud. (Qur'an 51:29)

She just had a positive attitude about the whole thing and cheerfulness that she could not hide even though it was a strange situation to be at.

Mother of Hazrat Isa Alayhis 'Salam

Hazrat Maryam Radi Allahu anha's trial was also very strange. Hazrat Maryam Radi Allahu anha a chaste and a respectful person of the society finds all of a sudden that she will have a baby. She seeks refuge in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to protect her. She was wondering how she can have a child affirming her chastity. Qur'an explains the miraculous conception. In the pain of labour, Hazrat Maryam Radi Allahu anha wishes that she would rather die than go through this. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala comforts and guides her. (Qur'an 19:16-25)

She delivers the baby and goes back to her people. Her people immediately remind her about her pious and respectful family. And Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala made the newborn defend her mother. Hazrat Isa alayhis 'salam said he is NOT the son of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala but the servant of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. And Hazrat Isa alayhis 'salam said he will be kind to his mother. (Quran 19:26-35)

We can see the gratitude he had towards his mother who went through all these trials.

Foster Mother

Pharaoh's (Firaun) wife prays to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala that she needs a house in the heaven and she wants Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to save her from Pharaoh (Firaun) and his doings and from those who do wrong. (Qur'an 66:11)

One can appreciate her good attitude when she finds the baby [Musa alayhis 'salam] inside the chest. She says that the baby is a pleasure to her eyes and her mother's instinct starts taking over. She says to Pharaoh (Firaun) not to kill the baby and says the baby might be of benefit to them. Here is the mother's instinct that is saying that they will adopt him as a son. (Qur'an 28:9)

Kindness to Mother

Qur'an ordains to be kind to one's parents and especially to the mother (Qur'an 31:14, 46:15). All the family and relationships mentioned in the Qur'an refers to the womb (rahim). Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala instructs not to break the ties of the womb when put in authority (Qur'an 47:22).

Motherhood in Modern times

For the first time in the history, motherhood has become a matter of question. Throughout the history from Hazrat Adam alayhis 'salam and Hazrat Hawa Radi Allahu anha and up until now the motherhood was never questioned. The mother gets pregnant, delivers a baby and she is the mother of the child.

So each mother is carrying in her the parts of the original material that made her child. Hence with the advent of modern science the mother-child relationship is much more than what we had ever known before. This probably explains the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam when a man came to him and he was asked, Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: Your mother. The man said, 'Then who?' The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: Then your mother. The man further asked, 'Then who?' The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: Then your mother. The man asked again, 'Then who?' The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: Then your father (Bukhari).