The Old Testament in several places commands kind and
considerate treatment of the parents and condemns those who dishonor them. For example,
"If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death" (Lev.
20:9) and "A wise man brings joy to his father but a foolish man despises
his mother" (Proverbs 15:20).
Although honoring the father alone is mentioned in some
places, e.g. "A wise man heeds his father's instruction" (Proverbs
13:1), the mother alone is never mentioned. Moreover, there is no special
emphasis on treating the mother kindly as a sign of appreciation of her great
suffering in childbearing and suckling. Besides, mothers do not inherit at all
from their children while fathers do.
It is difficult to speak of the New Testament as a scripture
that calls for honoring the mother. To the contrary, one gets the impression
that the New Testament considers kind treatment of mothers as an impediment on
the way to God. According to the New Testament, one cannot become a good Christian
worthy of becoming a disciple of Christ unless he hates his mother. It is
attributed to Jesus to have said:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and
mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own
life--he can not be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Furthermore, the New Testament depicts a picture of Jesus as
indifferent to, or even disrespectful of, his own mother. For example, when she
had come looking for him while he was preaching to a crowd, he did not care to
go out to see her:
"Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing
outside, they sent someone to call him. A crowd was sitting around him and they
told him, 'Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.' 'Who are my mother
and my brothers?' he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around
him and said,' Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is
my brother and sister and mother.' " (Mark 3:31-35)
One might argue that Jesus was trying to teach his audience
an important lesson that religious ties are no less important than family ties.
However, he could have taught his listeners the same lesson without showing
such absolute indifference to his mother. The same disrespectful attitude is depicted
when he refused to endorse a statement made by a member of his audience
blessing his mother's role in giving birth to him and nursing him:
"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd
called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He
replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'
"
(Luke 11:27-28)
If a mother with the stature of the virgin Mary had been
treated with such discourtesy, as depicted in the New Testament, by a son of
the stature of Jesus Christ, then how should an average Christian mother be
treated by her average Christian sons?
In Islam, the honor, respect, and esteem attached to
motherhood is unparalleled. The Quran places the importance of kindness to
parents as second only to worshipping God Almighty:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him,
And that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in
your 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 Your Mercy as they Cherished me in childhood
"
(Qur’an 17:23-24).
The Quran in several other places puts special emphasis on
the mother's great role in giving birth and nursing:
"And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents:
In travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in two years was his
weaning. Show gratitude to Me and to your parents" (Qur’an
31:14).
The very special place of mothers in Islam has been
eloquently described by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
"A man asked the Prophet: 'Whom should I honor most?'
The Prophet replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The
Prophet replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The
Prophet replied: 'Your mother!'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet
replied: 'Your father'" (Bukhari and Muslim).
Among the few precepts of Islam which Muslims still
faithfully observe to the present day is the considerate treatment of mothers.
The honor that Muslim mothers receive from their sons and daughters is
exemplary. The intensely warm relations between Muslim mothers and their
children and the deep respect with which Muslim men approach their mothers
usually amaze Westerners.
