Apart from her role as a wife, the Muslim woman has a very important
role as a mother. The status and value attached to parents in the Muslim world
is very high. The Holly Qur'an says:
"Your Lord has decreed that you should worship nothing except Him,
and (show) kindness to your parents, whether one or both of them attain old age
(while they are) still with you, never say to them 'Shame,' nor scold either of
them. Speak to them in a generous fashion. Protect them carefully and SAY: 'My
Lord, show them mercy, just as they cared for me as a little child' " (Qur’an 17:23-24).
In another verse of the Holly Qur'an, Allah (God) says:
"We have enjoined man to respect his parents; his mother bears him
with fainting after fainting, while his weaning takes two years. Thank Me as
well as your parents; towards Me lies the goal" (Qur'an 31 :14).
It is reported that a man came to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and asked:
"Messenger of God, 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 (PBUH) 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 God, and a failure in either
of these respects is indeed a major failure in one's religious duties.
The principles of Islam made explicit in the Qur'an and Hadith are
belief and good conduct, and good conduct begins at home with one's closest
relatives. A Westerner who has had close contact with a Muslim society cannot
fail to be struck by the love and respect given to parents and the honour shown
to old people in general, both men and women, as a direct application of these
principles of Islam.
