In its current form, what we know as Mother's Day, is a secular American holiday the celebration of which cuts across religious and cultural lines. This Sunday, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, atheists, agnostics and others will honor the female caregivers in their lives with varied tokens of appreciation.
In fact, Mother's Day is not an exclusively American holiday but rather recognized in many countries across the world. In Egypt, for instance, "Eid al-Umm" -- which literally translates from Arabic as "Festival of the Mother" -- is celebrated in March. Similar festivals take place in a number of other Muslim-majority countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, Tunisia, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, to name a few.
This is not surprising, however, since the religion of Islam places high regard to the status of motherhood. Having grown up in an observant Muslim household, my mother often reminded me of this well-known hadith, or narration involving the Prophet Muhammad whom Muslims consider as the seal to God's long line of spiritual Messengers:
"A man came to the Prophet Muhammad and said, 'To whom should I be dutiful?' Prophet Muhammad said, 'Your mother.' The man said. 'Who is next?' Prophet Muhammad said, 'Your mother.' The man further said, 'Who is next?'Prophet Muhammad said, 'Your mother.' The man asked for the fourth time, 'Who is next?' Prophet Muhammad said, 'Your father.'
This particular narration flies in the face of inaccurate characterizations of Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad, as misogynistic. The questioner in this narration is instructed three times to respect his mother, and fulfill his moral and legal obligations towards her, before any mention is made of her male counterpart (e.g. father).
The highly revered mother -- and in fact, woman -- in Islamic tradition is the Virgin Mother Mary. Now, it is interesting to note, that our Mother's Day celebration actually has ancient and historical roots including Christian ones where the day commemorated Mary, the mother of Jesus.
In Islamic tradition, the Virgin Mother Mary is considered superior to all the women who lived before or after her as exemplified by the following verse from the Quran (the Muslim equivalent of the Bible and Torah and regarded by the faithful as the literal word of God):
"Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee -- chosen thee above the women of all nations." (Chapter 3, Verse 42).
Mary is the only woman explicitly mentioned by name in the Quran, and an entire chapter is named after her: the title of Chapter 19 is "Maryam" which translates from Arabic as "Mary." It relates the story of the Immaculate Conception as well as Mary's labor. The Chapter of Mary also describes the birth of Jesus, who is characterized in the Quran as one in a long line of prophets and messengers from God, including: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses and Aaron.
A modest woman who preserved her chastity and struggled to raise a good son to serve humanity, Muslims -- here and abroad -- regard Mary as a role model who epitomizes motherhood and womanhood. Christians and Muslims share common ground in this regard.
Mother's Day in its current form was founded by Anna Jarvis as a day to honor one's mother. It is significant to note that Jarvis was a pacifist and it is in her spirit that I reflect and share Muslim beliefs about motherhood, and the Virgin Mother Mary in particular, in an effort to achieve greater inter-cultural and -religious understanding to reduce conflict and tension seemingly so rampant in today's society. Happy Mother's Day.
Engy Abdelkader is a new mother, attorney and member of the American Muslim community.
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: A Mother's Day Remembrance For A Mother Who Can't Remember
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It is state Pakistan thaty is doing it to Asma Bibi.
What about the wife? Is she also treated with respect and affection. Islam does not differentiate between mother, wife, sisters daughter in law and daughter. The Book refers only to women and she is in literal slave status. Read this:
"Women's lack of freedom and outright abuse is a fundamental feature of Sharia, which is the system of law used by many Islamic governments. Shaykh Ghawhi, a well-known and well-respected (in Islamic universities and throughout the Islamic world) teacher of Islamic studies and Islamic law, says according to Sharia:
1. A woman must only leave her house if she has a real need to do so.
2. Her husband or guardian must authorize her leaving the house.
3. When she is out, she must be completely covered, including her face.
4. When she is out, she must not look left or right but keep her head bowed down as she walks.
5. She must not wear perfume in public.
6. She must never shake a man's hand.
7. Even if she is visiting a female friend and is inside her friend's house, she must not uncover herself in case a man is hiding somewhere in the house."
more should be known about the women in the Prophet's life . apperently one of his wives led a battle when Mohammed wasnt able. one wife, maybe the same person, was a business woman
Well, just ask Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani then. I'm sure she and her kids would agree.
Dr. Mohamed Abu-Nimer, from the Salam Institute of Peace and Justice stated:
"All the Abrahamic traditions are based in nonviolence, it is our lenses that determine whether we see it. Like Christianity the concept of a Just War took root and developed after lots of discussions dealing with how to deal with believers and nonbelievers.
"The first twelve years Mohamed spent in Mecca he practiced nonviolent resistance. He was persecuted but always prayed: ‘God forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.’
"Mohamed taught against the killing of innocents, the desecration of the environment and for the humane treatment and respect towards one’s enemies. Suicide bombings are not justified and those who try to justify it negate the early principals and teachings regarding nonviolence, the pursuit of justice, doing good, universality and human dignity, equality, that all life is sacred, to be forgiving and be a peace maker."
As with Christianity; the ideals have yet to transform the hearts and minds of many who claim to be adherents of the faith.
Mother's Day Manifesto 2011-2012 @
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may082011/mothers-day-ct.php