Salamun alaykum,
Honoring mothers:
In many parts of the world a day is set aside to honor mothers and motherhood. This day, known as Mother’s day, is celebrated on various days most commonly in month of May or in March/April.
The United States celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the date was changed to fit a medieval celebration called Mothering Sunday, which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent (this year it fell on 14th March 2010).
In Islamic countries Mother’s day is observed on 20th Jamadi al Thani, the date of the birth of Bibi Fatima a.s., the daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w. This year it falls on 4th June, 2010.
Commercialization:
Like Christmas, the celebrations of Mother’s day eventually have become so highly commercialized that the spirit or essence of celebrating these events has vanished. Powerful advertising media pressures the people such that all that one is expected to do is to give a gift on those days. By doing so the society feels pleased that it has done its duty towards its mother.
Is that so?
Whilst presenting of gifts to ones mother is but an insignificant attempt to recognize and appreciate the role played by a mother in one’s life, the offering is not strictly limited to only the designated Mother’s day.
Thank you mother:
As we draw close to the day of celebrating the birth of Bibi Fatima a.s. let us reflect on the following words of our fourth Imam Ali Zaynul ‘Abidin a.s.
“The right of your mother is that you should know that she sustained you and carried you in her womb for a number of months ad nourished you with the fruit of her heart and syrup of her soul. She commissioned her entire being for your protection and sustenance. She did not mind that she should be hungry while you should be satiated or that she should be thirsty while you should quench your thirst, nor that she should not be dressed while you should be dressed or that she should be in the sun whereas you should be under the shade.
She forsook her sweet sleep for your sake and bore the trouble of sleeplessness. She protected you from the heat of summer and the cold of winter. She bore all these troubles so that she might possess you and you might belong to her.
You should know that you are not competent enough to thank your mother, except that Allah may help you and grant you strength to pay her right.”
The fact remains that one is unable to fully repay the rights of one’s mother. For every moment of life we breathe is our Mother’s day.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk:
Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk: Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board