Your Parents Are Special
I am going to re-introduce you to two of the most special people in world history. You know them already. They are probably the first people you met.
Well, you may not remember meeting them because you were too young. But, they remember you. In fact, they waited nine months for you to come home. They planned out how your room would look, where you would sleep, and even what you would wear at night.
You Have a Special Name
One of the duties your parents have is to choose the best name for you. You will be known by that name from the day you are born until the day you die. Of course you are allowed to change your name if you so choose when you become an adult.
However, in Islam, we must always be known by the names of fathers. Living here in North America, we call this your father’s last name. In fact, for girls, even after marriage, they don’t have to drop their last name and take their husband’s family’s last name. That is their right to be known by their father!
Your mom and dad spent time reviewing various Muslim names for you. After talking to you uncles and aunts, your grandparents and other family friends, they finally chose a beautiful name for you. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) encouraged people to choose beautiful names that could reflect the personality of the child. As you can see, your parents have done a great duty by giving you a special name.
Parents and Paradise
How many times have you heard the hadith that, ‘Paradise lies beneath the feet of the mothers’? When I was younger, people would just blurt out that hadith and I never actually realized what it meant. Just like when people would tell me that there are five pillars in Islam. I always imagined this huge roof called Islam and these tall, white columns extending towards the sky with shahada, salaat, ramadhan, zakat, and hajj written sideways. Getting back to the paradise under mom’s feet, we really need to spend time to understand what this hadith means. Let’s see what the Prophet Muhammad has said to explain our relationship with our parents.
Muawiyya narrates that Jahima came to the Prophet (saw) and said:’ O Messenger of Allah! I have intended to enlist in the fighting force and have come to consult you. Prophet (s.a.w) asked:’ Do you have a mother? He then replied: ‘Yes! Then Prophet (s.a.w) said: ‘ Then stick to her for Paradise is beneath her feet.’ Ahmad, Nisai, and Bayhaqi)
Consider this example carefully. In Islam, children are expected to serve their parents. Jahima comes to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) because he loves Allah and he wants to fight for the cause of Islam. The Prophet (S.A.W.) knows that if Jahima dies serving the cause of Islam it would be in some way a disservice to his mother because there may be no one to take care of her. Perhaps Jahima’s father has passed away. So, despite Jahima’s desire to serve Allah, the Prophet (S.A.W.) recommends that he should go and serve his mother.
As we shall see in other essays, service to ones parents is a special privilege that children are assigned in Islam. Each of us must make it a duty to realize the honor and respect our parents deserve. Yes, sometimes we may have arguments and misunderstandings. Sometimes, they may seem like difficult people. But remember, that Allah (swt) has chosen these two people from all of His creation to be your parents.
For that reason alone, your parents are special!
Related posts:
- Ten Tips To Be A Sucessful Muslim Husband
- Hijab (Hijaab) is a Woman’s Real Beauty
- How to make your Husband HAPPY ?
- Are Muslim Women Oppressed?
- Who is ALLAH
- Book: Qabar aur Aakhirat ki Tyari’ : Preparation for Grave & Doomsday
- Parenting in Islam
- I am Free to Do What I Want
- Arrogance Makes A Person Thankless To The Blessings Of Allah!
- Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad (PbuH) – 50 Selected aHadith
