logo
episode-header-image
May 2019
5m 33s

Your mother ... Your mother ... Your mot...

QAIM INSTITUTE
About this episode

And We have enjoined on a human being to do good to his parents. His mother bears him with trouble and pain and brings him forth with trouble and pain. The bearing of him and his weaning (takes) thirty months, till when he attains his full maturity and reaches (the age of) forty years he says to his Lord, ‘My Lord! rouse me up that I may give thanks for the favours you have bestowed on me and on my parents and that I may do such righteous deeds as may please You. And (my Lord!) establish righteousness among my progeny for me. To You indeed I turn penitently and I am surely of those who submit themselves (to You).’  (6:15)


Commentary

NUMBER 30: Being enjoined to act with goodness to our parents is a hallmark of the Quran and many times, after Allah speaks about His oneness and that we must not set up partners with Him, he reminds us to be good to our parents. This is not only an “Islamic” requirement, but rather, this is a human condition that everyone, regardless of their belief system, they are obligated to love, honour and respect their mother and father.

In this verse, Allah speaks about ‘إحسان’ or ‘goodness’ to our parents – however this word has been mentioned in the indefinite form – meaning it is not limited to financial support, daily living assistance or ‘respect’, rather, it includes ANY and all types of things which, in a person’s society, would be classified as ‘goodness’ – and this could  evolve with time and place.

Although both the mother and father are included in this verse, however it is interesting that Allah focuses on the mother – and rightfully so!

It is the mother who goes through the 9 months of pregnancy, carrying her child inside of her; it is the mother who goes through the pains of labour; it is the mother who wakes up at night to feed and change the baby – in summary, the mother is the one who goes through the most physically taxing challenges of being a parent in the early years of the child.

Allah speaks about such efforts in this verse of the Quran when He reminds us that our mother bears us with trouble and pain and brings us forth into this world in trouble and pain and that this initial stage of our conception until we are fully weaned is 30 months.

It is interesting that from this young age, Allah fast-forwards to when this “child” turns 40 and make a supplication for his parents – what happened to the 38 years or so in between!? This is something for us to think about and also reflect on our own personal lives and what we did to our parents in that period and how we treated them – and how they treated us.

Hopefully we did not break their heart or cause them grief and sorrow and if we did, we still have time to turn back to Allah in repentance and to ask our mother and father for forgiveness as it is not too late. 

Point of Reflection

Although we can never truly pay our parents back for all of their sleepless nights and difficulties they went through to ensure we had comfort and luxury in our younger days, the least we can do as to make supplication for them for Allah to bless them for all that they did for us.

Up next
Apr 2024
CONCLUSION to Ramadan Reflections 2024 - Eid al-Fitr Day
As we bid farewell to Ramadan 2024, join us in celebrating the culmination of our 10th season of Ramadan Reflections! Throughout this sacred month, we embarked on a profound journey, exploring the Noble Quran to uncover the esteemed role of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in Islam. ... Show More
9m 45s
Apr 2024
Imam Ali (ع) - The Best House in Islam - Ramadan Reflections 2024 - Day 30
On this auspicious 30th day of Ramadan, as some celebrate Eid and others continue in fasting, let's delve into Surah al-Baqara (2), Verse 83. Join us as we explore the profound lessons from the Divine covenant with the Bani Isra'il, reflecting on its relevance in our lives today. ... Show More
14m 21s
Apr 2024
Imam Ali (ع) - One Bringing the Truth and One Accepting It - Ramadan Reflections 2024 - Day 29
Welcome back to Ramadan Reflections 2024! As we approach the potential day of Eid, join us on the 29th day of Ramadan for profound insights into Surah al-Zumar (39):3. Today, we delve into the Divine recognition bestowed upon those who bring forth and confirm the truth, exploring ... Show More
10m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2021
[14:41] – For Allah To Forgive Us, Our Parents And The Rest Of The Believers On Judgment Day
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established. Rabbanaghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’minina yawma yaqumulhisab. This is a very beautiful supplication for ... Show More
16s
Dec 2019
The Powerful Prayer of a Mother
In the midst of a major battle, the prophet notices a bird distressed about her baby. The prophet instructed it’s child be returned to the mother. This is position that Islam gives a mother. Even when the mother bears no resemblance to us, it’s status remains the highest in Islam ... Show More
29m 32s
Jan 2021
[40:8-9] – Asking Allah To Grant The Believers, Their Parents, Their Spouses And Their Children Paradise; And To Protect Them Against The Consequences Of Their Sins
رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ. وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ وَمَنْ تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِي ... Show More
1m 12s
Mar 2021
[2:286] – Supplication For Forgiveness and Obedience to Allah
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرٗا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُر ... Show More
1m 4s
Jun 2017
The Prize of Submission to Allah – Khutbah by Nouman Ali Khan
This Khutbah was recorded in Richardson on 01/13/2017. In today’s hyper consumerist societies, where effortless instant gratification is the norm, it is easy for those whose faith is weak to stray from the path of Allah. Those whose faith is literally “on the edge”, weighed down ... Show More
1h 5m
Mar 2024
SERIES: Ramadan Hiatus: Unready for Ramadan with Zaiba & Uzma
Zaiba and Uzma discussed how they faced the biggest "mommying challenges" during Ramadan 2019, and how they break us and make us. In light of the current siege in G@z@, we feel broken indeed and for that reason look forward to Ramadan. We were inspired to replay this due a recent ... Show More
37m 20s
Mar 2021
[2:128] – General, For Guidance, Forgiveness and For the Guidance of One’s Children
رَبَّنَا وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا مُسۡلِمَيۡنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ أُمَّةٗ مُّسۡلِمَةٗ لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبۡ عَلَيۡنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ. Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to ... Show More
39s
Feb 2021
[7:155] – For Allah’s Forgiveness And Mercy
أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَاۖ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡغَٰفِرِينَ. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers. Anta Walliyyuna faghfir lana warhamna wa Anta khayrulghafirin. Prophet Musa starts this supplication by app ... Show More
17s
Jan 2021
[27:19] – Gratitude For Allah’s Favors Upon Oneself And One’s Parents, For Righteous Actions And Register Us Among His Righteous Slaves
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ. My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parent ... Show More
39s