Why do we celebrate Mother’s Day? May be for many of us, the answer is very simple. We do it because we are expected to, and if we didn’t acknowledge Mom on Mother’s Day, she would feel very hurt and disappointed. But how many people stop to really think about this day and what it means? Although the date varies from year to year, Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world, on one day or another, with many different traditions.

Mother is a very beautiful and priceless gift of God. Mother is a name of deep love, passion, service, sympathy, generosity and great kindness. Mother’s lap is the best place for a child where he finds himself fully satisfied, confident and safe from all the dangers of the world. In our daily relationships there is no alternative of mother.

This is mother who bears all the difficulties to create comfort and to provide all the necessities for her child, and sacrifices even her rest and sleep during the nights for the child. And she takes care of the child with deep emotions, and with pure and dedicated spirit, without seeking any reward.

This is mother who prays days and nights for the betterment, good health and prosperous future of her child. The love of mother is so pure and deep that, it has no example at all in worldly relationships. Permit me to write some quotes of some noble personalities of the world, who have described the mother in such beautiful words.

“Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.” (Aristotle). “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life.” (Abraham Lincoln)

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” (Washington Irving)

Because of the mother’s important role in human life, every religion and civilized society assigns a position of great honour and respect to a mother. The love, devotion and tenderness due to parents, and especially to the mother, are repeatedly stressed in all the religions. The Holy Bible states:

“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22).

“Children! Obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

The Holy Quran says: “We have enjoined on man benevolence towards his parents.” (The Quran 29:9). “Show kindness to parents. Should either or both of them attain old age in thy lifetime, never say unto them any word expressive of disgust nor reproach them, but always speak gently to them. Be humbly tender with them and pray: My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nurtured me when I was little.” (The Quran 17:24-25).

Mother’s day comes to remind us and to check that do we are taking enough care of our mothers? If not, then, we must start to show a great respect, love and care to our parents and then never stop this kindness. The care a mother shows for her children cannot be repaid ever, not even, in the whole life. But, we must be thankful for her kindness and always take care of her, and try to win the pleasure and love of God.

May God always bless our mothers, may He shower His endless bounties and favours to our mothers. Ammen

By: Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta (The Times Supplement for Mother’s Day: Friday 29th April 2011)