Islam teaches and emphasizes on building moral characters alongside faith including how to relate with family, neighbors and often challenging us to use common sense. No wonder the historic Islamic Caliphate was in a golden age while the rest of the world was catching up. We'll take a peek into one of the teachings of Muhammad, also known as The Prophet.
The Prophet started preaching in Arabia in the early 7th century CE in an acute misogynic community where burying a female child while still alive is "OK". (He quickly got on the wrong side of the influential and rich among the Arabs, not only for condemning their belief system but also their barbaric ideology).
The Prophet grew up as an orphan since his dad had died possibly he was born and without the utmost care of his mother who had died while he was still very young. One day, someone asked him a very important question and this happened:
"A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
The repetition of " Your Mother" three times is to show emphasis.
The Qur'an says:
"WE have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (Q46:15).
This is also a challenge to parents to fulfill their responsibilities accordingly.
And God knows best.
Quotes were lifted from here for further reading.
