Mother’s Day and Its High Value for Respecting All Mothers

Zahra Motaqi

Mother's Day in Iran

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world. Celebrations of mothers and motherhood throughout the world can be traced back to ancient festivals, but in the Islamic Republic of Iran the Mother's Day is celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA).

The love between the hearts of mother and her child is one of the greatest miracles that one can ever witness. There is a nice saying as: “live like Ali (AS), die like Hussein (AS) and always remember the goodness, graciousness, struggles and sacrifices of Fatima (SA) who was a great mother.”

A Mother’s Unconditional Love

The way a mother loves her child gives us a feeling that it is a miracle. The uncompromising, incomparable, unselfish love which a mother has for her children is pure miracle from God, a love which doesn’t want anything in return but gives love. It makes us wonder from where does that love and compassion comes into the hearts? Well, that's inspiration from God. If you are still wondering whether there is any unselfish love in this world, then here it is, "the love of mothers."

Iran is celebrating Mother's day in the holy memory of Hazrat Fatima (daughter of Prophet Mohammad), may God's blessings be upon them. It is commemorated on the 20^th of Jamadi al-Thani, which was altered after the Iranian revolution. She was a pure angel, daughter of a great holy Leader and a pure, simple, gracious and loving being herself. She lived a purposeful (simple, pious and loving) life and her birth symbolizes the strength of womankind in today's world. She is a beacon of light for all women.

Hazrat Fatima (SA) was a great wife, and a great mother, a great friend, a great mentor, a leader among her people -- but most of all - she represents the kind of mother that everyone can aspire to emulate someday.

There is goodness inside each of us, and our mothers help us to reach it - and then to share it with the world.

About respecting mother, Quran teaches, “O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.". (Quran 4:1) also the Prophet's saying, "The Paradise lies beneath the feet of one's mother".

Some Words about Mothers

* When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

* 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 endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

* A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking.

* All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

*Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.

Imam Khomeini, leader of the Islamic revolution of Iran was born on the 20^th of Jamadi al-Thani, the year 1320 L.H, (September 24, 1902). As a matter of fact his birthday coincides with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) which is regarded as the Mother's Day in Iran. He was named Ruhollah, meaning the spirit of God. His father was Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Musavi, who assumed the religious leadership of the people of Khomein and the nearby villages after his return from the Islamic theology center in the city of Najaf, Iraq. His mother was Hajar, who was also of a prominent religious family. Though he lost his parents while he was very young, but he remained resistant and began using his talent and intelligence in learning Islamic sciences, his first teacher was Ayatollah Seyyed Morteza Pasandideh, and later he went to the theological school in Arak where he attended the classes of the prominent scholar of his time, Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri Yazdi. He also mastered Arabic literature. After top theologians moved from Arak to the holy city of Qom, the Imam intensified his studies and completed the highest level of theology by 1927, and soon he was pronounced a mujtahid; qualified jurist. He specialized in various fields other than Fiqh (jurisprudence), including Philosophy, Irfan (mysticism) and Ethics.