A Painful Reminder

As we go about our daily tasks as homemakers, from time to time the inevitable accident occurs, and for me, it usually takes place in the kitchen; for eg getting a small cut while slicing those onions, getting slight burns on my arms and hands from hot oil as it shoots out the pan while frying fish… etc, etc, etc.

But these are just tiny accidents Alhamdulillah and I thank Allah and seek His protection from any major accidents. Ameen.

Moreover, feeling a little pain from time to time is actually good for you. (smiles) And what’s my proof? None other than the hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhe wa salam;

‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr reported that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhe wa salam said:

“If a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life, and he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will be removed, because of it, on the Day of Judgement.” (Bukhari)

Also having a very active son, who likes to jump or rather pounce on you can send some painful shocks to your body, especially when you are caught offguard. It’s during these times that the above hadeeth comes in handy too and helps to ease some of the pain, alhamdulillah. (smiles)

Imagine that Allah subhana wa ta’ala is going to reward you and remove some of your sins just by being  pricked by a thorn. In the light of that, multiply that pain by a hundred, a thousand times or more and imagine the reward we would get for every single contraction. Masha-Allah!

Now, if only we could remember the hadeeth the moments when we really need it….

I was reminded of the hadeeth while reading an article by Shaykh Salim Al-Hilali; “The Tests for the Believers: Fluctuations of Life”. You can read the whole article  here.

As I Look at You

As I look at you

 

As I look at you,

I see the love you have for me…

 

And as I look at you,

I stand in awe of the mercy of Ar-Raheem,

 

As I look at you…

I am amazed at your innocence and purity

 

And as I look at you,

I am embraced by a smile so sincere and sweet;

telling me instantly

your complete joy

at seeing me.

 

Masha-Allah!

How you flatter me so,

To think how easily you are pleased,

 

Masha-Allah!

To think of all this love you have for me…

 

(For all my little babies)

 

Umm Hassan 2007

 

(I haven’t written a poem in years, so am kinda rusty. (smiles) Plus I wish that it flowed more smoothly…But anyways, with this poem I wanted to capture that special moment in time all mothers can relate to…When your baby first catches sight of your presence and he/she is just so overjoyed at seeing you that he/she can’t stop shining his/her great big toothless or almost toothless smile!)

The Rewards of Motherhood

The Prophet salallahu `alayhi wa salam said, “…he who calls to guidance, receives the same reward as those who followed him, without diminishing anything from their rewards.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, all from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah]

The Prophet salallahu `alayhi wa salam also said, “He who established a good sunnah in Islam, he will have the reward of each who apply it after him until the Day of Judgment.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

I’ve always thought how wonderful it would be, if a person accepted Islam through my efforts or if I was given the opportunity to teach a new Muslimah the salah, certain actions from the sunnah, how to read Qur’an etc. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? ‘Cos it would mean that I would be able to reap the rewards from that person’s deeds, insha-Allah.

Yet I was oblivious to the fact that Allah had indeed granted me that opportunity, the opportunity to gain the rewards from the deeds of new Muslims…new muslims that I, myself had given birth to. It was not until I had my third child that I truly understood and appreciated the rewards that Allah has in store for mothers and for fathers too, insha-Allah.

I guess I had not seen it in that light ‘cos I had always looked upon my role as a mother from another pespective; that it was my duty and my responsibility to teach my children about Islam and to raise them to be practising Muslims and anything less would mean that I had not truly fulfilled my obligations as a mother.

But Alhamdulillah I think I now have a more balanced perspective of motherhood and just thinking about the potential rewards is enough to motivate me to be my children’s main Islamic teacher, well at least until they reach a stage when they would need to learn from someone more knowledgable than me.

Imagine….giving birth to a precious soul and it is through your efforts and nurturing that the child grows up being a Muslim. And every act of worship that the child does, be it salah, reading the Qur’an, or any action from the sunnah was taught by you. Masha-Allah…just imagine the rewards in store for that mother!