In Search of the Lost

Written by: Ibn-e-Noor Muhammad

I am searching for that dear one, that gem, and the support of my life, who was the star of my courtyard… Whose flower-like face would light up upon seeing me… For whom even a few days of separation was nothing less than a tragedy… For whom food wouldn't go down his throat without me… If I wasn’t at home, he would consider the house a desolate garden… Who would feel my pain as his own and my sorrow as his grief… Who regarded serving me as an act of worship… Who found comfort and reassurance in my embrace, and if ever anyone spoke harshly to me, he would immediately shout, “Don’t you know this is my mother?” Holding back his tears, he would say, “Yes! This is my mother… The mother about whom Allah has commanded:

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour."

[Al-Isra: 23]

In another place, He says:

"And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents."

[Al-Ankabut: 8]

And also:

"And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness…"

[Luqman: 14]

Just as the Quran emphasizes treating parents well, similarly, the Prophet's Hadiths also regard serving and loving parents as the most virtuous acts.

Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) which deed is most beloved to Allah? He said: "Prayer at its proper time." I asked: "Then which?" He said: "Being good and dutiful to one's parents." I further asked: "Then which?" He said: "Jihad in the way of Allah."[Sahih Bukhari: 527, Sahih Muslim: 85, 252]

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked: "O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good company?" He said: "Your mother." The man asked: "Then who?" He said: "Your mother." The man asked again: "Then who?" He said: "Your mother." The man asked once more: "Then who?" He said: "Your father."[Sahih Bukhari: 5971, Sahih Muslim: 2548, 6500]

I am searching for that innocent son who one day, after listening to a "lesson of Hadith," came home and cried for hours… I kept asking, but he continued crying… Finally, after somewhat calming down, he said: "Mother, today our teacher narrated two Hadiths:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'May his nose be rubbed in the dust; may his nose be rubbed in the dust; may his nose be rubbed in the dust, whose parents, one or both, attain old age during his lifetime, but he does not enter Paradise by serving them.'[Sahih Muslim: 2551, 6510]

The teacher also mentioned that just as shirk (associating partners with Allah) is a major sin, disobedience to parents is also a major sin, as stated in the Hadith.[Bukhari: 2654, Muslim: 87]

Mother! This thought makes me cry that while father has already passed away, I am not able to serve you."

Yes! This son who would raise his hands in prayer to Allah, with tears flowing from his eyes:

"My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

[Al-Isra: 24]

"Our Lord, forgive me and my parents…"

[Ibrahim: 41]

My son became a victim of the trials of time, lost in the distractions of the world, and I have been searching for him ever since. Does he not know how much I… I love my dear, beloved son? Everyone knows that if there is someone who loves the most and truly in this universe, it is the mother… The mother to whom her child is extremely dear.

Every mother desires that her son should study, become educated, and become a great person in society… With this hope, I started to raise my son in the best possible way… But not long after, his father passed away. Time passed… and I started worrying about my dear son's future… Afraid that being deprived of a father’s affection, he might end up begging in front of someone… Just the thought of it made me tremble and my hairs stand on end… So I gathered courage and started working hard, sacrificing my sleep and peace for my dear son's future.

I went through hardships, carrying more weight than I could bear on my weak and frail shoulders, enduring all kinds of difficulties to earn a halal living… Only for whom? For my beloved son… Otherwise, two meals were enough for me! Time passed… and my first dream came true when my son stood on his own feet, that is, he got a job… Now I was anxiously waiting for my second dream to come true… and that was his marriage… I had thought a lot about it… Finally, that day came… and I brought my daughter-in-law, my son's bride, home in a grand way… People congratulated me, saying that I had managed to raise my son from the start to today without making him feel orphaned… and that I was very fortunate, etc., etc.… And I was diving deep into the ocean of happiness. But what happened?… Shortly after, it was announced that we can't live in the village, so I will live with my family where I work. (In modern times, "family" does not include "mother")

Hearing this… my dreams shattered, my thoughts scattered, and I broke down. That day… and today… I long to see my son's face… surrounded by worries that I had fought for a long time… Now, even if I fight, for what purpose?… This is why I have grown old before my time… I am suffering from several diseases… Sometimes, when I become very sick, neighbors, relatives, and my dear son with his wife come to visit, stay for an hour or an hour and a half like guests, and leave me in my imaginary world! Physically, he is my son, but his thoughts and concerns have changed so much. The one who would rush to me at my slightest sound… today does not even pay attention when I fall repeatedly due to weakness, who used to talk to me for hours… today my ears long to hear his voice. The big difference in the love between a mother and a son is that when he needed me, I sacrificed everything… Today, I need my dear son, but… I am living on the support of others.

The very leaves I relied on, have now begun to betray me.

My dear son! If you read this advertisement for "In Search of the Lost," please come home immediately, your old mother is yearning for you every single day.

May Allah be your protector and helper.

With peace,Your mother
 
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