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The Old Testament in several places commands kind and considerate treatment
of the parents and condemns those who dishonour them. For example, "If
anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death" (Lev. 20:9)
and "A wise man brings joy to his father but a foolish man despises his
mother" (Proverbs 15:20). Although honouring the father alone is mentioned
in some places, e.g. "A wise man heeds his father's instruction" (Proverbs
13:1), the mother alone is never mentioned. Moreover, there is no special
emphasis on treating the mother kindly as a sign of appreciation of her
great suffering in childbearing and suckling. Besides, mothers do not inherit
at all from their children while fathers do [42].
It is difficult to speak of the New Testament as a scripture that calls
for honouring the mother. To the contrary, one gets the impression that
the New Testament considers kind treatment of mothers as an impediment
on the way to God. According to the New Testament, one cannot become a
good Christian worthy of becoming a disciple of Christ unless he hates
his mother. It is attributed to Jesus to have said:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother,
his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life
-- he can not be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Furthermore, the New Testament depicts a picture of Jesus as indifferent
to, or even disrespectful of, his own mother. For example, when she had
come looking for him while he was preaching to a crowd, he did not care
to go out to see her:
"Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they
sent someone to call him. A crowd was sitting around him and they told
him, 'Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.' 'Who are my
mother and my brothers?' he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a
circle around him and said,' Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever
does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.' " (Mark 3:31-35)
One might argue that Jesus was trying to teach his audience an important
lesson that religious ties are no less important than family ties. However,
he could have taught his listeners the same lesson without showing such
absolute indifference to his mother. The same disrespectful attitude is
depicted when he refused to endorse a statement made by a member of his
audience blessing his mother's role in giving birth to him and nursing
him:
"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called
out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He replied,
'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.' " (Luke
11:27-28)
If a mother with the stature of the virgin Mary had been treated with such
discourtesy, as depicted in the New Testament, by a son of the stature
of Jesus Christ, then how should an average Christian mother be treated
by her average Christian sons?
In Islam, the honour, respect, and esteem attached to motherhood is
unparalleled. The Qur'an places the importance of kindness to parents as
second only to worshipping God Almighty:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, And that
you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your
life, Say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, But address them
in terms of honour. And out of kindness, Lower to them the wing of humility,
and say: 'My Lord! bestow on them Your Mercy as they Cherished me in childhood'" (Qur'an 17:23-24).
The Qur'an in several other places puts special emphasis on the mother's
great role in giving birth and nursing:
"And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents: In travail
upon travail did his mother bear him and in two years was his weaning.
Show gratitude to Me and to your parents" (Qur'an 31:14).
The very special place of mothers in Islam has been eloquently described
by Prophet Muhammad:
"A man asked the Prophet: 'Whom should I honour most?' The Prophet
replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet
replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet
replied: 'Your mother!'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet
replied: 'Your father'" (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Among the few precepts of Islam which Muslims still faithfully observe
to the present day is the considerate treatment of mothers. The honour
that Muslim mothers receive from their sons and daughters is exemplary.
The intensely warm relations between Muslim mothers and their children
and the deep respect with which Muslim men approach their mothers usually
amaze Westerners [43].
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