The Mother's Struggle in the Quran
Allah highlights the struggles of the mother in the Quran. The struggles in her pregnancy and nursing are mentioned in Surah Luqman.
".. And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother carried him (in pregnancy) in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination." (Surah Luqman: 14)
Allah is reminding us of a time we would never remember... the pregnancy of our mother, the first few years of our life where she nursed us, lost countless hours of sleep, endured so much pain.
Mothers, remember that Allah is listening to all of our heart songs. The ones we compose in our hearts, letting nobody else hear. He hears the cries of every struggling mother, who is depressed trying to care for her inconsolable baby, who is going crazy trying to make her teenagers understand, who is weeping as her older children leave her behind, forgetting to call or check up on her.
Allah hears your silent cries, Allah knows every effort you make. Don't think that any of it will be wasted, that no one understands. He understands, and He will reward you immensely for every effort you make. _____________________________ Backstory of the video:
This past month, Mahad and I were teaching Surah Luqman to the Bayyinah students. Mahad does most of the lectures, but one particular morning, He told me, "you should teach the next verse. What can I say about pregnancy? I've never experienced it. Your experience is more valuable."
True, I thought. But I didn't think there would be too much of a difference in how we would both present the topic. He witnessed me through my pregnancy, he knew what it was like "in theory".
Then, when I got to the front of class, I broke down. I cried, I fell apart, and poured my heart out to a group of 50 students (poor things were probably not expecting that at all). Then came their turn; the tears flowed, the tissues came out, the guys put their heads down trying not to show their neighbor.
And afterwards I realized how wise my husband was. Sometimes, talking about things "in theory" just doesn't have as strong of an effect. Experience is so much more valuable, so much more real. I appreciate him for allowing me, a woman, a mother, to be the bearer of the ayah about mothers.
People ask why do we need women to teach us? Why should women scholars be given a platform when so many men are so well-learned? Our male scholars do a phenomenal job, I don't deny that, but I do believe "experience" in some issues, particularly women's issues, does make the presentation different. It does give us a different perspective.
Safiya Ravat graduated with a degree in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh and Usul al Fiqh) from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, as well as a Journalism degree from the University of Houston. She and her husband live in Dallas, TX where they are working under the Bayyinah Foundation. Full bio here. Follow them for more videos and posts on Facebook at Mahad and Safiya.
