Celebrating the Mother's Day

What is known among many people as Mother's Day and whichis claimed to
be the 21st of Marchis nothing but an innovation and a non-Islamic
ritual which has entered the Muslim's homes because of their
inadvertence andignorance of the Islamic values and rites. In fact
this so called"Mother's Day" is an imitation of the non-Muslims,
namely the western people and their followers.
It is proven that the Prophet Muhammad said: "If somebody tries to
introduce into this faith of ours (Islam) something which is not a
part of it, is to be rejected and that person is condemned". [Imaam
Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
No innovation has come except ithas caused a Sunnah to be neglected or
even rejected. This isclear and evident. You can for instance see a
man who disobeyshis mother and causes her much harm and who does not
visit her except on rare occasion, and when this "Day" comes he brings
her a gift or a flower and thinks that by this act he has fulfilled
hisduties towards her.
The People who innovated this practice did so first as compensation to
their society's neglect as far as the rights of mothers are concerned
and, second, due to the break in kinship ties and lack of the sincere
affection that should exist between parents and their children. For
the above reasons, these people innovated this Day to return to
mothers "some of their rights" and to make familiescelebrate it and
"honor" mothers.
By doing so, they are like the one who kept silent for a long time and
the first word he uttered was nonsense. What is the importance of
"honoring" a person one day in a whole year and leaving that person
the rest of the year in a "nursing home for the elderly or alone with
her dog or cat? Are these animals more faithful to this woman thanher
own children whom she has breast-fed and raised as best she could?
The Prophet said: "No people have innovated something that isnot from
the religion but a Sunnah of the same extent is eliminated. So
sticking to a Sunnah is better than creating aninnovation". [Imaam
Ahmad]
The scholars are agreed that it is forbidden to appoint a feast day
for Muslims other than the two feasts: Al-Fitr and Al-Adhaa because
feasts are part of what Allaah has ordained on us. Allaah says (what
means): {For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which
they must follow.} [Quran 22: 67].
Moreover, celebrating this Day does not give the mother the smallest
fraction of what Allaah has prescribed for her. Allaah has ordained on
us to obey our mothers and do all the good to them as long as they are
alive and after they die. No other religion has given the mother
therights Islam prescribed to her.
Allaah commanded us in many verses of the Quran to obey parents and do
good to them. He even linked their obedience to Hisworship. He linked
thanking Him to thanking them. Allaah mentioned the mother alone in
some places to show us that her rights are greater than those of the
father. Allaah says (what means): {Worship Allaah and join none with
Him in worship, and do good to parents.} (Quran 4:36) Allaah also says
(what means): {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but
Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents.} (Quran 17:23)
Ibn Abbaas said: "The obedience of the parents increases by being kind
and gentle to them. One should reply gently to everything that they
tellhim. One should not look at themin their eyes. One should not
shout at them. Rather, when with one's parents one should belike the
slave before his master".
Ibn al-Musayyib said: "When interpreting the verse (which means): "And
out of kindness lower to them the wing of humility and say: 'My Lord!
bestow on them Your Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.'" he
said: "like what a sinful slave says to a harsh master."
On the other hand, the obedienceto parents is an obligation on
thechildren even if the parents are non-Muslims or Muslims who are
known to be dissolute. Allaah says (what means): {But if they strive
to make you join in worship with Me things of which you have no
knowledge obey them not; Yet bear them company in this life with
justice (and consideration).} [Quran 31:15] So, Allaah ordered that
they be given good company even if they are atheists.
Imaam Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from Asmaa' that she said: "My
mother came to me, hoping (for my favor) during the life time of the
Prophet . I asked the Prophet : "May I treat her kindly?" He replied,
"Yes".
Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood reported: I asked the Prophet : "Which of the
deeds is loved most by Allaah?'' The Messenger of Allaah said,
"Performing prayer at its proper time.'' I asked, "What next?'' He
replied, "Kindness to parents." I asked, "What next?" He replied,
"Jihaad in the way of Allaah.'' [Bukhaari and Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah reported: "A person came to the Messenger of Allaah and
asked, "Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment?'' He
said, "Your mother" . He again asked, "Who next?'' "Your mother" , the
Prophet replied again. He asked, "Who next?'' He (the Prophet ) said
again, "Your mother.'' He again asked,"Then who?'' Thereupon he said,
"Then your father.'' So, the mother's right is greater than that of
the father. It is three times the right of the father.
Al-Mugheerah Ibn Shu'bah reported: The Prophet said, "Allaah has
forbidden you from disobedience to your mothers, towithhold (what you
should give), or demand (what you do not deserve), and to bury your
daughters alive. And Allaah dislikes idle talk, to ask too many
questions (for things which will be of no benefit to one), and to
waste your wealth". [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his book "Al-Adab Al-Mufrad" that Ibn Abbaas
said: "I do not know any good act that brings the person closer to
Allaah The Almighty than the obedience of one's mother".
Moreover, the obedience of parents is not restricted to their
lifetime, it is also done after theirdeath. Abu Dawood reportedthat a
man once came to the Prophet and said: "Is there any form of obedience
that I could do to my parents after their death?" The Prophet said:
"Yes. Ask blessings for them.Ask Allaah to forgive them. Carry out
their will. Treat kindly anybody with whom they have blood
relationships and treat their friends kindly."
Indeed, this is the recognition that parents deserve, and the mother
in particular. So, anybody who obeys Allaah as ordered by the Shariah
should not celebrate this day because it is an innovation and because
Islam gave the mother complete and comprehensive rights all the time.
So, anyone who does not give due respect to his mother allthe time,
cannot make it up to her just by celebrating this day. In fact, by
doing so, he will be both disobedient to Allaah and an innovator.
Likewise the practice in the west of setting aside certain days for
expressing good deeds, such as Thanksgiving Day or Christmas, should
not be observed by Muslims for the reasons already given. Thanking and
praising Allaah, and doing acts of charity are forms of worship that
should be a way of life for the Muslim.