REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA— Every December 22 is remembered as Mother's Day and this year falls on Friday 22 December 2023. Many expressions that people do to celebrate Mother's day. This is due to the special position of the mother. Islam pays homage to the mother.
The position of the mother in Islam is very high. A friend once asked the Prophet (PBUH), O Messenger of Allah, who should take precedence over serving him? Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أُمَّكَ، ثُمَّ أُمَّكَ، ثُمَّ أُمَّكَ، ثُمَّ أَبَاكَ، ثُمَّ الْأَقْرَبَ، فَالْأَقْرَبَ
“Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then only your father. you, then the closest relative, then the closest after.” (Trasmitted by Abu Dawud)
But actually commemorating Mother's Day is not just a greeting but increasing devotion to the mother. How then is devotion to a dead mother in Islam?
In Arjuna Wibowo's book 'Becoming a Spiritual Man', quoted from republic.co.id, there is a way to be devoted to a dead mother: to be pious by always doing good deeds and abstaining from maxims.
And there are many ways of doing good deeds such as increasing alms, praying for the forgiveness of the deceased mother every five times prayer.
In addition to always connecting him with a deceased parent or mother, there are other ways to show devotion to the deceased mother. And the form of keeping in touch with a dead mother is to pray for her. As the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Malik ibn Rabi'ah as-Sa'idi (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), suddenly came a man from Bani Salamah. This man asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, is there still a way for me to serve my parents after they die? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) replied,
نَعَمْ، الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهِمَا، وَالِاسْتِغْفَارُ لَهُمَا، وَإِيفَاءٌ بِعُهُودِهِمَا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِمَا، وَإِكْرَامُ صَدِيقِهِمَا، وَصِلَةةُ الرَّحِمِ الَّتِي ي لَا تُوصَلُ إِلَّا بِهِمَا
“Yes, exalt them, beg forgiveness for them, fulfill their promises after they die, glorify their associates, and connect the bonds that are intertwined for the reason of their existence. “(transmitted by Ahmad 16059, Abu Dawud 5142).
Devotion to one's mother by keeping her peace through praying for forgiveness is the best way to be devoted to her. Therefore, Islam has always offered a way of filial devotion to the elderly even though it is no longer in the world.
