FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Prof. Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof. Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

---

PARADISE LIES AT THE FEET OF THE MOTHER

The Prophet of Islam said, “Paradise lies at the feet of the mother.” THE above Hadith is generally understood in a way that is totally opposite to its actual meaning. It is taken as a Hadith which talks about the high position accorded to a mother. This is not the right approach.

In all its teachings, Islam places the onus on the individual to fulfil one's duties, irrespective of what others do. The Prophet laid the foundation of a duty-conscious society.

Another Hadith of the Prophet says:
A believer should be duty-conscious, and as far as his rights are concerned, he should ask of them from God. (Sahih al-Bukhari) Based on this principle, the Hadith about Paradise lying at the feet of a mother is addressed to the mother more than to the children. It emphasizes the importance of the role of a mother in the life of her children.

Children are constantly in the company of their mother. In the initial period of their life, they are watching her the most and following her ways. They are exposed to her way of thinking in their day-to-day life. As the children follow the path she is treading, a mother should be highly conscious of the path she walks on The path to Paradise is a path which is of hard work, learning, discipline, positivity and virtue. Such understanding puts the entire weight on the fact that a mother’s role in the grooming of a child towards a good life is crucial. This Hadith is a serious call to mothers to put themselves on the path to making themselves eligible personalities for God’s Paradise as the children tend to follow them.

Prof. Farida Khanam
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.