Honouring Our Mothers in Islam

Do we really honour our mothers?

We may quickly say, “Of course we do. We love our mothers.” But perhaps the better question is: Do our actions truly show that love?

In today’s busy world, we often find ourselves occupied with studies, phones, friends, social media, and our own plans. Sometimes we become so comfortable with our mothers’ love and care that we begin to take them for granted. We may become impatient when they repeat something, feel irritated when they ask us to help, or answer them in a tone we would never use with anyone else. Yet, the same mother who receives our impatience is often the one who has given us endless patience.

Perhaps we need to pause and ask ourselves: When was the last time I sincerely thanked my mother? When was the last time I helped her without being asked? When was the last time I sat with her simply because I wanted to, rather than because I needed something from her?

Islam teaches us that honouring our mothers is not merely a beautiful act of kindness; it is a responsibility and an act of worship.

Allah ﷻ says:

“And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his bearing and weaning are thirty months…” (Surah Al-Ahqāf, 46:15)

This verse reminds us of something we can never repay: the sacrifices of our mothers. Before we ever saw the world, our mothers carried us. They endured discomfort for us, gave birth to us, fed us, cared for us, and watched over us when we were helpless. Their sacrifices began before we were even able to understand what love meant.

Allah ﷻ also says:

“And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small." (Surah Al-Isrā’, 17:24)

What a beautiful picture Allah gives us. We are told to lower the “wing of humility” — to be gentle, humble, respectful and caring towards our parents. And then Allah teaches us a duʿā to make for them:

“My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.”

Think about those words: “as they brought me up when I was small.”

Our mothers did not complain when we needed them for everything. They did not become tired of feeding us, carrying us, cleaning after us, comforting us or waking up for us. Yet as we grow older, sometimes we become too busy to give them even a few minutes of our time.

Honouring our mothers does not always mean doing something extraordinary. It can begin with very ordinary things.

It means speaking gently, even when we disagree. It means listening patiently, even when we have heard the same advice before. It means helping with household work without waiting to be told. It means noticing when our mother is tired and offering our help. It means putting away our phones and giving her our full attention when she speaks.

It also means remembering that respect is not only shown through our words, but through our tone, expressions and behaviour.

Sometimes a mother does not need an expensive gift. She may simply need her daughter to sit beside her, ask how her day was, make her a cup of tea, help her with something, or give her a heartfelt hug. These little acts may seem insignificant to us, but they can mean the world to her.

And there is another beautiful way of honouring our mothers: making duʿā for them.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us just how special a mother’s position is. A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked who among people was most deserving of his good companionship. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” He ﷺ replied, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” He ﷺ again replied, “Your mother.” Only after that did he say, “Then your father.”  (Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim)

Why did the Prophet ﷺ emphasise the mother three times?

Because behind the word mother are countless sacrifices that we often never fully see. A mother carries a child before birth, goes through childbirth, feeds and nurtures her baby, loses sleep, worries over every illness, comforts every fear and continues to care even when her children grow older.

The Hadith is therefore not simply telling us to say that we love our mothers. It is teaching us to recognise their sacrifices and respond to them with kindness, companionship and gratitude.

As daughters, we should also remember that honouring our mothers is not limited to the times when they are happy with us. True kindness is tested when we are tired, upset or disagree with them. We can disagree respectfully without becoming rude. We can express our feelings without hurting theirs. We can have our own opinions while still maintaining adab.

And sometimes, honouring our mothers means forgiving them for their mistakes, just as we hope they forgive us for ours.

We should never think that our mother will always be there, waiting for us to appreciate her later. Life is temporary, and opportunities to show kindness do not remain forever. One day, the voice we sometimes find annoying may be the voice we desperately wish we could hear again.

So, perhaps the question we should carry in our hearts is no longer, “Do I love my mother?”

Instead, let us ask:

“Does my mother feel loved by me?”

There is a difference.

Love is not only a feeling in our hearts. It is something we show through our actions. Let our mothers see our love in the way we speak to them, serve them, listen to them, make duʿā for them and stand beside them.

Let us not wait for Mother’s Day, a birthday, or a special occasion. In Islam, every ordinary day can become an opportunity to earn Allah’s pleasure through kindness to our parents.

If your mother is with you today, go and tell her you love her. Sit with her. Help her. Make her smile. Ask her to make duʿā for you. And make duʿā for her.

And if you have ever spoken harshly to her, do not let pride stop you from saying “I’m sorry.” A sincere apology can heal a heart.

As daughters, one of the greatest gifts we can give our mothers is not simply our success in this world, but our good character and obedience to Allah. Let us become daughters whose manners bring peace to their mothers’ hearts and whose actions become a source of ongoing reward for them.

Ultimately, honouring our mothers is about more than repaying their sacrifices — because we can never truly repay them. It is about recognising their worth, appreciating their efforts, serving them with sincerity, and seeking Allah’s pleasure through our kindness towards them.

May we never become so busy growing up that we forget the woman who helped us grow

And may we never be so focused on receiving our mother’s love that we forget to give her ours.

O Allah, have mercy upon our mothers as they raised us when we were small. Forgive them, bless them, protect them, grant them good health and happiness, and reward them for every sacrifice they have made for us. O Allah, help us to speak to them with kindness, serve them with sincerity, and never take their love for granted. Make us righteous daughters who bring comfort to their hearts and who are a source of continuous reward for them. Grant our mothers the best of this world and the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen. 

Author: Filza Raaiq G, Associate, GIO Royapettah.

Date: 07 August 2026. #SuhbatUmmi

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