The One More Merciful Than a Mother

You don't need me to tell you that in Islam, every day is mother's day. And I won't. However, I thought today would be a good day to remind you of Him Who is more merciful than even the mother is to her child! Think of a time you upset your mother, think of a time you made her angry, think of a time you may even have made her cry. Yet, more often than not, you found comfort in her very arms. Your anger subsided, your sadness faded and your eyes became wet as you ran back to the one who carried you for 9 months, who fed you, clothed you, hugged you, kissed you and taught you how to walk. You apologised for your mistake and promised to make it up.

Now think of the countless times you disobeyed the One far greater than your mother, ponder over the many times you disregarded His commandments, you lied, backbit, cheated, slandered, mocked, abused and so on. Who did you turn to after realising your mistake? Did you remember the words of your Creator when He said:

فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ
"So, flee to Allah."

Did you remember what He said about those who transgressed against their souls?

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعاً إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
"Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Did you then ponder over the mercy of your mother compared to the Mercy of the All Merciful?

The authentic narration that can be found in Bukhari and Muslim stating that the Mercy of Allah has to His slaves is more than what a Mother has to her child:

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: Some Sabi (i.e. war prisoners) were brought before the Prophet and behold, a woman amongst them was milking her breasts to feed and whenever she found a child amongst the captives, she took it over her chest and nursed it (she had lost her child but later she found him) the Prophet said to us, "Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?" We replied, "No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire)." The Prophet then said, "Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son." [Bukhari]

Ponder over that for a moment. Really think about it brothers and sisters. Say Alhamdulilah and now read the following:

No one will ever enter Paradise because of his deeds alone, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No one’s deeds will ever admit him to Paradise.” They said, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No, not even me, unless Allah showers me with His Mercy. So try to be near to perfection. And no one should wish for death; he is either doing good so he will do more of that, or he is doing wrong so he may repent.”
[al-Bukhari, Muslim]

So just like you found comfort in the arms of your mother after disobeying her, find comfort in your Creator by increasing in your ibaadah, prolonging your sujood, constantly remembering Him, pondering over His ayaahs, in His obedience, loving for His sake and hating for His sake. For who is there that loves you more than the One Who created you, fashioned you, proportioned you and continuously provides for you?

May Allah allow us all to increase in our good deeds. May He shower us with His mercy in this life and the next. May He protect our parents and allow us to treat them with kindness all year round and not just once a year on Facebook.