A Young Man and his Invalid Mother

It is reported that a young man approached the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and asked, "O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.), I have a mother who is an invalid. She cannot even move by herself. I carry her on my back and feed her with my hands. I also clean her excreta. Have I fulfilled her rights?". The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied, "No. Because you have remained in the womb for a long period during which you derived your nourishment from her body. She was every busy in caring and protecting you at all costs. Inspite of such hardships she always wished a long life for you. But you are waiting for her to die so that you may relieved of the responsibility of taking care of her."

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) described the eminence of a mother's position in the following statement:

1. "If you are praying a mustahab prayer and your father calls you, do not break your prayer but if your mother calls, break the prayer." Truly, this assigns a remarkably high status to a mother. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) states, "Paradise is at the feet of your mother." Hence one need not go far in search of Paradise.