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.docx._001.jpg) Behind every great man
stands a woman; behind every man stands a great woman; behind every successful
man stands a woman. These are three different versions of an old saying, best
remembered as a feminist slogan of the 1960s and 1970s. When you think about
it however, it rings true. How do we respond when we hear about the man whose
mother gave up everything to give him an education, the woman who worked 3 jobs
to raise her children, and the woman who stands silently in the background as
her husband rises to power as a statesman, businessman, politician, or educator?
Men rise to soaring heights when the women in their lives nurture, support and
encourage them to be the best men that they can be. Even the Prophet’s of God
benefitted from the wise counsel of the women in their lives.
Today we start a series of articles about the great
women who stood, not behind but at the side of the men in their lives. These
great women, in their own individual ways, supported and encouraged men whose
lives were fraught with danger and monumental change. Mothers, wives,
daughters; the influence these women have over the men in their lives is
remarkable. Islam calls these women the best of humankind.
‘The best women of
humankind are four: Mariam, daughter of Imran, Assiya, the wife of Pharaoh,
Khadija, daughter of Khuwailid, and Fatima the daughter of the Messenger of God.’
The key to success for any woman is to live life
according to God’s guidance. As we know, this guidance is contained in and
completed by the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad. Let us begin
with mothers; Islam emphasises their significant role on numerous occasions. Prophet
Jesus, may God praise him, says, “...and He has made me blessed wheresoever I
be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and alms, as long as I live, and to be dutiful
to my mother, and made me not arrogant.” (Quran 19:30-32)
And when the angels said: ‘O Mary! Verily, God has chosen
you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds of mankind and
jinn.’ (Quran 3:42)
Prophet Muhammad’s son in law and close companion Ali, said,
“I heard the Prophet of God saying Mary, the daughter of Imran was the best
among women.”
Maryam, the Arabic word for Mary, means maidservant of
God. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was dedicated to God before she was born. Mary’s
mother dedicated her child to the temple and by doing so she secured Mary’s
freedom because she understood that true freedom was only attainable through
complete submission to God.
Mary grew up having complete trust in God and her story
can be found in Quran, particularly in chapters 3 and 19. In chapter 5 of Quran Mary is
referred to as a siddiqa (truthful one) and the Arabic word siddiqa implies more than just
speaking the truth. It indicates one who achieves a very high level of
righteousness. It means that one is truthful, not only with themselves
and those around them, but also with God. Mary was a woman who fulfilled
her covenant with God, Whom she worshiped with full submission. She was
pious, chaste, and devout; the woman chosen above all other women to be the mother of
Jesus.
After
the birth of Jesus, Mary faced incredible hardship. Even though she was a young
woman of faith, character and self control, try to imagine the courage it took
for her to return to her village with a babe in arms. She left the village a
young woman not much older than a child but with a reputation for piety and
righteousness. She returned as an unmarried mother of a new born child.
Imagine the talk, the gossip and accusations. When the townspeople surrounded
and questioned her she followed God’s instructions and did not speak. Jesus
himself, a baby cradled in Mary’s arms, spoke, declaring himself to be a
prophet from God. (Quran 19:30)
Islam
tells us very little about the life shared by Jesus and his mother Mary. Of
course we can surmise that Mary was a woman of her time. With the exception of
her education and possibly her ability to read, Mary would have lived and
learned just like the other Jewish girls around her. She would have kept house,
cooked, cleaned, sewed, walked to the well for water but above all she was an
educator. It is easy to imagine Jesus sitting on her lap or at her feet
listening to the stories of her people and their prayers. He would also have
experienced at close hand Mary’s profound love and trust in God. How much of Mary’s
character influenced Jesus as he grew up? A great deal, is the most probable
answer.
As
Jesus grew and began his mission, Mary must have behaved like any other mother.
She probably swallowed her fears and encouraged her son to strive to please
God. Mary would have sensed the danger of Jesus’ mission yet undoubtedly she
held onto her total trust in God and conveyed her sense of contentment with God’s
will to her son.
The
mother’s role is both monumental and overwhelming. Not only does she go through
both the joys and difficulties of pregnancy and giving birth, she dedicates her
entire life to nurturing and caring for her children. It is her responsibility
to raise and to educate them to be righteous and pious human beings. She
cooks, cleans, nurtures and educates, she is also responsible for their
spiritual, emotional and physical health and well-being. A mother’s role does
not end when her child grows and begins a life of his or her own, it goes on
and on and continues to influence her children and grandchildren.
In
this day and age when the role of motherhood is being undermined at every turn,
women should draw strength from great women such as Mary the mother of Jesus.
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