Status of Mother in Islam, Episode I - A slave woman gives birth to her master or mistress

“A slave woman gives birth to her mistress or master”, this is a Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari in short, Imam muslim, Imam Ahmad, Imam Al-Tirmizi, Imam Ibn Majah, Imam Ibn Hibban, and others who used to compile the Sunnah of the Prophet.

I will focus on the narration of Imam Al-Bukhari and I will take you to the last question asked by angel Jibriel . (For the complete hadith refer to Sahih Al-Bukhari, hadith No.47)

Imam Al-Bukhari narrated with a chain of transmitters from Abu Huraira:

Angel Jibriel asked the Prophet, “When will the hour (Day of judgment) be established?” The Prophet replied, “The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner”. But I will inform you about its signs:

1. When a slave woman gives birth to her mistress or master

2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.

The point we need to focus on in the hadith is that “A slave woman gives birth to her mistress or master.” WHAT DOES THIS STATEMENT MEAN? Scholars maintain that this means that a married free man marries a slave woman. Then, she gives birth to a child of him. This child is attributed to his/her father who is free and grows up as a free and noble man or woman. At the same time the mother of this child will remain a slave. Hence, “A slave woman gives birth to her master or mistress,” means she will give birth to a baby boy/girl who will be a master/mistress as his/her father. This meaning is maintained by some scholars.

Other scholars hold that “A slave woman gives birth to her master or mistress” means that a master marries a slave woman and then sells her after having a baby from her. Then, this baby grows up as a master/mistress while the mother is sold and bought in the slave markets. After a while, a day will come when this slave woman will be brought back to the house of her child as a slave woman owned by him/her, while in fact she is his/her mother.

The best and most well-founded explanation of the hadith, is the opinion of Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar which implies that it refers to the spread of disobedience to one’s parents. The child will become as if he/she is a parent. I think this sign has become increasingly noticeable in a heart-breaking way. A son, who is still being cared for by their parents, gives them orders in an irrespective way that hurts their feelings and honor. A daughter will treat her mother in a way mistress treats her slaves. This has become common practice.

One’s parents are one of the greatest blessings that not many children appreciate it until they lose it. One’s parents may sacrifice all that which they have and spare no effort in order to make their children happy. The happiest moment in a father’s life is when he deprives himself of a piece of food and gives it to his child. The best moment in a mother’s life is when she spends all the night caring for her child till he/she sleeps. I am sure everyone whom Allah has given children understands what I am saying and knows well the honorable rank parents deserve and how much they do for their children. Just like a fetus bird takes its nourishment from the egg leaving behind brittle eggshell, children consume every good thing their parents have and get the fruit of every effort their parents make in this life. One’s parents remain giving till they get aged and old, yet still happy. Parents’ kindness never runs out. Some children, however, become ungrateful to all this love, kindness and care and repay it with ingratitude, disobedience and offense, treating their parents cruelly and mercilessly. Ingratitude to one’s parents reaches its climax, it is very difficult but impossible for anyone to imagine that a son dares beat his father or a daughter dares beat her mother. What an offensive example of ingratitude to one’s parents.

In the Qur’an Allah enjoined being dutiful and benevolent to one’s parents, immediately after he enjoined worshipping him alone (S.17-A.23). Allah makes the command of being dutiful to them next to the command of worshipping him alone in importance and degree. Even the Prophet deemed polytheism as the gravest sin, and made the second major sin after it as disobedience to one’s parents. Is this possible? Yes, indeed. As in the two authentic books of hadith, according to a hadith narrated by Abu Bakr, The Prophet said thrice “should I not inform you about the greatest of sins?” They said “yes inform us O Prophet of Allah.” He said, “Associating others with Allah in worship.” What next? The Prophet said, “Disobedience to one’s parents.” The Prophet then sat up after he had been reclining (on a pillow) and said, "And I warn you against giving a false witness, and he kept on saying that warning till we thought he would not stop. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, No.2484)

Ibn Abbas said, “Three Quranic commands were revealed; with each of those command attached to another command, one command cannot be taken without the command attached to it.” The first is the verse: “Obey Allah and obey the Prophet.” This means that those who obey Allah and do not obey the Prophet are not accepted by Allah. The second one is: “And perform the prayer and give Zakah.” Thus, anyone performs prayer and does not pay Zakah, he will not be accepted with Allah. The third one is: “Be grateful to Me and to your parents.” Can you, my dear brothers and honorable sisters, understand what it means by “Be grateful to Me and to your parents.”? It means that those who are grateful to Allah but not grateful to their parents, their righteous work are not accepted with Allah.

Disobedience to one’s parents is one of the reasons of losing Allah’s mercy and being deprived of paradise. Whatever the disobedience the child does, Allah will not accept from him any act of worship, be it voluntary or obligatory on the Day of Judgment. Can this happen? Yes! Disobedience to one’s parents is a very horrible sin and now it is a sign indicating the approach of the judgment day. Actually the real loser is he whose good deeds are not accepted.

JazakaAllah Khair

InshaAllah Episode II will be posted shortly