Mother is the most valuable being before God. We celebrate all mothers with Mother's Day.
O Mother, your angelic love and your radiant face spread happiness and hope everywhere. You are so divine that I fail to express my thoughts...
Mother in Islam
Islam has two sources: The Qur'an and Hadith. As for every theme, we find Islamic approach to the topic "Mothers in Islam" in these sources.
Mother in the Quran
The Quran has a number of things to say about our obligations to our parents.
And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to me (in love): in the end the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did. - Surah Luqman ayat 14-15
God has mentioned in the above verse thankfulness to parents in the same sentence as thankfulness to Him. Further, even though associating partners to God and/or propogating this is the worst sin and requires punisment with the hell forever, God has advised to be good to such parents.
Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood." - Surah al-Isra ayat 23-24
Here, God introduces another part of the beautiful conduct which parents are due, which is to take care of them when they are elderly and never to be impatient with them or speak arrogantly to them. Praying for them has been mentioned again. Also notice that Allah SWT has mentioned beautiful conduct to parents immediately after serving Him alone.
Mother in the Hadiths
The Prophet (pbuh) has also advised how Muslims are to treat their parents, and a number of sayings have been reported from him on this matter.
The following is narrated by Imran ibn Husain, Abdullah ibn Amr, and Abu Bakra:
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Shall I tell you which is the worst of the major wrong actions?" They replied, "Yes, Messenger of Allah." He said, "Associating something else with Allah and disobeying parents." He had been reclining, but then he said up and said, "And false witness."
Another report is the following, which is narrated by Aisha Umm al-Muminin:
I asked the Prophet who has the greatest right over a man, and he said, "His mother."
And the following is narrated by the grandfather of Bahz ibn Hakim; the same incident has also been reported by Abu Huraira:
I asked, "Messenger of Allah, to whom should I be dutiful?" He replied, "Your mother." I asked, "Then whom?" He replied, "Your mother." I asked, "Then whom?" He replied, "Your mother." I asked, "Then whom?" He replied, "Your mother." I asked, "Then to whom should I be dutiful?" He replied, "Your father,and then the next closest relative and then the next."
From these, we can see the special position that mothers have, which has already been indicated by the Quran (see above). The word translated as dutifulness is in Arabic birr, a word that is also translated as "piety", that is, dutifulness to Allah SWT. Here again, parents (and in particular mothers) are due the same kind of honor in our feelings that we give to Allah SWT, because of what they reflect of His qualities.
Parents are one of the means by which God exercises His tarbiya (cherishing). They are due thankfulness, obedience, and gentleness towards their faults. If they command something contrary to Islam, they must not be obeyed yet even in that circumstance a Muslim must keep up good ties with them and consort with them honorably. He or she should never speak a harsh word to them or otherwise abuse them but instead should forgive them and ask God to forgive them. Other actions that have been particularly mentioned are including parents in prayers and taking care of them when they are elderly. This is what is meant by the "beautiful conduct" that God has commanded regarding parents.
Mothers are one of the means by which God exercises His creation. Beyond what she is due as a parent, a mother is additionally due special feelings of reverence and dutifulness. This is because of the travails that she suffered during pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing. The Prophet (pbuh) has particularly instructed that mothers are due the best conduct four times before fathers are.
After worshiping God alone, beautiful conduct to parents is the next most important duty for a Muslim. Considering that mothers are due this conduct even before fathers, it is no wonder that the Prophet (pbuh) also said that Paradise is at the feet of mothers!
summarized from http://www.muhajabah.com/mom.htm
Note: Translations of verses are from A. Yusuf Ali.
