It is a cold winter’s morning, and the sun’s warm rays gently caress the balcony. A mother sits in the sunshine, a hot cup of coffee in hand, savouring a few moments of peace after a long night of waking up hourly to tend to her child.
Suddenly, she hears just the faint sound of a cry. That one sound is enough to make her forget her coffee and her comfortable spot in the sun. In a heartbeat, she drops everything, rushes to the room, picks up her child, holds him close, and does all she can to bring him comfort. This is the exemplary love which a mother has for her child. She cannot bear for her child to be uneasy for even a single moment. That ‘one cry’ was enough for her to respond.
The saying, “No one loves you more than your mother,” is both familiar and widely accepted. Among all forms of human love, a mother’s love for her child is often considered the deepest and most profound. Thus, in the realm of love, it is the love of a mother for her child that is considered proverbial.
A mother’s love begins even before her child is born — from the moment she learns she is expecting. From then on, her love for the unborn child is so immense that she willingly sacrifices her eating habits and sleep, and endures physical pain and discomfort — all for the child’s sake. Finally, months of hardship — swollen ankles, heartburn, nausea and physical strain — culminate in childbirth, the most excruciating experience of all.
Yet, despite all the agony she endures, the moment she holds her baby for the first time, gazing in wonder at its delicate fingers and toes, is among the happiest and most joyous moments of her life.
Such is a mother’s love that she will always put her child before herself. She will gladly suffer to bring comfort to her child and will leave no stone unturned in trying to make him happy.
After reflecting on a mother’s profound love, ask yourself, “Who is the One who placed this love in her heart?” He is the same Being who loves you more than even a mother loves her child. When He loves you more than your own mother, why would He not respond when you raise your hands before Him and shed tears in du‘aa?
A mother will do her utmost to comfort her child — but being human, there’s only so much that she can do. As for Allah Ta‘ala, He is All-Powerful and can easily resolve our problems in mere moments.
How unfortunate it is that today we have forgotten about this great weapon and gift — du‘aa. Just as a soldier is not a soldier without a weapon, a student is not a student without a pen, and a carpenter is not a carpenter without a tool, how can a believer go through the day without du‘aa?
We live in a time when people rely on their “contacts”. When faced with difficulty, they rush to seek help from them. But no matter who they are, they are still mortal beings. Even if they are on speed dial, how often does it happen that the call goes unanswered — simply because they do not wish to be disturbed?
In contrast, you don’t need a phone or network coverage to connect to Allah Ta‘ala. Unlike people, the more you ask of Him, the more pleased He becomes. All it takes is for us to take the first step — to turn to Him in du‘aa.
Allah Ta‘ala says in the Quraan Majeed:
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
“Call Me, I will respond to you.” (Surah Ghaafir v60)