Motherhood, the Perfection of Feminine Virtues

Motherhood, the Perfection of Feminine Virtues
In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. Salaam and heartiest congratulations to you all on the eve of the blessed birth anniversary of the Noblest ever lady the world has seen. As you know, the 20th of Jamadi al-Akher is that auspicious day when the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was blessed with the Immaculate Daughter, Fatema Zahra (SA), the paragon of all feminine virtues.
It is the occasion which is marked every year in the Islamic Republic of Iran as Women's Week and Mother's Day, in honour of the lady, who was not just the Prophet's dedicated daughter and the loyal wife of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), but is the supreme epitome of motherhood. Now we have a special feature in this regard titled "Motherhood, the Perfection of Feminine Virtues".
What could we say of a mother who gave to the world such impeccable sons as the Leaders of the Youths of Paradise, Imam Hasan and Husain (peace upon him) - each of whom remains till this day as models par excellence for believers to mold their life upon. She is also the mother who groomed such virtuous daughters, as the Heroines of Karbala, Hazrat Zainab and Hazrat Omm Kolsoum (peace upon them), who through their epic role, following the world's most bloodcurdling tragedy and its equally heartrending aftermath, taught humanity how to confront and defeat tyranny, even in the state of captivity. Today when feminine virtues have been plummeting because of the spread of the decadent culture of the West, it is Hazrat Fatema (SA), the Pride of the Virgin Mary (SA), who can salvage the women of the world through her role as the perfect mother, since only a virtuous mother can raise virtuous children, who in turn build a sound and healthy society. No wonder a famous hadith from Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) says: Paradise lies at the mother's feet."
Motherhood is not just something natural for women, but is of vital importance for perfection of human societies. Unfortunately, the erosion of morals in the capitalist societies is creating dangerous trends in the modern world. On one hand, this has led to the spread of promiscuity which has degraded women to a commodity to be commercially and carnally exploited by man. On the other hand, lack of faith in God and erosion of morals has given rise to the feminist movement, which on the pretext of defending women's rights, considers the process of procreation and motherhood as an obstacle in the progress of women. Another alarming trend in the West is the upsurge of the unnatural habits of sodomy and lesbianism, which although cardinal sins in both the Torah and the Evangel, are becoming a way of life, called homosexual or gay rights. We read in the holy Qur'an (as well as previously revealed scriptures), how divine wrath struck the nation to whom Prophet Lot was sent, because the people had distanced themselves from the natural process of family life and virtuous motherhood, by indulging in the sordid practice of sodomy and lesbianism. Such abominable practices are against the laws of nature. God created both the male and the female so that they could join each other in virtuous congenial life to build families on the sound basis of faith and humanitarian values. In other words, human perfection is possible only through the building of sound family units and the natural process of motherhood. It is the bond of marriage between the male and the female and the birth of children that grants peace of mind and tranquility of heart to the couple.
Today, conscientious psychologists in the West, fed up with the destructive results of disintegrating family life, have realized that the peak of pleasure for a woman is motherhood. For instance, Canadian scholar William Gardner says that nothing is more important for a woman than giving birth to a child and nurturing it. The American scholar, Tony Grant, says: biologically I can say motherhood is an inseparable part of a woman, and becoming a mother remains a cherished goal for a woman, despite the fact that she has acquired certain male characteristics.
The prominent Iranian thinker, Martyr Ayatollah Morteza Motaharri in his book "Women's Rights in Islam" says that forming a family is indicative of a kind of interest in the fate of others. Marriage is the first phase of development of human personality. The experience that a person gains in the light of marriage and forming a family cannot be gained anywhere else. As we said one of the most important roles of women is motherhood and willingness for becoming mother exists in the nature of all women. With her natural instincts of love and affection, a mother can present a healthy and energetic child to the community and meet her natural need of having a child. Motherhood is thus the most honorable role for women. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, believes that the most important role of a woman, whatever her level of awareness and knowledge, is her role as a wife and a mother. He considers this role as one of the most important tasks of a woman which nobody else can perform.
Motherhood is composed of love and compassion. God has bestowed on them these delicate attributes. It is here that the Prophet's daughter, Hazrat Fatema (SA), who holds these two attributes to the utmost limit, shows us the way of leading a virtuous life. These attributes sets the basis of a good upbringing. A pure soul that offers love and compassion is enough for the obedience of her children, just as the Prophet has said: The best of women amongst you are those who are the sweetest and kindest to their husbands, and most compassionate to their children."
One of the most sensitive phases of a woman's life is her pregnancy and period of giving suckle. During pregnancy, she creates an emotional relationship with the fetus in her womb. According to scientific researches, a mother's care sensitiveness in this period plays a major role in the future of the child. After the birth of a child, the emotional bonds with the newborn assume more importance as she gives suckle to her child. It is the most nutritious food for the baby. Islam has given women this and other numerous rights. A narration from the Prophet says: A pregnant woman is like a fasting person and a Mujahed striving in the way of God. For every moment of labor, she receives the reward of freeing a faithful servant, and when she gives birth she receives a glorious reward. Each time she suckles her child, she receives the reward of freeing a slave of the progeny of Prophet Ishmael; and on the Day of Resurrection, this would manifest as a halo of light that would amaze everyone. When she completes suckling, an angel says: restart a new life since God has forgiven your past sins.
Thus, it is the exemplary life of Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA) that teaches believing women to be perfect mothers. The Prophet's daughter practically showed to us how to groom children. At times, in those days of scarcity in the early days of Islam, she would remain hungry and thirsty, but would always provide food to her children. She inculcated in her sons and daughters firm filial bonds that are evident when we cast a glance at the life of Imam Hasan, Imam Husain, Hazrat Zainab and Hazrat Omm Kolsoum (peace upon them). This indicative of the fact that the role of a mother in the bringing up of her children in the best possible manner, including instilling in them spiritual values, is of paramount importance - a factor that the western world has ignored and thereby oppressed women, society and the future generations in the name of ill-defined freedom.