Spirit of Islam, May-june 2024

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S DESK Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Islam’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary on the Quran into English. She can be reached at spiritofislamperiodical@gmail.com ADDRESS OF PARADISE I N Islam, mother has been given a very high and prominent position. In this regard, one of the famous sayings of the Prophet is: Paradise lies under the feet of the mother (Musnad al-Shahab al-Qaza’i). The way this Hadith is generally interpreted is quite contrary to its true meaning. This Hadith is taken in a way in which the mother is given a high position. That is, if the child wants to enter Paradise, then he should completely obey the mother, without which the child cannot get Paradise. But this is not the true meaning of this saying. The Prophet Muhammad established a duty-conscious society. According to Islamic teachings, it is the responsibility of the individual to perform his duties, not to see what others are doing. The Prophet stated this fact in another place: A believer should fulfill his duty and as far as his rights are concerned, ask God for them. (Sahih al-Bukhari). Based on this principle, “Paradise is under the feet of the mother” would mean that the mother’s responsibility is much greater than that of the child. This Hadith actually addresses a mother. Mother plays a very important role in a child’s life. This Hadith means that it is in the hands of the mother to create a passion for Paradise in a human being. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan writes, “As a mother, a woman’s biggest task for her children is to try to make her children a good human being. Every child is born on true nature. By birth, every child is Mr Nature,