"My mum only had one eye. I hated her…she was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your mom only has one eye!" I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, “If you're only goanna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?" My mom did not respond... I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, then one day; my mother came to visit me. She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!" GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!" And to this, my mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared out of sight. One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbours said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

"My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see...when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. With all my love to you, Your mother."

Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day will be their last, or your own. Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure. And closure usually brings peace.

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Allah Ta'ala says: "And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word" 017:023

A man went to the Prophet Mohammed sallalahu alayhi wasalam and asked, "O Prophet of Allah - whom amongst the people is most deserving of my kind companionship?" The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam replied, "your mother". The man returned, "then whom?” The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam replied, "your mother". The man asked again, "then whom?” The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam replied, "your mother". The man asked, "then whom?” The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam replied, "then, your father".

Parents go through so much just to see their children happy, and in return how do we treat them? There have been so many times; I’ve witnessed people raising their voices at their parents, disobeying them, disrespecting them, insulting, swearing, showing rudeness and all sorts of other things. It’s quite sad to see that nowadays people don’t know or understand how much blessings there are in respecting your parents, especially your mother. Our beloved Prophet Mohammed sallalahu alayhi wasalam said, "Heaven lies beneath the feet of the mothers". We should not be ashamed to walk with them, we should be grateful and kiss and hug them all the time, and keep them happy

So reflect back in your lives and ask yourself how many times have you shown disrespect and raised your voice at your parents? Ask Allah for forgiveness. May Allah forgive us all for treating our parents in this way, Ameen.

Here are a few verses from the Quran and a few Hadiths, which I hope we can all, benefit from InshaAllah.

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and show kindness to parents.
-An-Nisa’: 36

Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age on your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but speak to them a gracious word. And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was little”
-Al-Isra’: 23-24

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is for two years, give thanks to Me and to your parents; unto Me is the final destination. But if they strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others, that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them, in the world, kindly and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.
-Luqmaan: 14-15

May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasalam, who said: “Let him be humbled into dust; let him be humbled into dust”. It was said: “Allah’s Messenger, who is he?” He sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: “He who sees either or both of his parents during their old age, yet does not enter Paradise”
-Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah

The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: “Allah has forbidden you to be undutiful to your mothers, to withhold (what you should give) or demand (what you do not deserve), and to bury your daughters alive. And Allah has disliked that you talk too much about others, ask too many questions (in religion), or waste your property”
-Sahih al-Bukhari, reported by al-Mughira

The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: “Should I inform you of the greatest of all major sins?” They said, “Yes, O Allah’s Messenger!” He sallalahu alayhi wasalam said, “To join others in worship with Allah and to be undutiful to one’s parents.” The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam then sat up, after he had been reclining (on a pillow), and said, “And I warn you against bearing false witness,” and he kept on repeating that warning till we thought he would never stop”
-Sahih al-Bukhari, reported by Abu Bakra

The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said: “The greatest sins are: to join partners in worship with Allah, to be undutiful or unkind to one’s parents, to kill a soul which Allah has forbidden to kill and to bear false witness”
-Sahih al-Bukhari, reported by Anas Ibn Malik

We should be kind to our parents. Kindness to one’s parents is one of the most obligatory duties upon every Muslim, man or woman, which both pleases Allah and brings happiness to every Muslim, in this world and the Hereafter. May Allah help us all realise this and to be good to our parents, Ameen.

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