Origins of Mother's Day and the Proclamation

Category: Featured, Highlights, Life & Society Topics: Mothers, Women Views: 17488
17488

Contrary to popular belief, Mother's Day was not conceived by the card maker Hallmark.

The history of Mother's Day is attributed to various sources dating back to Greek festivals. Later on, this evolved into Christian festivals in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus (Peace be upon him).

In the United States, the celebration of Mother's Day started about 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day."

Fifteen years later the tradition to honor mothers gained further recognition when Julia Ward Howe, a Bostonian poet, pacifist, and author of the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.

Following is the Mother's Day Proclamation Julia Ward Howe wrote in 1870

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth, a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.


Quran 31:14 And We have commanded people to honour their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return.

See article: Say not even "Fie" to Parents


  Category: Featured, Highlights, Life & Society
  Topics: Mothers, Women
Views: 17488

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Older Comments:
RENE QUIJADA ALBARENGA FROM CANADA said:
As Salaam Allahykum! Since our beloved prophet Mohammed(s.a.w.s.) stated "The paradise rest on the mother's feet" there cannot be any reason to object the celebration of our Mothers in any place on earth; of course it is more valuable celebrate the immense sacrifice of our mothers all the time. Almighty Allah (S.W.A.) know better......InshaAllah!!!!!
2015-05-10

ABDULLAH FROM USA said:
Abu Sayeed reported that the messenger of Allah said: "You shall follow the practices of those before you, inch by inch and mile by mile, to the degree that if they enter into the hole of a lizard, you will follow them." He was asked: "O messenger of Allah, are they the Jews and Christians?" He replied: "Who else?"

In Islam, EVERY DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY.

2012-05-13

NURAINI FROM MALAYSIA said:
I am surprised at the vehement responses to this article. In Islam God renders all permissible unless He forbids us from something. I don't believe it is forbidden to commemorate motherhood, and in fact God commands us to honour mothers all the time. Whether we choose to participate in Mother's Day or think it irrelevent to us, surely we could find it in ourselves to think well on this day, because what the Westerners commemorate is something we ourselves value very highly - indeed because paradise is beneath the feet of our mothers. Why should we blaspheme our own belief of the high regard for mothers, by denigrating Mother's Day, just because it is someone else's holiday? Our various national days, are also not muslim in origin, but should independence days, national days, and other such days be derided and condemned because it does not belong only to muslims? We should think about the akhla' we are displaying before we make comments that hurt others for no reason at all.
2011-05-09

FAHAD FROM US said:
Lori, I feel for you and lets not also forget the Orphans who have no mothers. One
day should not signify or boast your love for your mom on one day and it may hurt
someone else more than you think, same thing with valentines day ( how many are
depressed that they don't have a partner that day)..

If you were an Orphan you might love the person who sent you a basket of fruit
more than anything in the planet..

Also, re the other comment, celebrating christmas doesnt make you a kuffar but
confused in your deen and faith. Just like a christian who celebrates Eid.

2011-05-08

MOONBEAM FROM USA said:
As Salaamu Alaikum beloved sisters and brothers:
No matter how passionate we are about certain issues, let us always come to the table with respect. I have revisited the article and I continue to remain in accord with its basic message. . We need to be very careful about name-calling. Only Allah knows. Please refrain from indiscriminately calling ALL nonMuslims, 'kufurs', 'disbelievers', 'kafirs',
'unbelievers', etc.. Many non-Muslims are, like us, PEOPLE OF THE BOOK. If we could use some of this passion towards good deeds we would be a mighty Ummah, inshallah.
2005-06-01

MOONBEAM FROM USA said:
As Salaamu Alaikum
I enjoyed the article. While we may all be Muslim, our cultural practices are not always the same...and that is not haram. While some may say they do not need a special day to honor their moms, others may need that reminder. Let us be honest here. Many people, Muslim and non Muslim (I do not use the word "kufar" to describe non-Muslims, only allah knows)as much as they profess
love for mom are not as supportive as they could or should be. Regarding moms, this is a day to reflect and correct, to give and forgive. For those who oppose this day...ignore it, don't celebrate it. At the same time don't try to make others feel as if they have fallen into some type of western style frivilous bordering on haram activity. For some who have not had "good" moms and this day brings on a certain anguish and pain, perhaps this day could be used as a day for self healing...in whatever way that is positive and comfortable for them. For those blessed to have their moms still living, start right now to be all that you can to them. May Allah ta ala keep us all rightly guided. May we learn to disagree without become disagreeable.
2005-06-01

SADIIQ FROM UK said:
It is a sad thing for one to remember s/he mother once a year, furthermore, we muslims have our own way of life which is complete we don't need kufars to show us how to be kind to our mothers, it already there in Islam. So i say what is wrong with you muslims why do you seek guidance from Kufar.The prophet said every nation have celenbration and we have our own. To cut a long story short we are not allowed to indulge in the celebration of the Kufars. which in some cases could even lead the person of becoming a kafir(i.e. celebrating Christmas). wasalam

Allah knows best
2005-05-29

AJIBOYE RADIAT FROM NIGERIA said:
Salam alaekum,celebrating Mother's day is a Western ideology,we dont have act or live our life style like they do cos we are not the same!
2005-05-27

AKBAR KHAN FROM CANADA said:
Hi Lori, I just wanted to say, if you're not a mother yet, Insha'Allah you will be one someday. I think you should enjoy celebrating mother's day, celebrate your achievements (your children, your career, your family,), which you have, or will accomplish with the blessings of Allah the Most Glorified and Most High, under His arrangement..Ameen.
2005-05-19

LORI FROM USA said:
Asalaam alaikym. While it may be OK to celebrate to kindness of
good mothers, the lot of us who had abusive parents should not
be shamed or forced into being "thankful" for having bad
parents. I would be a much better person had I been removed
from my home by authorities (if they had done those things in
my young days) so I would have escaped 15 years os sexual,
mental and physical abuse. Let's not forget those of us like me.
We have nothing to thank our mothers or fathers for.
2005-05-14

SADIA FROM PAKISTAN said:
Is islam teaches us to respect our mothers or to take care and realize there sacrifices for us onlyfor one day that an americam lady has invented.Are'nt we are ordered to take care of them the whole life.If only 1 day was recommend the God must have tought us to celebrate this day to energize your feeling for ur moms.THIS IS A QUESTION OF MINE..
2005-05-14

KAMALUDDINSYED FROM INDIA said:
every day of life must be mothers day as heaven is beneath our mother's feet. therefore there is no meaning in celebrating mothers day.
2005-05-14

HAMED FROM US said:
Asalaamu Alaikum

The ayat 31:14 is talking about being dutiful to your parents, not following innovated holidays of the non-muslims, even if it sounds as though it is a good thing, Narrated Ibn Masud; A man asked the Prophet (Pbuh) what are the best deeds. the Prophet (Pbuh) said to perform the daily prayers at their early times; to be good and dutiful to ones own parents and to participate in Jihad in Allah's cause. To be good and dutiful does not mean follow the dis-believers in their ways, on the day of judgement Allah will raise up some muslims with the non-muslims because they followed their ways. In the Sunan of Abu Dawud The Prophet (Pbuh) said whoever imitates or resemble a people is one of them, if the non-muslim celebrate something and you as a muslim take part in it then you are resembling them. Allah said to be dutiful to your parents, dont wait until one day out of the year to honor them, there should not be an annual event to honor them it should take place often. And last but not least the Prophet made it clear what Holidays we follow and that is the 2 Eids..Fitr and Adha..
May Allah Guide us on the Siratul Mustaqeem
May Allah separate our deeds from the deeds of the Kufar
May Allah give us understanding of this deen
and May Allah make my intentions pure...Ameeen
JAZAKALLAHU KHAIRUN...
2005-05-14

ABU ABDULRAQIB FROM NIGERIA said:
bismillahi alhamdullulahi wa-salat wa-salam al-rasullahi,salamalaykun waramatullahi wabarakatul,
Allah subhanawatala says in suratul imran verse 149,
O you who believe,if you obey those who disbelive, they will send you back on your heels,and you will turn back(from faith)as losers

in a hadith narrated by samurah bin jundub(r.a)he said Allah messenger (s.A.w)said,anybody(from among the muslims)who meets, gathers together,lives,and stays with a mushrik(polytheist,or a disbeliever in the oneness of Allah,e.t.c)and agrees to his ways, opinion e.t.c and (enjoins)his living withhim (mushrik)then he (the muslim)is like him.
this hadith indicate that will don't need to obey them, obey the disbelievers in their action since it was not in the practise of the prophet(s.a.w),his salaf salihin, we need to differ from thier action that has no basis in islam,beware if this action is introduce and call people to join, might become an act of inovation(bid'ah) which lead the inovator to hell as deducted from the prophetic hadith, may Allah subhana watala protect us from jannama and make us die as a muslim and sahid.
2005-05-10

ABDUL LATIF ADAM FROM GHANA said:
Mothers day is afterall not meant for only christians,but muslims especially.The Quran has made it clear for us and so I will encourage all muslims to be dutyfull towards their mothers; give them the best we can, out of our hearts on every mothers' day.The prophet said that "Heaven is beneath the feet of our mothers". Believers, I want you to meditate seriuosly on this hadith and tell yourself something.
Assalaamu Alaikum.
2005-05-09

NOON FROM USA said:
Thank U 4 AllAwAys being there: teaching us, walking with us during these Very Very Difficult Mental Daze.
2005-05-09

RAHM FROM PAKISTAN said:
i personally found the article to be interesting and historically inspiring.

irrelevant to the article...is the opinion summary of the article. nobody agrees or disagree with factual article....one just forms an opinion about them.

no honest reader reads an article for the purpose of judging it. Its not an intellectual *thing* to do.

2005-05-08

ABU HENA MOSTAFA ZALAL FROM BANGLADESH said:
I came to know the historical background & jenuine information about International Mother day from this informative article.Specially Julia Ward Howe's poem attracts me .

Abu Hena Mostafa Zalal
B.S.S.(Hon's)M.S.S.(D.U.)PGDDP
Departmental Head of Socialwelfare
Hazrat Shah Ali Degree College
Mirpur#1 Dhaka #1216.BANGLADESH
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
2005-05-08

K. SHEIKH FROM U.S.A said:
I am agree with mr. khan. We have every day for mother's day.I prey, all children do care their parents, like they did for us when we were baby,
and they keep doing care us in the way of prey, where ever they live.
THis is not a day celebration, parents have rights after death(duaey maghferat).
Do care, respect,give them cheer, love, your tru feeling and good time,nothing then worth then these.
2005-05-08

MOKADDES KHAN FROM USA said:
The article was enlightening. Now I know where Mother's day originated, and the poem by Julia Ward howe is beautiful.
Hallmark did not create this holiday. But now like all holidays in the World, it is followed with exhortations to spend money to buy expensive, pointless gifts for your mother. Why not spend some real quality time with your mother. To me every day is mothers day. I pray for her every prayer. And my father too...

"Rabbir ham huma kama rabbayani ssageera"

Translation: "Ya Allah! protect my parents like they protected me when I was a baby"
2005-05-08

ROBIN FROM INDIA said:
we have mothers day everyday evry hour every minute every second.In islam we have no need to celebrate special occasion for mothers fathers labours etc.
2005-05-07