Asma (RA) was very excited, but
at the same time she was worried. Her mother was coming to see her in Madina.
Seven years had passed since Asma (RA) had migrated from Makka, and that was a
very long time for mother and daughter to be parted. Naturally, Asma (RA) was
very anxious to see her mother again, but there was a problem, a big one.
Although Asma (RA)’s father, Abu Bakr (RA), was a very devout Muslim and always
took care to live by the laws of ALLAH, he had not been able to persuade her
mother to share his faith. She was still a Kafir,* and like all Kafirs still
worshipped idols. She did not submit to ALLAH alone, the One God.
‘She is my mother,’ Asma (RA) thought to herself. ‘She is traveling a long way
to see me and the journey is hard one. I should welcome her with open arms and
show her all the love that is due to a mother. And yet,’ Asma (RA) sighed, ‘she
is a Kafir as well. She does not believe in ALLAH. A Muslim must love ALLAH more
than anything on earth. So, how can I welcome a Kafir with love and joy?’
God does not forbid you,
As to those who do not fight you for your faith,
Or those who don’t drive you out of your home,
To be kind and just toward them;
Because God loves the just.
Surah-Al Mumtahina: 8
Asma (RA) thought about this problem for some time, but she could not decide
what she should do. There was one solution, though. She would go to the Blessed
Prophet and ask his advice. ‘Surely’, Asma (RA) reflected, ‘surely the Blessed
Prophet will be able to solve my dilemma’.
As it happened, Asma (RA) was the Blessed Prophet’s sister-in-law, for her
sister Aisha was the Blessed Prophet’s wife.
‘I do not know what I should do, O Prophet!’ Asma (RA) said when she came before
him. ‘My mother is coming to Madina to visit me, but she is not a Muslim’, Asma
(RA) sighed. ‘In fact, she still worships idols and does not see that the only
right way is to submit to ALLAH.’
‘So what is the problem?’ the Blessed Prophet asked, appar-ently undisturbed by
this revelation.
Asma (RA) looked at him in surprise. ‘My mother is a Kafir’, she repeated. ‘I do
not know whether I ought to receive her and welcome her to my home with gladness
in my heart. I do not know what I should do!’
‘The answer is simple’, the Blessed Prophet said with a smile. ‘She is your
mother. You must receive her hand do good to her.’
‘Even though she is not a Muslim?’ Asma (RA) asked.
‘She is still your mother’, the Blessed Prophet said. ‘Of course you must treat
her kindly when she arrives, and you must give her all her rights, all that is
due to her. If she had fought against your being Muslim, or thrown you out of
your home because of your faith, that would be different matter. But since your
mother has never done that to you, ALLAH enjoins that you must be just and kind
to her and love her as a daughter should.’
Should your parents command you to worship along with Me
Anything of which you have no knowledge The obey them not;
But keep their company in kindness; And follow those who turn to Me.Surah-Luqman
: 15