"Paradise lies at the feet of mothers” (Sunan An-Nasai 3104). Such a simple sentence yet everything that is needed to sum up the effect a mother has on her child and the responsibilities expected to be fulfilled by mothers. This Ahadith (tradition narrated by a companion of the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) is not only addressed to children but also to mothers, regardless of background or affiliation. The tradition starts out with stating the obvious: the respect and importance owed to one’s mother, as all guidance, protection, and blessing naturally would fall under the category of staying strongly attached to the one closest and most concerned about one's upbringing. Not only can men not recreate the basic functionality and tasks assigned to the mother if they were to act as a replacement, but they cannot feel the level of attachment for the child that the mother feels and this too is sensed by the child itself at a very early age. “And we have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness...” (Holy Quran 31:15)
However this Hadith holds twofold importance and message to mothers. The influence and impact that a mother holds over a child, the level of importance she gives to the upbringing of her child, the importance to piety and developing an attachment to God and instilling that in her child, will be the determinant of what the child's character and personality will become in the future. This cannot be instilled with just words but the child must see the example of the mother making sacrifices for her motherhood, for her principles, and for her children, more than what may be expected from the father. But there is a second message in this as well: that if one does not become a mother who values this, or if one fails at one's task that it is not only the child who will not be granted Paradise, but the mother will also face the repercussions of not fulfilling those duties, ie: her own Paradise rests on the fact of how well she fulfills her duty of motherhood and ultimately of what type of child she leaves in the world.
