Growing up, my sister, Abidah, and I called our mother “Omi;” a Trinidadian version of أُمِّي, meaning “my mother.”

This word for mother, umm (أمّ), is fascinating, so let’s take a deeper dive into this word this Mother’s Day. From the same roots, ء م م, are the words:

imām (إمام) – leader (generally in a spiritual sense)
amām (أمام) – to be in front of
amma (verb) (أمَّ) – to repair (to a place); lead the way; direct course
umm (أمّ) – foundation
ummah (أُمَّة) – nation

Our mothers, may Allah be pleased with all of them, are our first imāms, leading our spiritual development from the moment of our birth. Their care and mercy, help us to conceptualize Allah’s care and Mercy for His creation. They help to direct the course of lives, providing an example by which we should lead our lives. They are the foundation of our households, keeping everything together when the world is seemingly falling apart. They are our nation builders, bringing forth the next generation of leaders. Whenever we have an issue, we seek their aide, and repair to their love and affection.

Ya Rabb! Help us to realize the blessing of our mothers. Surely, if we understood anything of that blessing, we’d treat them better, spend more time with them, and make more du’ā for them.

Oh Allah, forgive our mothers of their shortcomings, and grant them the highest levels of Jannah. May we be righteous children, whom they receive continuous reward from when they eventually pass from the reality of the this world, to the reality of the hereafter.

Finally, our Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was sent as an أُمِّي. This translates to “illiterate.” However, this word has a much deeper meaning, connected to the word for mother. Next time.

والله أعلم