What A Mother Does

 The Quran uses two words for what a mother does. Haml (حَمَلَتْهُ) and Wahn (وَهْنَا)

One describes what she carries. The other describes what it costs her. And Allah put them together in one ayah to make sure you never forget.  

 وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ 

“And We commanded mankind regarding his parents” his mother Hamalat-hu (carried him) Wahnan ala Wahn (weakness upon weakness). (31:14)

Haml  (حَمَلَ) to carry a massive, sacred load.

Allah uses this same word in the Quran to describe the Angels carrying His Throne.

(Surah Al-Haqqah 69:17) He uses it to describe the Mountains refusing to carry the Heavy Trust (Amanah) because they were afraid of it. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:72) But your mother carried it.

Allah used a word reserved for Thrones and Mountains to describe what she did for you.

You weren't just a "bump." You were a heavy, sacred responsibility. 

Then: Wahnan 'ala Wahn.  Weakness, fragility, the body breaking down. Not 'weakness' once. Weakness UPON weakness.

Layered. Stacked. Compounding. Month 1 weakness. On top of month 2 weakness. On top of month 3. All the way to delivery. Each month didn't replace the last. It piled ON TOP of it.

And Allah didn't stop there.

وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ

“And his weaning is in two years."

Pregnancy = 9 months of Wahn. Breastfeeding = 2 YEARS. That's almost 3 years of her body not being her own. For you.

Then look at what Allah commands

IMMEDIATELY after:

أَنِ اشَكربِي وَلوَالِدَيَكَ

“Be grateful to ME and to your parents."

Allah put gratitude to your mother in the same sentence as gratitude to HIMSELF. Not after. Not separately. Same breath.

A man asked the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)

"Who deserves my best companionship?"

"Your mother."

"Then who?"

"Your mother."

"Then who?"

"Your mother."

"Then who?"

"Your father."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 5971)

Three times.

Because Wahnan 'ala Wahn isn't something you repay once.

She carried you. Weakness upon weakness.

Layer upon layer. For months that turned into years. You can't repay that. You can soften your voice. You can say "thank you" and actually mean it. Wahnan "ala Wahn. She earned more than you'll ever give. 

May Allah bless our mothers and grant them Jannah.