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Mother’s Day has become a staple celebration for many homes around the world. The occasion usually takes the shape of family gatherings, gestured with a flurry of cards and flowers.  Whilst engrossed in gifts and merriments, few ponder over the origins of this day and the deeper meaning it can hold. In the UK, Mother’s Day began as Mothering Sunday – a religious tradition dating back to the 16th century, when children who had left home to work in domestic service, were allowed to return to visit their mothers and their ‘mother church’ on the fourth Sunday of Lent.[1] Over time, it evolved into a broader celebration of motherhood.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the modern iteration of Mother’s Day was largely shaped in the early 20th century by the social activist Anna Jarvis. Deeply devoted to her own mother, Jarvis envisioned a day to honour the sacrifices mothers made for their children when she organised a memorial service on the anniversary of her mother’s death.[2] Ironically, she spent her remaining life waging a campaign against it, lamenting its rapid commercialisation “A printed card means nothing”[3] she argued, heartbroken that the sincerity of the day had been drowned in consumerism.

Although Jarvis’ fears materialised with Mother’s Day spending surging to an estimated $35.7 billion worldwide in 2023,[4]  there is a growing movement that seeks to reject the commercialisation and token gestures of this day and return to the deeper, more meaningful appreciation of motherhood as a fundamental personal and spiritual role. Many from a religious perspective agree that the sacredness of motherhood should not be confined to one day but instead should be a year-round recognition of this pivotal position.

In current times, we see mothers navigating an increasingly complex and demanding landscape. Feminist movements have expanded opportunities for women but have also introduced new expectations. Economic pressures in the modern day often demand dual incomes, whilst societal norms still tend to place the bulk of caregiving responsibilities on mothers. The result is a constant balancing act, with women juggling multiple identities: mother/professional/caregiver/wife, often with little support or meaningful recognition.

Yet our rich Islamic history present role models who successfully traversed multi-faceted challenges of their time with remarkable resilience and unwavering determination. Khadija bint Khuwaylid (ra) the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), was born in 555AD, centuries before the advent of modern feminism. Khadija (ra) was a well-educated, noble, elegant and astute entrepreneur, renowned for her integrity and exceptional intellect, surpassing many of her male counterparts.  She managed a thriving business empire – transporting a caravan of over 800 camels of trade to Syria and Yemen, which rivalled the combined caravans of all the traders of the Quraish.[5] Alongside this, she was also a devoted mother to what is believed to be at least ten children in her household, including Muhammad’s (sa) adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah (ra). Yet her motherliness transcended her household to the wider society.

Allah Almighty Himself honoured Khadija (ra) and the wives of the Prophet (sa) with the noble title of Umm-al-Mu’minin ‘Mother of the Believers’.[6] Khadija’s (ra) role as Umm al-Mu’minin was not limited to nurturing her biological children but encompassed guiding, uplifting, and protecting the early Muslim community though emotional, moral and spiritual leadership. Her home was a sanctuary of compassion; attracting orphans, widows, the sick, travellers and she was renowned for paying the bridal dowry for many girls in the area, in true motherly spirit. Thus, Khadija (ra) was not only a devoted mother to her own children, but also a maternal presence for her entire community: a provider, a nurturer, and a protector. In every sense, she was a mother of her society, the Mother of Believers. Yet despite all the various demands this would have presented, Khadija (ra) never viewed her roles as conflicting, instead, she embraced them all, setting a timeless example of balance and strength.

Her legacy reminds us that motherhood in Islam is not necessarily limited to a domestic sphere, but is a position of influence, governance, and honour; deeply embedded in community by laying the necessary foundations for the future generation to flourish.

We can draw great strength and foresight from women like Khadija (ra) in a time when motherhood can feel torn between priorities, pressures and perfection, as they offer us a blueprint of how to nurture the next generation through the lens of immeasurable worth. As His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) the current Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has said:

 “Remember that the key for any nation to thrive and progress lies in the hands of the mothers of that nation”[7].

As we approach this Mother’s Day, let us look beyond the idea of motherhood as only the biological act of bearing a child, and let us look beyond the commercial gesture of flowers and cards. Let us herald the examples of Umm-al-Mu’minin and reclaim motherhood as a sacred honour endowed to women in shaping hearts, minds, and ultimately, the future.

About the author: Farhana Dar is a Law graduate from the London School of Economics and currently works in Business Development. As a mother of three, she brings both personal insight and academic curiosity to her writing, with a particular interest in the role and status of women in Islam and how faith shapes modern family life.

Endnotes

[1] Diller, H. (1990). Celebrations that Matter. p35 (Augsburg Fortress Publishing).

[2] Phillips, K (2024). ‘She invented Mother’s Day- then waged a lifelong campaign against it’. Washington Post. 7 May.

[3] Handwerk, B. (2011) Why Mother’s Day horrified, ruined its own mother, History. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/110508-mothers-day-google-doodle-history-jarvis-nation-gifts-facts (Accessed: 04 May 2025).

[4] Silverpush. (2024). Mother’s Day Spending Across the World – Silverpush. [online] Available at: https://www.silverpush.co/mothers-day-spending-across-the-world

[5] Muhammad ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, p. 10.

[6] Holy Quran 33:7

[7] Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, ‘The Equality of Women and Their Role in Society’ Address at National Waqfaat-e-Nau (Girls) Ijtema UK 25/2/2017.