Mother's Day

Originally conceived by Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War as a day honoring (in her opinion) the inherent pacifism of mothers, Mother's Day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day.

Mother's Days are celebrated on various days of the year in different countries because they have a number of different origins. One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship - which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus - was held on March 15 to March 18 around Asia Minor.

In most countries, Mother's Day is a new concept copied from western civilization. In many African countries, Mother's Day has its origins in copying the British concept. In most of East Asia, Mother's Day is a heavily marketed and commercialised concept copied straight from Mother's Day in the USA.

And since Julia Howe was definitely not a muslim, and the origin of the celebration of Mother's Day, has no significant relation to Islam, are we allowed to celebrate such occasion? Will we be cast as celebrating the great mother of gods, Cybele, as in ancient Greek suggested?

Since, we can't celebrate or acknowledge April Fool's Day, because it was a day to celebrate the foolish muslims centuries ago. We can't celebrate Valentine's Day as it as a celebration of St Valentine, who professed his love to a jailer's daughter and wrote letters to her secretly and signing them off with "From Your Valentine", will celebrating Mother's Day and honoring our mothers on that specific day will be a sin?

I've received sms after sms, on the so called Sister's Day, Best Friend's Days, Women's Day, Be Yourself Day. I am very sure, these so called Days have nothing to do with our religion, but only social.

The most interesting sms I've received was Kalimah Syahadah, and that we supposed to forward it to 7 people thru the same medium, and we are guaranteed rezqi in triple folds within 24 hours. But if we failed to to do as instructed, something bad will fall upon us. How in the name of Allah s.w.t, does someone falls for such scheme. Using the name of Allah s.w.t and his Rasul s.a.w and His word as a chain message, is worse than celebrating Christmas.

The Chairman of Bridge Marketing and Services, Ustaz Pasuni Maulan, is organising a Mother's Day Celebration at Leisure Farm in Johor, with games and feast. I just wonder if someone will send him a note saying that Mother's Day celebration is not an Islamic festive.

So, are we celebrating Mother's Day ?

Happy Mother's Day everyone (in advance), and this is for the fathers too, who plays the role of a mother in the absence of a wife.

I am just stating my mind, before anyone write about the reason not to celebrate being alive. Live and enjoy the life that Allah bestowed upon you, before he send Izrael a.s to you. Stop looking at others' fault because no one is perfect except Allah Subhanallahu Wata'ala.

Just my two cent worth.