The greatest lessons in life are often learned before a child ever enters a classroom. A mother is the first institution of a child – a statement we have heard for decades. We repeat it in classrooms, seminars, and public discussions. We acknowledge that mothers shape the future, mould personalities, and build nations. Yet, despite saying it so often, have we truly reflected on what it means?
Sahil Majeed
“A mother is the first institution of a child.” It is a statement we have heard for decades. We repeat it in classrooms, seminars, and public discussions. We acknowledge that mothers shape the future, mould personalities, and build nations. Yet, despite saying it so often, have we truly reflected on what it means?
History has repeatedly shown that the greatest investment in a society is not its buildings or institutions, but the upbringing of its children. That upbringing begins long before a child enters a school. It begins in the lap of a mother.
One of the finest examples is the upbringing of Hazrat Isma’eel (AS) by Hazrat Hajirah (AS). Alone in the barren valley of Makkah, she nurtured a child whose faith, patience, obedience, and trust in Allah became an inspiration for humanity. Reflecting upon this remarkable upbringing, Allama Muhammad Iqbal beautifully wrote:
Ye Faizaan-e-Nazar Tha Ya Maktab Ki Karaamat
Sikhaaye Kis Ne Isma’eel Ko Aadaab-e-Farzandi
Iqbal’s timeless words remind us that while schools educate the mind, it is the home that shapes the character. A mother’s love, guidance, and example leave an imprint that no textbook can replace.
Islam places mothers at the heart of society. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), when asked who deserved the best companionship, replied three times, “Your mother,” before mentioning the father. Another famous Hadith states, “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.” Such honour reflects not only a mother’s sacrifices but also her immense role in nurturing future generations.
I do not need history to understand this truth. I have experienced it in my own life. My father is well educated, while my mother has no formal education. Yet it is my mother who has had the greatest influence on my life. She guided me whenever I was confused, corrected me when I was wrong, encouraged me whenever I lost confidence, and stood beside me through every challenge. She stayed awake with me during examination nights and taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. Simplicity, humility, honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion are values I learnt from her.
Looking back, many mothers of previous generations had little or no formal education. Yet they raised children who valued honesty, discipline, patience, respect, and responsibility. They may not have possessed academic degrees, but they possessed wisdom, sincerity, and an unwavering commitment to raising good human beings.
Today, mothers are more educated than ever before. They are doctors, engineers, professors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and leaders. Their achievements deserve appreciation and celebration. Yet, alongside this progress, many parents and teachers express concern that children are increasingly struggling with discipline, empathy, patience, gratitude, and respect.
This naturally raises an important question: Where are we lagging?
The answer is not education. Education is one of the greatest blessings. The real challenge is balancing modern life with meaningful parenting.
In many homes today, smartphones and tablets have quietly become babysitters. To keep children occupied, we often place screens in their hands at an early age. Gradually, conversations become shorter, bedtime stories disappear, and the digital world begins to influence children more than their own parents. Technology itself is not the problem. It is one of the greatest achievements of our time. The problem begins when technology replaces parental presence.
No smartphone can teach honesty. No social media platform can teach kindness, humility, patience, compassion, responsibility, or faith. Those values are not downloaded. They are nurtured through time, attention, discipline, sacrifice, and example.
As we celebrate educational progress and technological advancement, we must never lose sight of the values that truly shape a generation. Knowledge can be acquired from books. Skills can be learnt in schools and universities. Information is available at the touch of a screen. But character is built at home.
Perhaps the real question is not whether today’s mothers are more educated than previous generations. The real question is whether, in our pursuit of successful careers and comfortable lives, we are still giving enough time to raise children with strong values and noble character.
The future of a nation is not written first in its schools or universities. It is written in its homes, through the values, love, and guidance a mother instils in her child.
Because the greatest life lessons are learnt before school begins. All praise and thanks to Almighty Allah for blessing me with such a wonderful mother.
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