My mother, my mother, my mother — how deeply I love and miss her.

Although my mum’s earthly and physical presence is not seen, her spiritual presence together with her wisdom and nurturing heart remains with me — ever present, ever comforting, ever loving. My mother still guides me, comforts me, and surrounds me with love that is as strong as ever.

I know many of you understand this feeling, for there is truly no one like a mother. Our mothers, whether living or having lived, are always and for ever in our hearts.

That's how fierce and immensely potent a mother’s love is and that’s why she is loved, deeply respected and highly honoured.

Mothers are divinely phenomenal.

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): “Who is most deserving of my good companionship?”

The Prophet said: “Your mother.”

The man asked: “Then who?”

The Prophet replied: “Your mother.”

The man asked again: “Then who?”

The Prophet replied: “Your mother.”

The man asked again: “Then who?”

The Prophet said: “Your father.”

(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

This threefold emphasis shows how deeply Islam honours the mother’s role and sacrifice.

A mother’s role is pivotal in shaping the character of her child, especially when working in tandem with their father; the father as the provider, protector and disciplinarian, while the mother brings her nurturing and other gentle qualities into the parenting role. The result is an awesome outcome of well-adjusted and respectful human beings.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Musnad Ahmad)

This is often interpreted to mean that serving and honouring one’s mother is a direct path to God’s pleasure and reward.

It is said a mother’s prayer is powerful.

The supplication (du‘a) of a mother for her child is considered among the most sincere and powerful acts. Islamic scholars often stress that a mother’s heart is uniquely connected to her child, and her prayers reach Allah quickly because of their sincerity.

Her du‘a is a special blessing from Allah, making every moment brighter. A mother's prayer is full of love and care, and constant protective veil over her child.

Islam holds the mother-child bond as sacred, life-giving, and deeply spiritual. It is a bond of mercy, sacrifice, and divine favour.

The bond between a mother and child is often described as mystical because it transcends words and logic.

From the moment a child begins to form in the womb, a deep connection is created — physical, emotional and spiritual.

There is the physical connection: before birth, the child lives within the mother, nourished directly by her body. Even after birth, that connection continues through feeding, touch, and closeness. The body remembers this closeness, creating a sense of security.

The emotional factor is powerful.

Many mothers can sense their child’s needs, pain, or joy without a word being spoken. There is a natural empathy that often develops — almost a shared emotional field. Here recently, science has backed this theory.

Most times a mother loves unconditionally.

The love a mother feels for her child is unexplainable and so very protective. This love shapes how the child understands trust, care, and safety and has a lasting impact, even as the child grows and becomes independent, that bond remains. The mother’s influence echoes in the child’s personality, choices, and sense of self-worth.

The Koran says: “And we have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to me and to your parents; to me is the final destination.” (Surah Luqman, 31:14)

This verse reflects the physical and emotional toll of motherhood and links gratitude to one’s parents with gratitude to God.

This mystical bond is why losing or being separated from a mother can be deeply painful, and why honouring and caring for her is so important in many traditions.

My heart goes out to the mothers that are grieving over the loss of their children. Our condolences and our prayers for comfort and relief go out to them.

Bermuda honour and love your mothers as you are divinely commanded to do. Indeed, it well help in your success in this life and the next.

Happy Mother’s Day, but most of all, may all her days be honoured and happy.

Bermuda, continue to demand justice and immediate ceasefire wherever bombs are unmercifully and relentlessly blasting. Continue to demand peace, let the bombings immediately and permanently cease.

Let us continue to pray for healing for our island home to return to sanity, peace and love for each other. Stop the violence for humanity's sake.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam