THE OLD MOTHER

An 80 year old woman was sitting on the sofa in her house along with her 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window. The Mother asked her Son, "What is this?" The Son replied "It is a crow". After a few minutes, the Mother asked her Son the 2nd time, "What is this?" The Son said "Mother, I have just now told you "It's a crow".

After a little while, the old Mother again asked her Son the 3rd time, What is this?" At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Mother with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow". A little after, the Mother again asked her Son the 4th time, "What is this?" This time the Son shouted at his Mother, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the Mother went to her room and came back with an old tattered diary, which she had maintained since her Son was born. On opening a page, she asked her Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated, I rather felt affection for my innocent child".

While the little child asked her 23 times "What is this", the Mother had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Mother asked her Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed. 

We will never be able to repay our mothers for what they have done. Let us atleast serve them. For our heaven does lay beneath their feet. May ALLAH give us the ability to fulfill our duties towards them. Aameen