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"I’m a mother and I don’t have time to seek knowledge."

This is a common predicament that many ṭālibāt [student of] ʿilm [knowledge] face.
They rightfully prioritise their children and as a result find themselves unable to learn the Qurʾān, unable to study more about their dīn, and so on.

Though I commend sisters for prioritising their children but here’s the thing, your duty as a mother (and a father) isn’t limited to ensuring that your child has a healthy body; you’re equally responsible to ensure that he has a healthy soul. That he grows up with the right belief, that he grows up to be a muwaḥḥid, that he grows up to be a resilient believer.

Because you prioritise your children, you need to prioritise knowledge (ʿilm).

For far too long, Muslim parents have wrongfully assumed that religion is rubbed off on children. Consider the present state of our youth, this should be enough an indication that religion is not inherited or 'picked up' by simply living in a Muslim household. It’s not sufficient for you to casually say a few words about Allāh to a child and think that that is enough for him to be AND STAY a Muslim.

A hungry body will devour the first edible item it comes across. A mind starved of thought and reason will consume the first convincing idea presented to it.

If you’re not learning your dīn [religion] you will not have the capacity to nourish your child’s soul and intellect.

ʿIlm is the foundation of this religion. To draw closer to Allāh you have to do it through ʿilm—you have to learn what pleases Him. A person cannot be a person of religion unless he has sufficient knowledge; Allāh is not worshiped out of jahl, or out of whims and desires, or in a manner that is passed down by your culture.

If you prioritise the wellbeing of a child then both the mother and father need to prioritise learning their dīn.

Ṭalab al-ʿilm is not a side hobby. It’s a commitment that requires an unimaginable amount of energy and time. It demands sacrifices. My advice to everyone remains: look at what you can let go of. How can you rearrange your life better to make permanent room to consistently learn this Dīn?

If you have time for recurring gatherings (of gossip), or to go shopping when you are not in need of anything, or to aimlessly watch tv, or scroll on your phone for hours, then you sure can make time to learn about Allāh. Start with something small, even if it is an hour a week, be consistent and dedicated and ask Allāh to open His abundant favours upon you.

https://quranicreflections.com/2017/02/14/balancing-motherhood-and-seeking-knowledge/

Sister Abeer Sadary
Author at Islam21C https://www.islam21c.com/author/abeer-sadary/

QURʾĀNIC REFLECTIONS

Balancing Motherhood and Seeking Knowledge

“I’m a mother and I don’t have time to seek knowledge.” This is a common predicament that many ṭālibāt ʿilm face. They rightfully prioritise their children and as a result find themselves unable to learn the Qurʾān, unable to study more about their dīn, and…

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