A leading European fashion designer showing his latest creations in London marched out his modern bride. Understandably, she was wearing his latest wedding dress with the ultimate accessory, a five-month-old baby with a matching diaper.

But while the fashion world celebrated this baby, too many others have forgotten the gift of life.

Recently an American mother sold her twins to a British couple over the Internet. Mothers and often fathers abandon or kill, and often give for adoption their products of illicit liaisons. Those who give up adoption are no less heinous than the killers and abandoners.

One of the final acts of former President Clinton was to assign funds for overseas organizations that help with abortions. Fortunately President George W. Bush promptly canceled this order.

The proponents of abortion, and in due course when 'mercy' killings become legalized, the proponents of 'mercy' killing of children, advocate a life free of complications, where the perpetrators has no responsibility. They seem to assume that legalizing the abominable would eliminate guilt and any emotional hang-ups. Such an assumption seems to be pegged on the notion that human beings are material whose inner selves can be programmed by providing them 'tangible' support mechanism such as laws. However, the proponents of such initiatives need only to look into the lives of the very people they purport to help.

The churches have 'broadened' their minds and are overlooking everything in the hope that as many as possible will at least attend the church on Sunday. This is perhaps guided by the numbers game, or by the urge to keep potential donors tied by even the weakest of apron strings. They feel that perchance those admitted to the good graces of the church may reward them believing that they are 'saved' simply by belonging. However, such pacification by virtually removing all sin from the book has only led to more problems - the people are not reminded about what is wrong and what is right, especially when all sins are legal any way.

Recently, a priest in Britain baptized the illegitimate child of an actress, sending a powerful message to the younger generation that the church considers nothing to be sinful.

The often-deliberate erosion of values, especially of the station of motherhood, has and is depriving entire generations of the very basis of their humanity. Islam teaches us that the Heaven lie at the feet of the mother. However, this is qualified by another admonition that men marry women who are qualified to become mothers of their children.

The mother that Islam desires is the mother (Hagar) who did not give up her child. She was alone in the midst of a desert with her infant (Ishmael), left alone, and even her husband had left. But she did not give him up.

This lesson is repeated by the Hajjis who walk the path that this noble mother had tread. The inclusion of this lesson in the Hajj exercise is a reminder to Muslims and humanity is that the relation of the mother and child is sacred and cannot be undone even in the severest of circumstances.

Mother Hagar was presented a challenge and she braved it and lives today as a perfect example of motherhood.

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Omar Bin Abdullah is the religion editor for iviews.com.