Arabic Quotes About Mothers: Words that Celebrate a Sacred Bond
Arab culture holds mothers in high respect and appreciation for their lifelong sacrifice and unconditional love. Many Arabic quotes echo these feelings and carry meaningful insights into the role of mothers in our lives, from Arabic proverbs and sayings to poetry and the Holy Quran.
Celebrating the occasion of Mother’s Day this year, we will share with you a number of the most beautiful Arabic quotes about mothers that will inspire you and remind you of the deep bond we share with the women who raised us.
When is Mother's Day Celebrated?
Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates around the world. In most countries like the United States, Canada, and many Arab countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE).
Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. In 2025, that will be May 11.
Did You Know?
In the Arab world and the Middle East & Northern Africa (MENA) region, Mother's Day is celebrated on 21 March.
Quote 1
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Transliteration
Arabic
“His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship” – Surat Al-Ahqaf 15
Ḥamalathu umuuhu kurhan wawaḍaʻathu kurhan
حَمَلَتهُ أُمُّهُ كُرهًا وَوَضَعَتهُ كُرهًا – ١٥ سورةُ الأحقافِ
The first quote we are sharing with you about mothers is a verse from the Holy Quran where a mother’s pain and sacrifice are honored. The verse highlights the burden of a mother carrying her child and the pain of childbirth.
Quote 2
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Transliteration
Arabic
Men are made by their mothers.
Alrrijālu min ṣunʻi ummahātihim.
الرِّجَالُ مِن صُنعِ أُمَّهَاتِهِم.
This powerful Arabic proverb teaches us that true greatness in men begins with their mothers. The expression الرجال in Arabic carries the deeper meaning of “true men,” not just “men” in a general sense. The proverb refers to the crucial role of mothers in raising great and influential men through patience and sacrifice.
Quote 3
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Arabic
Whoever loses his mother has lost both parents.
Man faqada ummahu, faqada abawayhi.
مَن فَقَدَ أُمَّهُ، فَقَدَ أَبَوَيهِ.
This is another poignant Arabic quote that highlights the irreplaceable role a mother plays in a family. In many ways, a mother plays a double role, offering her children love and protection. The loss of a mother is so profound that it is likened to losing both parents.
Quote 4
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Transliteration
Arabic
All houses are dark until the mother wakes up
Kul albywti muẓlimatun ḥattá tastayqẓa al-umm.
كُلُّ البُيُوتِ مُظلِمَةٌ حَتَّى تَستَيقِظَ الأُمُّ.
This Arabic quote uses a beautiful and deep metaphor to highlight the precious presence of a mother in the home. Mothers fill their houses with life with their warmth and energy. The dawn of any home only starts with the waking up of the mother.
Quote 5
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Arabic
A mother’s heart is one of God’s greatest creations.
Min rawāʼiʻi khalqi allhi qalbu alʼummi.
مِن رَوائِعِ خَلقِ اللهِ قَلبُ الأُمِّ.
This beautiful Arabic saying captures the divine tenderness of a mother’s love.
Quote 6
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Arabic
A mother wrongs herself to be fair to her children.
Alʼmu taẓlimu nafshā litunṣifa awlādahā.
الأمُ تَظلِمُ نَفسهَا لِتُنصِفَ أولادَها.
When we talk about selfless love and sacrifice, we can’t help but mention how a mother gives up her own comfort and dreams just to secure those of her children.
Her love isn’t measured by what she receives, but by what she willingly gives up for their happiness.
Quote 7
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Transliteration
Arabic
The mother who rocks the cradle with her right-hand shakes the world with her left
Alʼummu allatī tahuzzu alssarīra biyamīnihā, tahuzzu alʻālama biyasārihā.
الأُمُّ الَّتِي تَهُزُّ السَّرِيرَ بِيَمِينِهَا، تَهُزُّ العَالَمَ بِيَسَارِهَا.
Much like the English proverb “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” the Arabic saying also recognizes the remarkable power a mother holds—quietly shaping future generations.
With one hand, a mother rocks the cradle; with the other, she moves the world.
Quote 8
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Arabic
Mothers make nations.
Alʼmu tṣnʻu alʼummata
الأمُّ تصنَعُ الأُمّةَ
When it comes to the role of mothers in building societies, there’s a well-known saying often quoted in speeches and writings that says:
Mothers build nations.
This brief yet powerful quote reminds us that the values, courage, and strength of a people begin in the arms of their mothers.
Quote 9
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Arabic
They gave mothers one day, not knowing that my mother is all my days.
Jaʻaluw lilʼummi yawman .. wamā daraw anna ummī kulla ayyāmī.
جَعَلُوا لِلأُمِّ يَومًا.. وَمَا دَرَوا أَنَّ أُمِّي كُلَّ أَيَّامي.
The following popular Mother’s Day quote captures the truth that a mother’s love and presence are far too deep to be confined to just one day.
Quote 10
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Transliteration
Arabic
There is nothing in the world more comforting than a mother's hug.
Lā yūjadu shayʼun fī alddunyā aktharu amnan min ḥiḍni alʼummi.
لا يوجَدُ شَيءٌ فِي الدُّنيا أَكثَرُ أمنًا من حِضنِ الأُمِّ.
Even the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle recognized the unshakable safety found in a mother’s embrace. In a world of chaos, it is her arms that offer the purest sanctuary.
Quote 11
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Transliteration
Arabic
The mother is a school—if you prepare her well, you prepare a nation of noble roots.
Alʼummu madrasatun idhā aʻdadtahā, aʻdadta shaʻban ṭayyiba alʼaʻrāqi
الأُمُّ مَدرَسةٌ إذا أعدَدتَها، أعدَدتَ شَعبًا طَيِّبَ الأعراقِ
The mother is a garden—if life nurtures her with care, she will blossom with the finest greenery.
Alʼummu rawḍun in taʻahhadahu alḥayā biālrrīyi, awraqa ayyaman īrāqi
الأمُّ رَوضٌ إِن تَعَهَّدَهُ الحَيَا بِالرِّيِّ، أورَقَ أيَّما إيرَاقِ
Among the most cherished verses ever written about mothers are these powerful lines by the great poet Hafiz Ibrahim. With graceful words, he paints the image of a mother as both a school and a blooming garden—symbols of growth, knowledge, and endless giving. These verses remind us that when we nurture and empower mothers, we are, in fact, nurturing entire generations and planting the seeds of a thriving, deeply rooted society.
Quote 12
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Transliteration
Arabic
I love my life because if I die, I will be ashamed of my mother's tears
Waʼaʻshaqu ʻumrī liʼannī Idhā mittu, akhjalu min damʻi ummī
وَأَعشَقُ عُمري لِأنِّي إِذا مِتُّ، أخجَلُ من دَمعِ أُمِّي
The Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish once wrote tenderly about his mother, saying:
“I love my life because if I die, I will be ashamed of my mother’s tears.”
A powerful reflection on how a mother’s love gives meaning to our very existence—so deep, so pure, that the thought of causing her pain outweighs even the fear of death.
Final word
In the end, no quote can truly capture what a mother is or all that she means to us. But these beautiful Arabic quotes about mothers serve as gentle reminders of a mother’s strength, sacrifice, and boundless love.
If you’re fortunate enough to still have your mother by your side, take a moment to tell her how much she means to you. And if she’s no longer here, hold her memory close—because a mother’s love never fades. It stays with us, shaping our hearts long after childhood is gone.
If you liked this article, read also Express Your Love on Mother’s Day: 8 Heartfelt Arabic Phrases.
