Letters to the Editor | May 10, 2026

There is a tradition narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that reads simply: “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.” Few sentences carry so much weight in so few words, and yet I believe its full meaning is often only half understood.

Most of us encounter this narration as a reminder to children: Honor your mother, cherish her, recognize all that she has sacrificed. And that message is true and important. The Quran itself affirms it, reminding us that a mother “bears him in weakness upon weakness” (31:15) — a phrase that captures not just the physical reality of motherhood, but its emotional and spiritual cost, as well. No one else can replicate the depth of a mother’s attachment to her child, and children sense this from the very earliest age.

But I’d like to suggest that these words carry an equally powerful message for mothers themselves.

A mother’s influence over her child is unlike any other. The values she models, the sacrifices she makes, the love of God she nurtures — or doesn’t nurture — in the home will shape who that child becomes far into the future. This cannot be accomplished through words alone. Children learn by watching. They absorb the example of a mother who gives not just what is required, but more — who makes real sacrifices for her principles, for her family, and for the kind of human being she hopes to raise.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Philadelphia

I write in response to your recent article on the state of education in Philadelphia. It is deeply troubling that in a school district with a $5.4 billion budget, elementary schoolchildren are still forced to learn in buildings without consistently functioning bathrooms and without adequate pest control.

These are not luxuries — they are basic, nonnegotiable conditions for any safe and dignified learning environment. The fact that students must rely on adults to advocate for something as fundamental as clean, working facilities is unacceptable. It raises a serious and unavoidable question: What exactly are the district’s priorities, and who is being held responsible?

A cursory look at the budget reveals that over the past 10 years, as enrollment has declined by more than 16,000 students, the district has nevertheless hired more than 3,500 employees, largely for administrative positions that many of these children will never directly encounter and that appear far removed from their day-to-day classroom experience. Meanwhile, the physical conditions of their schools, which impact them every single day, remain neglected.

At some point, the public must demand greater transparency and accountability. Where is the money going, and why isn’t more of it reaching the classrooms and facilities where it is most urgently needed? If kids had functioning toilets to use, maybe the district would not need to hire more climate managers at $149,700 per year.

Philadelphia’s students deserve better. They deserve safe, clean schools that reflect a genuine commitment to their well-being and education — not a system where basic needs are overlooked while bureaucratic layers continue to expand.

Janine Yass, founder, The Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless Education

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