The Community as Extended Mother

Rabia taught belonging through love, and early Islamic communities often embraced collective childcare. A newborn thrives when multiple loving presences contribute to their sense of being held by the world. The extended family, close friends, trusted neighbors—when they relate to the infant with the same quality of pure devotion that Rabia exemplified, they create a network of secure attachment. This buffer against isolation and trauma proves crucial; if the primary caregiver becomes unavailable, the child has already internalized being loved by multiple sources. Communities that practice this collective bonding create resilience and legacy—children who grow understanding that belonging is not fragile or dependent on one relationship. This aligns with Rabia's vision of humanity united in love of the Divine. Building such communities requires intentionality in today's isolated societies, yet it remains essential for healthy bonding and the child's developing sense that they belong to something larger than themselves.