Who is Firdaus' Mother from Woman at Point Zero and what is their importance?

Firdaus' mother removes Firdaus' clitoris when Firdaus asks how her mother gave birth to her without a father. Firdaus recalls that her mother's eyes followed her everywhere when she first learned to walk, but when Firdaus replaces her mother in washing her father's legs, her mother changes, and her eyes never seem to be touched by the light. After Firdaus' mother dies, her uncle takes Firdaus to live with him in Cairo.