The Story of Sayyidatina Maryam (Virgin Mary)
“Lo! Allah preferred Adam & Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of Imran above all His creation.”
Quran 3:33
[box_light]“Behold! A woman of Imran said: “O my Lord! I do dedicate unto You what is in my womb for Your special service: so accept this of me: for You hear and know all things.”
Qur’an 3:35[/box_light]
According to Islam the descending of the Prophet Isa AS is of great importance as one complete Surah is dedicated to it, Surah Aal Imran (the Family of Imran). Allah SWT has praised the family of Imran for their dedication towards worshipping the Creator. The Holy Quran describes the story of the birth of Prophet Isa AS starting from mentioning the family of Imran and how Imran’s wife wanted a son out of her conception to be a slave of Allah SWT. But instead of a son she got a daughter named Maryam whom Allah SWT blessed to be the best lady in the whole world.
[box_light]”When she was delivered, she said: “O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child! – and Allah knew best what she brought forth – “And no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Your protection from the Evil One, the Rejected.”
Quran 3:36[/box_light]
Maryam was a pious and chaste women and an ardent worshipper of Allah SWT. When she was born many people wanted to be her guardian because of the noble value of the Imran’s family. The family made a draw out of pens thrown in water and chose the pen of Zakariya AS whose pen flowed in the opposite direction to that of the water.
[box_light]”…You were not with them when they cast lots with pens, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: nor were you with them when they disputed (the point).
Quran 3:44[/box_light]
Zakariya AS took guard of Maryam and provided her with food and drink. She was also provided a place of worship in Jerusalem from where she did not come out and spent nights and days praying to the One Lord.
[box_light]”Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and beauty: to the care of Zakariyya was she assigned. Every time that he entered her chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: “O Mary! Whence comes this to you?” She said: “From Allah: for Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.”
Quran 3:37[/box_light]
One time as she left her place for some need the Angle Gabriel came upon her and gave her the news of her conception. Maryam found it hard to accept as she was chaste and pious and had not let any man near her. But she submitted to the will of Allah SWT and accepted her conception. When the time came of the child’s birth she went into the outskirts to escape the humiliation of the people and wished for death than suffer the accusations of the people.
[box_light]”And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried in her anguish: “Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!”
Quran 19:25[/box_light]
But Allah SWT comforted her and provided her with dates and river stream. At the birth of the baby, she was asked to obtain a fast and not to speak to anyone as she went back.
[box_light]But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not! For your Lord has provided a rivulet beneath you; And shake towards yourself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you.”
Quran 19:26[/box_light]
When the people of Jerusalem saw a baby in Maryam’s hand they started accusing her of being unchaste and tarnishing her family’s reputation. At that time, the baby performed a miracle and spoke. With Allah’s will, he informed them that he was the Prophet Isa AS, messenger of Allah to which Allah SWT has also provided a scripture.
[box_light]”O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother a woman unchaste!”
But she pointed to the baby. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet.”
Quran 19:28 – 30[/box_light]
You can also watch a beautiful video titled “Mary in Islam” here.
Hamza Imran
Hamza holds a Bachelors degree in Mass Ccommunication and has immense interest in religious studies. He has been writing articles for various Islamic forums and blogs. He is looking forward to have a degree in Islamic Studies in the future.