Mary in Islam (part 1 of 3)
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, holds a very special position in
Islam, and God proclaims her to be the best woman amongst all
humanity, whom He chose above all other women due to her piety and
devotion.
{And (mention) when the angels said, 'O Mary! Indeed God has chosen
you, and purified you, and has chosen you above all other women of
the worlds. O Mary! Be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate
and bow with those bow (in prayer).} [Quran 3:42-43]
{وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَا
مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَى
نِسَاء الْعَالَمِينَ (42) يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ
وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ} [آل عمران:
42-43]
Transliteration: Wa 'Idh Qālati Al-Malā'ikatu Yā Maryamu
'Inna Allāha Aşţafāki Wa Ţahharaki Wa Aşţafāki `Alá Nisā'i
Al-`Ālamīna , Yā Maryamu Aqnutī Lirabbiki Wa Asjudī Wa Arka`ī Ma`a
Ar-Rāki`īna
She was also made by God an example to follow, as He said:
{And (God sets forth the example for those who Believe) of Mary,
the daughter of Heli, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into it
through Our Angel (i.e., Gabriel), and she believed in the words of
her Lord and His Scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.}
[Quran 66:12]
{وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي
أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ
بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ
الْقَانِتِينَ} [التحريم: 12]
Transliteration: Wa Maryama Abnata `Imrāna Allatī 'Aĥşanat
Farjahā Fanafakhnā Fīhi Min Rūĥinā Wa Şaddaqat Bikalimāti Rabbihā
Wa Kutubihi Wa Kānat Mina Al-Qānitīna
Indeed she was a woman who was fit to bring such a miracle as that
of Jesus, who was born without father. She was known for her piety
and chastity, and if it were any different, then none would have
believed her claim to have given birth while remaining in a state
of virginity, a belief and fact to which Islam holds true. Her
special nature was one which many miracles proved of from her early
childhood. Let us recount what God revealed in regards to the
beautiful story of Mary.
The Childhood of Mary
{Indeed God chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family
of Heli above all others of the creation. Offspring, one of the
other, and God is the All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Remember) when the
wife (Hannah; also Anne, Ann, Anna) of Heli said: 'O my Lord! I
have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be
dedicated for Your services (to serve Your Place of worship), so
accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the
All-Knowing.} [Quran 3:35]
{إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا
وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى
الْعَالَمِينَ(33)ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ
عَلِيمٌ (34) إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ
لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ} [آل عمران:33-35]
Transliteration: 'Inna Allāha Aşţafá 'Ādama Wa Nūĥāan Wa
'Āla 'Ibrāhīma Wa 'Āla `Imrān `Alá Al-`Ālamīna , Dhurrīyatan
Ba`đuhā Min Ba`đin Wa Allāhu Samī`un `Alīmun , 'Idh Qālati Amra'atu
`Imrāna Rabbi 'Innī Nadhartu Laka Mā Fī Baţnī Muĥarrarāan
Fataqabbal Minnī 'Innaka 'Anta As-Samī`u Al-`Alīmu
Mary was born to Heli and his wife Hannah, who was of Davidic
descent, thus coming from a family of Prophets, from Abraham, to
Noah, to Adam, may the Peace and Blessings of God be on them all.
As mentioned in the verse, she was born to the chosen family of
Heli, who was born into the chosen family of Abraham, who was also
born into a chosen family. Hannah was a barren woman who longed for
a child, and she made a vow to God that, if He granted her a child,
she would consecrate him to His service in the Temple. God answered
her invocation, and she conceived a child. When she gave birth, she
was saddened, for her child was female, and it was usually males
who were given in service to Bait-ul-Maqdis.
{So when she gave birth to her, she said, 'My Lord! I have
delivered a female…and the male is not like the female.}
{فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ
إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنثَى} [آل عمران: 36]
Transliteration: Falammā Wađa`at/hā Qālat Rabbi 'Innī
Wađa`tuhā 'Unthá.
When she expressed her sorrow, God rebuked her saying:
{…And God knows best what she delivered…} [Quran 3:36]
{وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ
..} [آل عمران: 36]
Transliteration: Wa Allāhu 'A`lamu Bimā Wađa`at..
…for God chose her daughter, Mary, to be the mother of one of the
greatest miracles of creation: the virgin birth of Jesus, may God
praise him. Hannah named her child Mary (Maryam in Arabic) and
invoked God to protect her and her child from Satan:
{…And I have named her Mary (Maryam), and commend her and her
offspring to your protection from Satan, the outcast.} [Quran
3:36]
{وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ
وِإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ
الرَّجِيمِ} [آل عمران: 36]
Transliteration: Wa 'Innī Sammaytuhā Maryama Wa 'Innī
'U`īdhuhā Bika Wa Dhurrīyatahā Mina Ash-Shayţāni Ar-Rajīmi
God indeed accepted this supplication of hers, and He gave Mary and
her soon to come child, Jesus, a special trait - given to none
before nor after; neither of them were afflicted by the touch of
Satan upon birth. The Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him,
said:
«None are born except that Satan
touches them upon their birth, due to which it comes out screaming
from its touch, except Mary and her son (Jesus).»
[Ahmed]
Here, we can immediately see a similarity between this narration
and the Christian theory of the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary and
Jesus, although there is a great difference between the two. Islam
does not propagate the theory of 'original sin', and therefore does
not condone this interpretation of how they were free from the
touch of Satan, but rather that this was a grace given by God to
Mary and her son Jesus. As other prophets, Jesus was protected from
committing grave sins. As for Mary, even if we take the position
that she was not a prophetess, she nevertheless received the
protection and guidance of God which He grants the pious
believers.
{So her Lord accepted her with gracious acceptance, and reared her
in purity and beauty, and entrusted her to the care of Zachary.}
[Quran 3:37]
{فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ
حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا
زَكَرِيَّا} [سورة آل عمران: 37]
Transliteration: Fataqabbalahā Rabbuhā Biqabūlin Ĥasanin Wa
'Anbatahā Nabātāan Ĥasanāan Wa Kaffalahā Zakarīyā
Upon the birth of Mary, her mother Hannah took her to
Bait-ul-Maqdis and offered her to those in the mosque to grow under
their tutelage. Knowing the nobility and piety of their family,
they quarreled as to who would have the honor to rear her. They
agreed to cast lots, and it was none other than the prophet Zachary
who was chosen. It was under his care and tutelage which she was
reared.
Miracles in her Presence and
Visitation by Angels
As Mary grew older, even the prophet Zachary noticed the special
features of Mary, due to the various miracles which occurred in her
presence. Mary, as she was growing up, was given a secluded room
within the mosque where she could devote herself to the worship of
God. Whenever Zachary would enter the chamber to see to her needs,
he would find abundant, and out of season, fruit in her
presence.
{Whenever Zachary entered the chamber, he found her provided with
sustenance. He said, 'O Mary! From where did you get this?' She
replied, 'It is from God.' Surely God bestows sustenance upon whom
He pleases without measure.} [Quran 3:37]
{ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا
الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقاً قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ
هَذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ إنَّ اللّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن
يَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ} [سورة آل عمران: 37]
Transliteration: Kullamā Dakhala `Alayhā Zakarīyā Al-Miĥrāba
Wajada `Indahā Rizqāan Qāla Yā Maryamu 'Anná Laki Hādhā Qālat Huwa
Min `Indi Allāhi 'Inna Allāha Yarzuqu Man Yashā'u Bighayri
Ĥisābin
She was visited by angels on more than one occasion. God tells us
that the angels visited her and informed her of her praised status
amongst humanity:
{When the angels said, 'O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you
(due to your worship and devotion), and chosen you (by making you
the mother of the prophet Jesus) above the women of the worlds. O
Mary! Pray to your Lord devoutly, and prostrate yourself, and bow
down with those who bow down.} [Quran 3:42-43]
{وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَا
مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَى
نِسَاء الْعَالَمِينَ (42) يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ
وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ} [سورة آل عمران:
42-43]
Transliteration: Wa 'Idh Qālati Al-Malā'ikatu Yā Maryamu
'Inna Allāha Aşţafāki Wa Ţahharaki Wa Aşţafāki `Alá Nisā'i
Al-`Ālamīna , Yā Maryamu Aqnutī Lirabbiki Wa Asjudī Wa Arka`ī Ma`a
Ar-Rāki`īna
Due to these visitations of the angels and her being chosen above
other women, some have held that Mary was a prophetess. Even if she
was not, which is a matter of debate, Islam still deems her having
the highest status amongst all women of creation due to her piety
and devotion, and due to her being chosen for the miraculous birth
of Jesus.
By M. Abdulsalam
The Religion of Islam
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