Maryam (as) (Mary the mother of Jesus ) in light of Islam !!

Assalamu Alaikum warahmathullahi wa barakathuhu,

I am writing this article first of all to empower my self and sisters who really needed this little motivation to improve their lives , while we as Muslim women are misguided by fake delusions of the world around us. And hopefully this article will help my sisters and brothers of other religion to understand the status of Maryam (alai) that Mary mother of Jesus in light of Islam. I am trying my best to mention few details using verses of Quran and hadeeths of prophet (PBUH).

Maryam (as)(Maryam bint Imran ) is a shining role model for all of us, both men and women. Allah most High chose Maryam(as) the mother of Isa over all the women of the world and gave her a special status.

Allah describes her as being among al qaniteen – the devoutly obedient.

The term Qanit (قانت), meaning one who humbly and continuously worships Allah, has been referred to both men and women in the Quran concerning virtuous servants of God. This term has been used about Maryam twice:

وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِتِين 

˹There is˺ also ˹the example of˺ Mary, the daughter of ’Imrân, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her ˹womb˺ through Our angel ˹Gabriel˺.1 She testified to the words of her Lord and His Scriptures, and was one of the ˹sincerely˺ devout.

يَـٰمَرْيَمُ ٱقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَٱسْجُدِى وَٱرْكَعِى مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ

O Mary! Be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself ˹in prayer˺ and bow along with those who bow down.”

Maryam’s (as) name alone is mentioned 31 times in the Qur’an. 

She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an. Allah mentions her name even when He isn’t telling her story, since Allah repeatedly says ″Isa, son of Maryam’ in many places. She is far from forgotten - in fact, she is one of the most famous people in the history of humankind.On top of that, Sayyidatina Maryam was titled to be among the best women in both worlds; her story in the Quran is eternalised and would be read repeatedly as a virtuous example for many until the end of time.

She was among the best four women of the world 

وَإِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٤٢

And ˹remember˺ when the angels said, “O Mary! Surely Allah has selected you, purified you, and chosen you over all women of the world.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of following are (the following four): Maryam the daughter of Imran; Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid; Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah wife of Fir’aun” (Tirmidhi).

She was among the truthful and ones who believed Allah

Allah mentioned these characteristics of Maryam(as)

مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌۭ ۖ 

The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger. ˹Many˺ messengers had ˹come and˺ gone before him. His mother was a woman of truth.(5:75)

 وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ ١٢

She testified to the words of her Lord and His Scriptures, and was one of the ˹sincerely˺ devout.(66:12)

She also exemplifies the best of modesty for both men and women.

Maryam (as) was placed in the care of Prophet Zakariyya (as), who was her uncle (the husband of her maternal aunt). This was because Hannah had vowed to ‘set her free’ so she could devote her life to serving the Masjid. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Maryam’s(as)guardian Prophet Zakariya (as) built a space for her where she was constantly in remembrance of Allah.As Maryam (as) grew up, she naturally spent a lot of time in secluded worship. Closed away in her private prayer room, Zakariyya (as) was amazed that there was always food coming into the room; he found food that was out of season and when he asked where it came from, 

 قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ٣٧

she said “It is from Allah, Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit (Surah al-Imran 3:37)

She was symbolic of her piety and modesty

As described in Surah Maryam ayat 16 to 34, when approached by an angel in the form of a well-proportioned man, she immediately sought refuge in Allah the most Merciful, symbolic of her piety and modesty.

قَالَتْ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّۭا ١٨ فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًۭا سَوِيًّۭا ١٧

Then We sent to her Our angel, ˹Gabriel,˺ appearing before her as a man, perfectly formed.She appealed, “I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! ˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.” (19:16 &17)

Allah proved her innocence by a miracle performed by Prophet Isa a.s. 

After the birth of Jesus, Maryam (as) faced incredible hardship. Even though she was a young woman of faith, She was then accused of engaging in immoral acts that never once crossed or resided in her mind, and she still kept firm and trusted that Allah would prove her innocence and goodness would come out of this trial. When the townspeople surrounded and questioned her she followed God’s instructions and did not speak.  Allah proved her innocence by a miracle performed by Prophet Isa a.s. when he verbally proved his mother’s innocence while he was still an infant.

يَـٰٓأُخْتَ هَـٰرُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمْرَأَ سَوْءٍۢ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّۭا ٢٨فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّۭا ٢٩قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّۭا ٣٠

”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 (the baby) said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet.”(Surah Maryam, 19:28-30)

Islam is the best