Maryam, the Mother of Jesus

As Muslims, we respect, honor and hold in high esteem Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, the daughter of Imraan who was a chaste virgin and is the best of the women of the world.
The Muslims respect and love her for many reasons, among which are the following:
• Allaah Almighty praised her and described her as being pure and chaste; Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ‘Imraan, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] 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] 

Indeed, Allaah Almighty mentioned her and elaborated on the details of her story in many verses in the Quran.

• Allaah has chosen her as the best of the women of this world; Allaah Says (what means): {(And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allaah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.} [Quran 3:42]

• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, was brought up in a pious and religious family like her mother, may Allaah be pleased with her, who vowed to Allaah to dedicate what was in her womb to His Services and to serve His Religion; Allaah Says (what means): {[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of Imraan said, “My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” But when she delivered her, she said, “My Lord I have delivered a female.” And Allaah was most knowing of what she delivered, and the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allaah].”} [Quran 3: 35-36]

Indeed, Allaah accepted the supplication of the mother of Maryam as He appointed a Prophet to her care and service, who was the Prophet Zechariah, may Allaah exalt his mention, so that she would be brought up upon the Guidance of Allaah. Allaah Says (what means): {So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allaah. Indeed, Allaah provides for whom He wills without account.”} [Quran 3:37]

• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, reached a status and an honorable level that no other women has reached; the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, mentioned this and clarified this in many Ahadeeth. For instance, we cite the following:
- “Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Maryam, the daughter of Imraan, and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

- “The best of the women of her time was Maryam, daughter of Imraan, and the best of the women of her time was Khadeejah, Bint Khuwaylid.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

- “The best of the women of paradise after Maryam Bint ‘Imraan are: Faatimah [daughter of the Prophet], Khadeejah [Prophet’s wife] and Asia the wife of Pharaoh.”[As-Silsilah As-Saheehah]

- “The best of the women of the world are: “Maryam Bint ‘Imraan, Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah Bint Muhammad, and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh.” [At-Tirmithi]

• All the Muslim nation agree that Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, was of great honor and high status and they consider her as an example regarding purity and chastity.

• A whole Chapter in the Quran was named after her name and she is the only woman who has won this honor (as no other Chapter is named after any other woman), and Allaah elaborated in details the story of her conceiving ‘Eesa, may Allaah exalt his mention, and her giving birth to him.

• Also, she is the only woman who was clearly mentioned by name in the Quran whereas other women of honor and great status were only mentioned by reference.
Indeed, her name was mentioned explicitly in the Quran 34 times in 32 verses, and it was mentioned 11 times without being linked to her son ‘Eesa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt his mention.

• Also, Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, was the one who was given as an example – along with Asia Bint Muzaahim [the wife of Pharaoh] –for the Muslim women, and for men as well. Allaah Says (what means): {And Allaah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, “My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.” And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ‘Imraan, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] 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 66:11-12]

• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention was known for her chastity and virginity even after giving birth to ‘Eesa (Jesus), the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah exalt their mention. She sought refuge with Allaah when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) appeared to her in the form of a man in all respects, as she said: Allaah Says [on her tongue] (what means): {She said: “Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Merciful (i.e. Allaah) from you if you do fear Allaah”} [Quran 19:18]

• Allaah honored her by declaring her not guilty and by protecting her honor and dignity with a great miracle as He made her son –‘Eesa (Jesus) –speak while he was still in the cradle in order to declare her innocence and refute the accusation of the people of falsehood and corruption. Indeed, Allaah mentioned in details the story how she conceived her son and how she gave birth to him. Allaah Says (what means): {Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, ‘O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.” So she pointed to him. They said, “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?” [Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allaah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and Zakaah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.” That is Jesus, the son of Mary— the word of truth about which they are in dispute. It is not [befitting] for Allaah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.} [Quran 19:27-35]

• Allaah selected her to be a pious believing mother for one of the Prophets of great determination, who were the five great Prophets in the history of mankind, may Allaah exalt their mention.

• She conceived ‘Eesa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt his mention, in an unordinary human way, and in a miraculous manner as the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) breathed into her womb and she became pregnant, and then she gave birth to him.

• She was honored as Allaah attributed her great son to her; Jesus, son of Mary, as he was mentioned being attributed to her in the Quran 23 times out of 34 times.

• Allaah honored her with a number of miracles before her pregnancy and after she gave birth, such as the food which Allaah blessed her with when there was nobody to give her food or when she was lacking it. Allaah Says (what means): {…and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allaah. Indeed, Allaah provides for whom He wills without account.”} [Quran 3:37] 

Allaah also blessed her with the stream and the palm tree, which Allaah created for her so that she would eat and drink from them in the lonely place where she was so that she will give birth far from the eyes of the people. Allaah Says (what means): {…But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented…”} [Quran 19:24-26]

• She was strong in her religion. She endured much hardship and was steadfast to the last second of hardship, especially when she became pregnant, when she gave birth, and when she breastfed her son.

• Her name was widely spread among the Christians and the Muslims. Indeed, many Muslims like naming their daughters Maryam, and her name is absolutely the most wide-spread name for females around the world and in the Christian world. Her name is especially spread among the woman in Spanish speaking countries, such as the name of Mary Augustine, and Mary Asunción, Mary Antoinette, Miriam, Mary Carmen, and Mary Magdalene, Virginia, …etc.

Conclusion:
Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, is a role model for all Muslim women because she maintained her impeccable character throughout her life. Allaah raised her status and chose her from among the women of the entire world. Indeed, many verses and many Ahadeeth clarified her great status.

Allaah blessed her with some miracles, protected her and defended her against any accusations and blasphemy. On the other hand, Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, demonstrated her genuine devotion and loyalty to Allaah through her impeccable virtue and behavior. She also expressed her profound and genuine devotion to Him Almighty through her determination, devotion, and unconditional surrender to His Will. She placed all of her hope and trust only in Allaah.

As a result, Allaah supported her with His Grace and Help and turned all hardship into goodness and beauty.

She became pregnant and delivered her child all alone. She showed patience and complete faith in Allaah and endured the accusations of her people. Consequently, Allaah eased her burden, supported her and refuted any accusations against her.
Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, had a superior and honorable position.
As Muslims, we should honor her, defend her dignity and chastity, and clarify to the people of the whole world the truth about her that she is the best example for all women around the world to follow. She was indeed the best woman ever in the whole world, may Allaah exalt her mention.

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