Maryam (Mary) mother of Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam]

Muslims are required by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to believe in all of the Prophets.
These include Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ) and Prophet Yahyaa (John the Baptist) peace be upon them.
The Noble Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, also instructs Muslims to believe in the books revealed to every Prophet as well.
The book given to Prophet Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] is called Injil in the Noble Qur'an.

According to the Noble Qur'an, Prophet  Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] was one of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) most beloved messengers, a precursor to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) (61:6) and was sent to guide the Children of Israel.
 In the Noble Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Prophet Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] are abundant.
The Noble Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) permission, and his life as a great prophet of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa 
Here is one example of the miracles he performed by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) permission: Just imagine, Maryam (Mary), mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam], in a very conservative and religious community.
She is from a well known family- a daughter of a priest, and has spent most of her life in the Temple.
This virtuous, saintly, unmarried woman arrives carrying her child, in front of people who new her and her family very well.
It must have been an AWFUL experience for her.
How can she prove her innocence? Would anyone believe her? What on earth is she going to do? She needed a miracle.
You can not find the answer to these questions in the canonical Gospels.
You will not find the answer even in the non-canonical Gospel of Infancy of Jesus, which has Jesus speaking in the cradle but only to his mother and Joseph, who is described as her spouse. But if she was married, there would be no cause for concern!

You will, however, find the answers in the Quran.

Only a miracle could vindicate Maryam (Mary) in front of the people.
She needed a miracle, and that is precisely what she got. A great miracle:
It was baby Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam], still in the cradle, who spoke to the crowd, defending his mother, and vindicating her for ever, and dispelling any doubt about her purity

Exalted in the Quran "above the women of all the worlds":"O Maryam! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world...O
Maryam! Keep to obedience to your Lord and humble yourself..." She is the only woman who is mentioned in the Quran by her own first name and has a Surah named after her. Two Sarah’s: - Al Imran and Maryam narrate her story in considerable detail.

The Noble Qur'an speaks of Maryam (Mary) not only as the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus), [Alayhi salaam], but as a righteous woman in her own right.

And when the angels said: “Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women. "
(Qur'an, 3:42)

Maryam (Mary), mother of Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] according to Christian scriptures to serve as contrast on how Islam gives her such a high abode.

The Christians are now suddenly interested in Maryam (Mary), because of rising feminism and female priesthood.
The only difference is with the Catholics that gave Mary higher relevance from 7th century onwards, mainly due to importance given to Maryam (Mary) in Islam).

Christian Scriptures have scanty information on Jesus and they have even less to say about his mother Maryam (Mary).

For the early Christians Maryam (Mary) almost did not exist: they were not interested in the nativity of Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] –
It was his re-birth or resurrection after death that mattered.
Paul did not mention Maryam (Mary), or for that matter even Joseph at all, and in the gospels, the figure of Maryam (Mary) is almost non-existing.
In the gospel she is a passive character, habitually in the background and virtually without a voice.
She speaks only three times, twice in a single sentence. She is not described, but then, none of the gospel characters are!

What a contrast with Islam! The Holy Qur'an has a whole chapter named after Maryam (Mary) "Surah Maryam" and she has such a high place as mentioned in the above post.

This is the story of Maryam (Mary) mother of Isa (Jesus) [Alaihi salaam]

Maryam (Mary): daughter of Imran and mother of Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam].
She was respected by both Muslims and Christians, but there are some aspects on which the two religionists differ.

Let us see the facts.

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) declares He has no son:

In many verses of the
Glorious Qur’an, Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) the Exalted denied the claim of the Christians
that He has a son. A delegation came to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam).
They began to talk about their claim about the Trinity, which is that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is three in one, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with some disagreement among their sects.
That is why Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) affirmed in many verses of the Holy Qur’an that Jesus is a slave of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), whom He molded in the womb of his mother like any other of His creatures, and that He created him without a father, as He
created Adam  [Alayhi salaam] without a father or mother. It means Maryam/Mary is" NOT" the wife of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
People should not worship any of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s creation, including Prophet Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] and Mary.
We must not assign any of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s creation His divine attributes and characteristics. "He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belongs the Names Most Beautiful.
All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Qur'an 59:24).

However, the Noble Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that Prophet Adam [Alayhi salaam], the first human being, was born with neither a human mother nor a human father.
Therefore Prophet Isa (Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa, [Alayhi salaam]) miraculous birth affords him no higher standing or presumed partnership with Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
When Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) ordains a matter, He merely says, "Be" and it is so. "The similitude of Jesus before Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is as that of Adam.
He created him from dust, and then said to him: "Be!" And he was" (3:59).
In Islam, Prophet Isa (Jesus) [Alayhi salaam] is regarded as a human prophet and messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), not part of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) Himself.

Maryam--member of the chosen family:

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) the Almighty said,
"Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the Alamin (mankind and jinn’s) (of their times).
Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa was a pious woman from the offspring of Israel during the time of Prophet Zakariyya [Alayhi salaam].
Prophet Zakariyya [Alayhi salaam] was a prophet of Allah sent to call the people to follow the Shari`ah revealed to Prophet Musa [Alayhi salaam]
In the Quran there is a chapter named Maryam referring to Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa.
This chapter talks about Maryam: her birth, her story, and the birth of Prophet Isa [Alayhi salaam] and other things.

Maryam (Mary)'s mother conceived and delivered Maryam (Mary) when she was an old woman, at an age when women usually can no longer have babies.
One day Maryam (Mary)’s mother saw a bird feeding its young and she longed for a baby herself.
She made a supplication to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to bless her with a child and vowed that she would make him a servant for the Holy House in Jerusalem, dedicated for worship, because she thought the child would be male.
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) answered her supplication and Mary /Mar yam’s mother conceived and delivered a baby girl.
She named her "Maryam" and asked Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to protect her and her offspring from evil.

Since Maryam (Mary)’s father had died, Prophet Zakariyya [Alayhi salaam] (who was the husband of Maryam (Mary)'s sister) became Maryam (Mary)'s guardian, from him Maryam (Mary) learned the Religion.
She grew up as a righteous, pure chaste and pious Muslim woman worshipping Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and endeavoring greatly in performing obedience to Him.
 Before she turned fourteen years old, Maryam was a walâyah (a very pious woman with a special status).
She became the best of the women in the world.
 It is mentioned in the Qur'an that the angels said Allah chose Maryam and preferred her to the other women of the world. (Al -Imran, 42-43).

Maryam (Mary)'s birth:

"(Remember) when the wife of Imran said: "0 my Lord! I have vowed to you what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily,
You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.

"Then when she delivered her (child Mary), she said: "0 my Lord! I have delivered a female child," -- and Allah knew better what she delivered, -- "and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast." (3:33-36)

Maryam (Mary)'s sustenance:

"So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance... He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakaria [Alayhi salaam]. Every time he entered the Mihrab (a praying place or a private room), he found her supplied with sustenance.

"He said, '0 Maryam! From where have you got this?' She said, 'From Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to which He wills, without limit." (3:37)

Maryam (Mary)'s family history:

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) declared that He had elected Adam [Alayhi salaam] and the elite of his offspring who obey Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
Then He specified the family of Ibrahim [Alayhi salaam], which includes the sons of Isma’il [Alayhi salaam], and the family of Imran, the father of Maryam.

Prophet Zakaria [Alayhi salaam]’s sister-in-law had a daughter named Hannah.
She was married to Imran, a leader of the Israelites.
For many years the couple remained childless.
Whenever Hannah saw another woman with a child, her longing for a baby increased.
Although years had passed, she never lost hope. She believed that one day Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) would bless her with a child, on whom she would shower all her motherly love. She turned to the Lord of the heavens and the earth and pleaded with Him for a child. She would offer the child in the service of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s house, in the temple of Jerusalem. Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) granted her request. When she learned she was pregnant, she was the happiest woman alive, and thanked Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) for His gift. Her overjoyed husband Imran also thanked Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) for His mercy.

However, while she was pregnant, her husband passed away... Hannah wept bitterly. Alas, Imran did not live to see their child for whom they had so longed. She gave birth to a girl, and again turned to Allah in prayer: "0 my Lord, I have delivered a female child, and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and her offspring from Satan, the outcast. (3:36)

Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] as Maryam (Mary)'s guardian:

Hannah had a big problem in reference to her promise to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), for females were not accepted into the temple, and she was very worried.
Her brother-in-law, Zakaria [Alayhi salaam],comforted her, saying that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) knew best what she had delivered and appreciated fully what she had offered in His service.
She wrapped the baby in a shawl and handed it over to the temple elders.
As the baby was a girl, the question of her guardianship posed a problem for the elders.
This was a child of their late and beloved leader, and everyone was eager to take care of her.
Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] said to the elders: "I am the husband of her maternal aunt and her nearest relation in the temple,
Therefore, I will be more mindful of her than all of you."

As it was their custom to draw lots to solve disagreements, they followed this course.
Each one was given a reed to throw into the river. They agreed that whoever reed remained afloat would be grants guardianship of the girl. All the reeds sank to the bottom except that of Zakaria [Alayhi salaam]. With this sign, they all surrendered to the will of Allah and made him the guardian of Maryam (Mary).

Maryam (Mary)'s high status:

To ensure that no one had access to Maryam (Mary), Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] built a separate room for her in the temple.
As she grew up, she spent her time in devotion to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] visited her daily to see to her needs, and so it continued for many years.
One day, he was surprised to find fresh fruits, which was out of season, in her room.
As he was the only person who could enter her room, he asked her how the fruit got there.
She replied that these provisions were from Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), as He gives to whom He wills.
Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] understood by this that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) had raised Maryam's status above that of other women.
Thereafter, Zakaria [Alayhi salaam] spent more time with her, teaching and guiding her...
 Maryam grew to be a devotee of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), glorifying Him day and night.

In the Quran, there is without a doubt no woman that is given more attention than Maryam (Mary).
Maryam (Mary) is mentioned 34 times in the Quran and there is an entire chapter dedicated to her and her history, Chapter 19 entitled Maryam.
 As a matter of fact, Maryam is mentioned more times in the Quran than in the entire New Testament, and there is more information about her life contained in the Quran than in the New Testament.

Muslims aim to completely submit themselves to the will of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and Maryam (Mary) is the prime example of this.
She showed complete submission to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) even when it meant that her own family would accuse her of being unchaste when they discovered she was pregnant (Quran 19:16-21).
 This demonstrates Maryam’s complete devotion to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and highlights to us her intense spirituality and piety.
 Maryam was able to completely submit herself to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), showing that she was a true “Muslim”, as the word “Muslim” means one who submits.
The virtues, moral excellence and high status of Maryam (Mary) are detailed in the Quran, and she is presented as an example to all humankind.
Maryam is arguably the most outstanding character in Islamic history, and as a woman, she is an example for women in all aspects of their lives.
Her sincerity, piety, purity and devotion to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) the All Mighty are qualities that all Muslims aspire to.
So it must be understood that Maryam (Mary) holds one of the most honored positions in the hearts of Muslims of all times and places.
And Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) knows best
May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him?
May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
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