Maryam: A Sign to the Worlds
Whenever Zachariah entered upon Mary in the prayer chamber, he found provision with her; when he asked her about it, she would simply answer: “It is from Allah.” Her story in the Quran begins this way—with a heart that knows Allah’s gifts may come from sources one least expects.
Maryam: A Sign to the Worlds
Before Jesus was born, the news came to her: “His name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary.” The Quran describes him as distinguished in this world and the Hereafter, and among those brought near to Allah. That is why one cannot understand the Islamic point of view on the Messiah without reading the story of Mary.
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But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And AllŒh 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 Allah]."
Whenever Zachariah entered upon Mary in the prayer chamber, he found provision with her; when he asked her about it, she would simply answer: “It is from Allah.” Her story in the Quran begins this way—with a heart that knows Allah’s gifts may come from sources one least expects.
And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed AllŒh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]."
The Quran addresses Mary with clear words: “Indeed, Allah has chosen you and purified you.” Her status did not come from lineage or wealth, but from purity, faith, and devotion. In the Quran, Mary is a woman that Allah has chosen and the importance of whom He has raised above the women of the worlds.
[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed AllŒh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to AllŒh]. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous."
Before Jesus was born, the news came to her: “His name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary.” The Quran describes him as distinguished in this world and the Hereafter, and among those brought near to Allah. That is why one cannot understand the Islamic point of view on the Messiah without reading the story of Mary.
And mention, [O Muúammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.
And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.
She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of AllŒh."
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son]."
When Mary saw a strange man standing before her, her first words were: “I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you.” She did not know that the visitor brought a message from Allah and the good tidings of a pure son. A moment of fear that would become the beginning of one of the most famous stories of faith in history.
She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"
He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"
Mary asked the natural question: How could I have a son when no man has touched me? The answer came: “It is easy for Me.” The Quran reveals that the birth of Jesus was “a sign to the people and a mercy from Us.” It was a miracle that was by no means an end in itself, but rather a sign inviting mankind to reflect.
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."
But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.
The Quran does not conceal Mary’s moment of weakness. When the pains of childbirth came upon her, she cried out: “Oh, I wish I had died before this!” Then the call came to her: “Do not grieve.” Even a woman chosen by Allah experienced a moment she felt was unbearable.
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. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.'"
In the most painful moments Mary went through, the words were not difficult: shake the trunk of the palm tree, eat, drink, and be contented. The Quran describes a simple scene of mercy: the human need for food, serenity, and peace of mind is not unknown to the Creator.
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 AllŒh. 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 zakŒh as long as I remain alive
The Quran reports the first words that Jesus uttered in the cradle : “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah... and He has made me a prophet.” Then he spoke of prayer and blessing. It is a crucial moment for understanding the image of the Messiah in the Quran—as presented by the Quran itself.
And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity [i.e., Mary], so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.
As concerns Mary, the Quran says: “She guarded her chastity.” Then, speaking of both her and her son, it says: “And We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.” The honor accorded to Mary in Islam is linked to her chastity and faith, while the birth of Jesus is a sign that transcends both time and place.
And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ÔImrŒn, 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.
In another part of the Quran, Mary’s character is summed up in a few words: chaste, a believer in the words of her Lord and His Books, and among the devoutly obedient. “And she believed in the words of her Lord and His Books.” Perhaps this is why the Quran does not merely mention Mary, but has made of her a model of faith.
