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The Birth of Mary - Quranic
Allah the Almighty said:
"Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the Alamin
(mankind and jinns)(of their times). Offspring, one of theo other, and Allah is All-Hearer,
All-Knower.
Remember when the wife of Imran said: "O 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: "O 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 Mary, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from
Satan, the outcast."
Mary's Sustenance - Quranic
So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner
and put her under the care of Zechariah. Every time he entered Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a
private room), he found her supplied with sustenance.
As Allah recounted in the Glorious Quran:
She said: "From Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (Ch
3:37 Quran)
Mary's Family History
Allah declared that He had elected Adam (pbuh) and the elite of his offspring who obey Allah.
Then He specified the family of Abraham (pbuh), which includes the sons of Ishmael (pbuh), and
the family of Imran, the father of Mary.
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was Imran Ibn Bashim, Ibn Amun, Ibn Misha, Ibn Hosqia,
Ibn Ahriq, Ibn Mutham, Ibn Azazia, Ibn Amisa, Ibn Yamish, Ibn Ahrihu, Ibn Yazem, Ibn
Yahfashat, Ibn Eisha, Ibn Iyam, Ibn Rahba am, Ibn David (Dawud).
Mary's Birth - Longer Version
Prophet Zakariyah's (pbuh) wife's sister 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 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's house, in the temple of Jerusalem. Allah granted her
request. When she learned that she was pregnant, she was the happiest woman alive, and thanked
Allah for His gift. Her overjoyed husband Imran also thanked Allah 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:
"O my Lord, I have delivered a female child," and the male is not like the female, and I have
named her Mary, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and her offspring from Satan, the
outcast." (Ch 3:36 Quran)
Zechariah Becomes Mary's Guardian
Hannah had a big problem in reference to her promise to Allah, for females were not accepted
into the temple, and she was very worried. Her sister's husband Zakariyah, comforted her, saying
that Allah 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. Zakariyah 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 had agreed that whoever's reed remained afloat
would be granted guardianship of the girl. All the reeds sank to the bottom except Zakariyah's.
With this sign, they all surrendered to the will of Allah and made him the guardian.
Mary's High Status
To ensure that no one had access to Mary, Zakariyah built a separate room for her in the temple.
As she grew up, she spent her time in devotion to Allah. Zakariyah visited her daily to see to her
needs, and so it continued for many years. One day, he was surprised to find fresh fruit, 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, as He gives to whom
He wills. Zakariyah understood by this that Allah had raised Mary's status above that of other
women.
Thereafter, Zakariyah spent more time with her, teaching and guiding her. Mary grew to be a
devotee of Allah, glorifying Him day and night.
Mary's High Status - Prophet Muhammad
Ali Ibn Abi Talib narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The best of the world's
women is Mary (in her lifetime), and the best of the world's women is Khadija (in her lifetime)."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Abu Musa Al-Ashari also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "May among men
attained perfection but among women none attained perfection except Mary the daughter of
Imran, and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh, and the superiority of Aisha to other women is like the
superiority of Tharid (an Arabic dish) to other meals."
Mary Receives News of Jesus - Quranic
Allah the Exalted revealed:
"And mention in the Book (the Qur'an, O Muhammad, the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in
seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from
them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a
man in all respects.
She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."
The angel said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a
righteous son."
She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: "That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We wish) to appoint
him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by
Allah).'" (Ch. 19: 16-21)
The Birth of Jesus - Quranic
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (Bethlehem valley, about four to
six miles from Jerusalem). And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She
said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
Then (the babe "Jesus" or Gabriel) cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your
Lord has provided you a water stream under you; and shake the trunk of palm tree towards you,
it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human
being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to
any human being this day.'" (Ch. 19: 22-26)
Mary and Jesus Return to the City - Quranic
"Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you
have brought a thing Fariyya (an unheard mighty thing). O sister (the like) of Aaron (not the
brother of Moses, but he was another pious man at the time of Mary)! Your father was not a man
who used to commit adultery, nor was your mother an unchaste woman."
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He (Jesus) said: "Verily! I am a slave of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a
Prophet; and He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined me prayer, and Zakat,
as long as I live, and dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. And Salam
(peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!"
(Ch. 19:27 - 33)
Allah's Message About Jesus - Quranic
Such is Jesus, son of Mary. (It is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). It
befits not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son (this refers to the slander of
Christians against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah). Glorified (and Exalted be He
above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, "Be!" - and
it is.
Jesus said: "And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the
Straight Path. (Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His
Prophets)."
Then the sects differed (the Christians about Jesus), so woe unto the disbeliveers (those who gave
false witness saying that Jesus is the son of Allah) from the meeting of a great Day (the Day of
Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire).
How clearly will they (polytheists and disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the
Day when they will appear before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) today are
in plain error. And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has
been decided, while now they are in a state of carelessness and they believe not. (Ch 19:34-39 Quran)
Some Stories About Mary's Pregnancy
It was said that Joseph the Carpenter was greatly surprised when he knew the story, so he asked
Mary: "Can a tree come to grow without a seed?" She said: "Yes, the one which Allah created for
the first time." He asked her again: "Is it possible to bear a child without a male partner?" She
said: "Yes, Allah, created Adam without male or female!"
It was also said that, while pregnant, Mary went one day to her aunt, who reported that she felt as
if she was pregnant. Mary in turn, said that she, too, was feeling as if she was pregnant. Then her
aunt said: "I can see what is in my womb prostrating to what is in your womb."
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