Maryam: The Blessed Mother

Before Maryam was born, her mother dedicated the child in her womb to the worship and service of Allah. When the baby was born, she was surprised that the child was a girl, but she named her Maryam and asked Allah to protect her and her descendants.

Allah accepted Maryam with a beautiful acceptance. He helped her grow in goodness and placed her in the care of Prophet Zakariyya.

Maryam grew up devoted to worship. She was not honoured because of wealth, fame, or worldly power. Her honour came from faith, purity, obedience, and sincerity.

Whenever Zakariyya entered her prayer chamber, he found provision with her. He asked where it had come from.

Maryam answered that it was from Allah, who provides for whom He wills without limit.

Her certainty in Allah encouraged Zakariyya to make a heartfelt du‘a for a righteous child, even though he and his wife were old. Allah answered his prayer and gave them Yahya.

The angels also told Maryam that Allah had chosen and purified her. They instructed her to worship her Lord, bow, and prostrate.

Maryam’s life was centred on worship. She did not know what test was about to arrive, but Allah was preparing her through devotion.

One day, Maryam withdrew from her family to a place towards the east. She placed a screen between herself and the people. Then Allah sent Jibreel to her in the form of a well-proportioned man.

Maryam was alone, but she was not careless. When she saw the stranger, she immediately sought refuge in the Most Merciful and told him to fear Allah.

Jibreel told her that he was a messenger from her Lord. He had come with news of a pure son.

Maryam was astonished. No man had touched her, and she had never been unchaste. How could she have a child?

The answer was that Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decrees something, He only says, “Be,” and it is. The child would be a sign for the people and a mercy from Allah.

Maryam conceived by Allah’s command and withdrew to a remote place. The test became heavier. She had to face pregnancy and childbirth alone, away from the people who knew her.

The pains of childbirth brought her to the trunk of a palm tree. She felt overwhelmed and wished that she could be forgotten.

But Allah did not leave her in that moment of distress.

A voice called to her from below. She was told not to grieve, because Allah had placed a stream beneath her. She was told to shake the trunk of the palm tree, and fresh dates would fall for her.

Maryam was given simple acts to carry out: eat, drink, be comforted, and trust Allah’s care.

When she returned to her people carrying the baby, they were shocked. They accused her of doing something terrible. Maryam did not argue with them. She pointed towards the baby, as Allah had instructed her not to speak that day.

The people wondered how they could speak to a baby in a cradle.

Then ‘Isa spoke by Allah’s miracle.

He declared that he was a servant of Allah. Allah had given him Scripture and made him a prophet. He said that Allah had commanded him to pray and give charity, and had made him dutiful to his mother.

His first words defended the truth about his own position. He was not divine. He was a servant and prophet of Allah, and Allah was his Lord and the Lord of all people.

Maryam’s story contains difficulty, but it is not a story of abandonment. Allah accepted her before the test, supported her during the test, and honoured her afterwards.

She protected her modesty. She worshipped sincerely. She remained truthful when people misunderstood her. She trusted Allah when she could not explain everything to them.

Her story also teaches us that a person’s worth is not decided by gossip. People may make unfair assumptions, but Allah knows the truth of every heart and every event.

For Muslim girls and boys, Maryam is an example of courage, worship, modesty, and trust. She shows us that devotion to Allah is not weakness. It can give a person strength when life becomes lonely and difficult.