Attention please, this article was made for informating and not for debating, just suddenly happened, I want to write about this topic on my (Islamic) perspective. have a nice reading!
I am a muslim and I believe in one true God, believe in Muhammad as the last messenger and also Al-Qur’an as the revelation of God. FYI, even though Al-Qur’an was revealed approximately 1400 years ago but Islam (God’s religion) has been exist since the creation of first human, who is Adam. Islam is worshiping only one God without making an equal to Him. We do believe in scriptures and bible which revealed to prophets before Muhammad and Al-Qur’an is the last book sent by God. Al-Qur’an contains so many chapters which tell us everything about past, present and future. One of my favorite chapters in Al-Quran is chapter 19: Surah Maryam. Let me tell you about this chapter! ^^
Why do I love this chapter much?
First of all, it was started in a one day I saw a video on you tube about Surah Maryam recited by Syeikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy. The video contain of English subtitle and the recitation was very touching! It made a deep impact for me.. Mostly, the chapter tell us about Maryam and Jesus birth’s story. But, I also like another topic in this chapter which are prophet Zakariyya’s story, Abraham’s father rejection of God, the end of days and hereafter. But in this article, I would like to tell you about the most often exalted person who appears inside the chapter.
Then, the question is who is Maryam?
Maryam is Islamic name of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Maryam means to abide, in other words someone who incessantly worships Allah.. She was born approximately two millennia ago from the Family of Imran, the exalted family by God. She was one of the chosen women on Earth as well as in the Hereafter. Born in Roman-occupied Palestine, she was a Jewess and lived in the Jewish community. Maryam was born at a chaotic time, when the Jews' only hope was their expected Messiah (savior). Unknown to her, Allah had already determined to choose and raise her for this holy duty. She was central to the Israelites' expectations, for she would give birth to Prophet Jesus (‘Isa).
Maryam grew up and educated well by prophet Zakariyya, the sincere and rigtheous men. Maryam, like the rest of her family, was known among her people for her devotion to Allah as well as her religiosity, chastity, and sincerity. She always pray in her sanctuary every day, every night. And Since Zakariyya became her guardian, every time he visited her in the sanctuary, he found food with her. Zakariyya surprised because Maryam had summer food in winter and winter food in summer. He asked: "Maryam, how did you come by this?" She said: "It is from Allah. Allah provides for whoever He wills without any reckoning." (Surah Al 'Imran: 37). Maryam's answer to his question testifies to Allah's grace and providence.
Maryam experienced many miracles throughout her life. One of these was her meeting with Angel Gabriel (Jibril). Once, when she left her family and society and went toward the east, she met Jibril, who appeared to her in the form of a well-built man. Not knowing who this man was, she seeked refuge to Allah. Then, Jibril introduced himself and told about the good news that he brought.
Jibril said: "I am only your Lord's messenger [an angel] so that He can give you a pure boy" (Surah Maryam: 19).
In other chapter
Jibril said: "Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near." (Surah Al 'Imran: 45)
Maryam really surprised and replied: "How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?" (Surah Maryam: 20).
Then, Jibril said: "It will be so." Your Lord says: "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for humanity and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already decreed." (Surah Maryam: 21-22)
By Allah's will, Maryam became pregnant with Prophet Jesus and yet remained a virgin. Her pregnancy was independent of this world's usual cause-and-effect relationship, you know what I mean. The circumstances of his conception were among the features of Prophet Jesus miracles.
Her people were so surprise with her pregnancy and gave her so many criticism, for they could not understand her miraculous situation. Then, she went to distant place to which she retreated due to Allah’s revelation. Allah supported her with His grace and protection and met all of her material and psychological needs during her pregnancy.
In fact, it is very difficult for a woman to give birth, a potentially life-threatening experience, all alone, without medical equipment or a midwife's assistance. Nevertheless, Maryam overcame all of these difficulties by placing her complete trust in Allah. Allah helped her with revelations while she was struggling toward a date tree in the full throes of labor pains. Allah told her not to grieve, that He had placed a stream at her feet, and that she should shake the date tree in order to get freshly ripe dates to eat. He also told her to drink and to delight her eyes. As a result, she gave birth in the best possible circumstances (Maryam : 23-26).
Allah's grace and protection was clearly visible in this situation. In fact, His advice to her has been confirmed by modern science. We now analyze this advice in some detail.
Allah advised Maryam to eat freshly ripened dates. Today, such dates are considered to be food and medicine. Scientists now know that dates contain more than ten considered essential for the human body's well-being and continuing health. You can searched by yourself about this fact though.. All of our current information on dates reveals Allah's infinite wisdom and grace upon Maryam, who, inspired by Allah, satisfied all of her nutritional needs by eating dates and thereby eased her child's birth. (Allah knows best.)
Besides, Allah told Maryam that He had placed a stream by her feet to eat, drink, and delight her eyes. In fact, some modern birth clinics have pools in which the delivery takes place. Water is important during pregnancy for several reasons. At that time, water intake is especially necessary need to give breast-feeding, prevent dehydration, transport food and nutrition to the baby, etc. Modern science shows once more the wisdom in Allah's creation of the stream for Maryam and His advice to eat dates and drink water. All of this is evidence of Allah's infinite knowledge.
Maryam delivered her baby when the Date-tree ripened, that’s why Allah told her to shake the tree which can do easily when the fruit is ripened and eat the date fruit. The ripening of Date-tree in Jerusalem is only happen in summer. Thus, Jesus was born in the summer and not in winter. So another question is why do Christians believe Christmas in December 25th and symbolize his birth by a winter pine-tree? Who was actually born on that day? I’m very sorry, in this section I really have no offense to interrupt or bother Christian’s belief. I just want to share my thought. I think we are both same. Muslims believe that they are believer and others are disbeliever and so do Christians. In Christian perspective, Muslims are disbeliever, only they are believer.
After delivered her baby, Allah revealed His words again and told her to return to her city. Maryam still afraid to come back because she thought that her people would ignore and reject her. But Allah guided her and told her not to grieve.
She brought him to her people, carrying him. They exclaimed: "Maryam! You have done an unthinkable thing! Sister of Harun, your father was not an evil man nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" (Surah Maryam: 27-28)
No doubt, this was a trial for Maryam, for she had to face such accusations despite being a chaste woman who held Allah in the greatest respect and awe. These people ignored her impeccable character and honorable conduct, despite her own reputation and that of her family, and so, as always, she turned toward Allah, and trusted in Him, knowing that He would defend her in the best possible way.
During this trial, Maryam replied nothing if her people asked everything about her pregnancy and baby. She followed Allah’s guidance not to speak to any human being. When people confronted and slandered her, she only pointed to her baby and wished to tell her people “please talk to my baby”, Prophet Jesus, whom Allah said through Jibril: "He will speak to people in the cradle and when fully grown, and will be one of the believers" (Surah Al 'Imran: 46),
Allah showed her people a great miracle by enabling prophet Jesus to speak while he was still a baby in the cradle. Through his words, Allah exonerated his mother Maryam and also introduced prophet Jesus as one of His Prophets sent to the Israelites:
She pointed toward him. They asked: "How can a baby in the cradle speak?" He [Jesus] said: "I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, directed me to perform prayer and give alms [zakat] as long as I live, and to show devotion to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arrogant. Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive." That is Jesus, son of Maryam, the Word of Truth about which they are in doubt. (Surah Maryam: 29-34)
This miracle amazed Maryam's people. Maryam is a role model for all Muslim women because she maintained her impeccable character throughout her life. Allah raised her like a lovely plant, to use the Qur'an's expression, and gave her a very important responsibility. Allah chose her, just as He chose 'Imran's family, made her one person in this lineage of the most devout and faithful people, and had her raised by these virtuous people. Allah reveals that Prophet Jesus and Maryam continued to live under His grace after these events. And I do believe that miracles are still happen even in this present time…
That’s why I love this chapter much (still trying to remember all the verses though -Its totally consist of 98 verses-, it is possible I will recite it someday ^^) and also I love Jesus, the son of Mary, the servant of God :)
Surah Maryam Recited by Mishary Rashid Alafasy part 2
Surah Maryam Recited by Mishary Rashid Alafasy part 3
