Maryam: An Exemplary Muslim Woman .1

According to historical sources, Allah honored Mary, who lived approximately two millennia ago, with the birth of the Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him).

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.

Idolatry was Rome’s state religion. The Jews, once a nation preferred by Allah "over all other beings" (Surat Al-Baqarah: 47), had altered His religion, adopted false beliefs, rebelled against Allah’s commands, and were no longer grateful for His gifts to them.

Some of them even martyred the Prophets sent to them by the grace of Allah, because they did not like the commands that these exalted men conveyed. The Qur’an reveals their transgressions:

“We made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and sent Messengers to them. Each time a Messenger came to them with something their lower selves did not desire, they denied some and they murdered others.” (Surat Al-Ma’ida: 70)

Mary was born at an unsettled 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 the Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him), whom He compliments in the following terms:

“His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near. He will speak to people in the cradle and when fully grown, and will be one of the believers.” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 45-46).

Allah chose Mary to represent morality and true religion among her people, who had left the true religion and embraced superstitions and idle speculation.

Allah reveals many aspects of her life, among them her birth and family, the birth of the Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him), her superior character, and how she resisted her society’s slanders and accusations.

Allah Exalts ‘Imran’s Family

Allah reveals that “Allah chose Adam and Noah, and the family of Abraham and the family of ‘Imran, over all other beings—descendants one of the other…” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 33-34).

In other words, ‘Imran’s family descended from the Prophets Adam (Peace be upon him), Noah (Peace be upon him), and Abraham (Peace be upon him), and they were exalted people.

One of these chosen people was Mary, whose family sincerely believed in Allah, respected the limits that He has established for humanity, and always sought and trusted Him.

Mary’s Birth

When `Imran’s wife, a sincere believer, found out that she was pregnant with Mary, she immediately prayed to Allah. She praised Him and promised that she would dedicate her child to Him. When she gave birth to a girl, she named her Mary, which means abida in Arabic, in other words Allah’s worshipper. Allah reveals her prayer in the following verse:

“Remember when the wife of ‘Imran said: ‘My Lord, I have vowed to You whatever is in my womb, to be devoted [to Your service]. Please accept it from me. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ When she gave birth, she said: ‘My Lord! I have given birth to a girl’—and Allah knew very well what she had given birth to, male and female are not the same—‘and I have named her Mary and placed her and her children in Your safekeeping from satan, the accursed.’ ” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 35-36)

The Arabic word muharreren, translated here as devoted [to Your service], means “preoccupied only with the Hereafter and having no interest in the world, in the service of Allah’s temple, worshipping in great devotion, one whose worship is not tainted by worldly aims.”

True freedom can be attained only by serving Allah, surrendering to Him, and freeing oneself from all service to any other beings or values. This is what ‘Imran’s wife prayed for when dedicating Mary to Allah, for she wished her daughter to be someone who served only Allah and who did not seek her people’s or society’s acceptance.

Right after Mary’s birth, her mother turned toward Allah, sought His good pleasure, and asked Him to protect Mary, as well as her children, from satan’s evil. Allah accepted this wholehearted prayer “and made her [Mary] grow in health and beauty” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 37). In other words, Mary received the best upbringing and the most superior character.