Maryam

Contents Family Birth Early years Annunciation to Maryam Virgin birth of Isa Arabic Titles

Family

Birth Imran and Hannah are marayam's parent. They were old and childless and that one day, the sight of a bird in a tree feeding her young aroused Hannah's desire for a child. She prayed to Allah to fulfill her desire and vowed, if her prayer was accepted, that her child would be dedicated to the service of Allah. She prayed for her child to remain protected from Satan and Muslim tradition records a hadith, which states that the only children born without the "touch of Satan," were Maryan and Isa

Early Years Maryam grew up in the temple of the prayer, and had a special place in the temple of her own. She was placed under the care of the prophet Zechariah. There were lots of cast as to who should be the guardian of Mary and the outcome was that she should be placed under Zechariah's care. As often as Zechariah entered Mary's prayer chamber, he found her provided with food and he would ask her where she received it from, to which she would reply that Allah provides to whom He wills. Those in favor of the former view state that it had to be miraculous food, as Zechariah being a prophet, would have known that Allah is the provider of all sustenance and thus would not have questioned Mary, if it was normal food.

Annunciation to Maryam The Virgin birth of Isa is supremely important in Islam, as one of the most important miracles of Allah. The first explicit mention of an annunciation foreshadowing the birth of Isa is in 19: 20, where maryam asks Gabriel how she will be able to conceive, when no man has touched her. Gabriel's reply assures maryamam that for Allah all things are easy and that Isa's virgin birth will be a sign for mankind. The birth is later referred in 66: 12, where the Qur'an states that maryam remained "pure", while Allah allowed a life to shape itself in maryam's womb. A third mention of the annunciation is in 3: 37–38, where maryam is also given the glad tidings that she has been chosen above all the women of creation. Commentators on the Qur'an remark on the last verse that maryamam was as close to a perfect woman as there could be, and she was devoid of almost all failings. Although Islam honors numerous women, including Khadija and Fatimah, many commentators followed this verse in the absolute sense, and agreed that maryam was the greatest woman of all time. Other commentators, however, while maintaining that maryam was the "queen of the saints", interpreted this verse to mean that maryamam was the greatest woman of that time and that Fatimah and Khadija were equally great. According to exegesis and literature, Gabriel appeared to maryam, who was still young in age, in the form of a well-made man with a "shining face" and announced to her the birth of maryam. After her immediate astonishment, she was reassured by the angel's answer that Allah has the power to do anything. The details of the maryam's conception are not discussed during these angelic visits, but elsewhere the Quran states (21:91 and 66:12) that God breathed "His Spirit" into maryam while she was chaste.

Virgin birth of Isa The Qur'an narrates the virgin birth of Isa numerous times. In 19: 17-21, the annunciation is given, followed by the virgin birth, which exegesis relates took place soon after the annunciation. In Islam Isa is called the "spirit of God" because he was through the action of the spirit, but that belief does not include the doctrine of his pre-existence, as it does in Christianity. Sura:66:12 states that maryam was born when the spirit of God breathed upon Mary, whose body was chaste. The Qur'an's narrative of the virgin birth is somewhat different from that in the New Testament. The Qur'an states that Mary was in the midst of the desert, when the pains of childbirth came upon her, as she was near a palm tree. Mary cried in pain and held onto the palm, at which point a voice came from "beneath her", understood by some to refer to Isa, who was yet in her womb, which said "Be not grieved; Allah has provided a rivulet under thee; and shake the trunk of the palm and it shall let ripe dates fall upon thee, ready gathered. And eat and drink and calm thy mind". The Qur'an goes onto describe that Mary vowed not to speak to any man on that day, as Allah was to make maryam, whom Muslims believe spoke in the cradle, perform his first miracle. The Qur'an goes onto narrate that Maryam then brought Isa to the temple, where immediately she began to be taunted by all the men, excluding Zechariah, who believed in the virgin birth. The Israelites accused Mary of having touched another man whilst unmarried. It was then that the infant maryam began to speak in the cradle, and spoke of his prophecy for the first time.

Arabic Titles Qānitah: Mary is so called in 66: 12. The Arabic term implies the meaning, not only of constant submission to God, but also absorption in prayer and invocation, meanings that coincides with the image of Mary spending her childhood in the temple of prayer. In this way, Mary personifies prayer and contemplation in Islam. Siddiqah: She who confirms the truth or She who has faith. Mary is called Siddiqah twice in the Quran (9: 73-75 66: 12). The term has also been translated, She who believes sincerely completely. Sājidah: She who prostrates to God in worship. The Quran states: “O Mary! Worship your Lord devoutly: prostrate yourself” (Quran 3: 43). While in Sujud, a Muslim is to praise God and glorify Him. In this motion, which Muslims believe to be derived from Marian nature, hands, knees and the forehead touch the ground together. Rāki’ah: She who bows down to God in worship. The Quran states: “O Mary! Bow down in prayer with those men, who bow down.” The command was repeated by angels only to Mary, according to the Muslim view. Ruku' in Muslim prayer during prayer has been derived from Mary’s practice. Mustafia: She who was chosen. The Quran states: “O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you and again he has chosen you above all women of all nations of the worlds” (Quran 3:42). Tāhirah: She who was purified (Quran 3: 42) Sa’imah: She who fasts. Mary is reported to fast one-half of a year in some Muslim traditions. Many other names of Mary can be found in various other books and religious collections. In Hadith, she has been referred to by names such as Batul and Adhraa (Ascetic Virgin), and Marhumah (Enveloped in Allah's Mercy).