Spirit of Islam December 2017

27 Spirit of Islam Issue 60 December 2017 MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS Exalted amongst Women M ARY or Maryam was the mother of Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy that the Quran mentions about Mary several times, whereas it does not do so for any other woman by name. By this fact, we can estimate the eminence of Mary in Islam. Here below is the translation of the references to Mary in the Quran. Remember when the wife of ‘Imran said, ‘My Lord, I have dedicated what is in my womb entirely to Your service. So accept this fromme. You are the One who hears and knows all.’ When she gave birth, she said, ‘My Lord, I have given birth to a girl’ God knew very well what she had given birth to: a male is not like a female ‘I have named her Mary and placed her and her children in Your protection from the rejected Satan.’ Her Lord graciously accepted her and made her grow in goodness and entrusted her to the care of Zachariah. Every time Zachariah visited her in her chamber he found some provision with her. He asked, ‘Mary, where did this provision come from?’ She replied, ‘This is from God. God provides for whoever He wills without measure.’ (3: 35-37) What was this provision that God provided for? It was the provision of wisdom and the knowledge of realities of life. Mary had dedicated her life to the service of God, so God had opened for her the doors to the treasures of wisdom and truth. The Quran further says: The angels said, ‘Mary, God has selected you and purified you. He has selected you over [all] the women of your time. O Mary! Remain truly devout to your Sustainer, and prostrate yourself in worship, and bow down with those who bow down [before Him].’ This is an account of the unseen, which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they drew lots as to which of them should be Mary’s guardian and you were not with them when they disputed with one another. When the angels said, ‘O Mary, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next and one of those who are granted nearness to God. And he shall speak to men in his cradle, and as a grown man, and shall be one of the righteous.’ ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘how can I have a child when no man has Quran mentions about Mary several times, whereas it does not do so for any other woman by name. By this fact, we can estimate the eminence of Mary in Islam.