One of the Greatest Women Ever
She was amongst the very few great women who ever walked the earth; a woman who was a beautiful example for chastity, purity, devotion, patience and obedience. Allāh (God), the Exalted, clearly mentioned her name 34 times in the Noble Qur’ān; more than many of the great Prophets who were sent to mankind; more even than Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
No woman was mentioned by name in the Noble Qur’ān except her. Not even the wives and daughters of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In fact an entire chapter in the Qur’ān was named after her, Chapter 19. Also the Qur’ān named another chapter after her father, Imran (The family of Imran – Chapter 3).
This is the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Imran and the mother of Jesus (Peace be upon them).
Mary (PBUH) came from a noble family, whom Allāh praised immensely in the noble Qur’ān. She grew up in a religiously devoted family; where she reached a high level of devotion and perfection of worship to an extent that the angels would come and talk to her. This was a divine inauguration for a coming great event.
The angles gave Mary (PBUH) the glad tiding that she will bear a child of great nobility. His being will be by the word of Allāh, who says to the thing to be and it exists.
The story of Mary (PBUH) conception of Jesus (PBUH) and his miraculous birth –without a father- is mentioned, in a very heart touching way, in the Chapter of Mary (Chapter 19) of the noble Qur’ān.
Allāh, the Glorified and Exalted, said: “And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.(16) And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.(17) She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allāh.” (18) He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.” (19) She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?” (20) He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'” (21) So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. (22) And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.” (23) But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.(24) And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. (25) So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' " (26) Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented.(27) O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”(28) So she pointed to him. They said, “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?”(29) [Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allāh. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.(30) And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah (Charity) as long as I remain alive (31) And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.(32) And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.”(33) That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. (34) It is not [befitting] for Allāh to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is. (35) [Jesus said], “And indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”(The Noble Qur’an Ch. 19: 16-35)
This is how we Muslims love, cherish and respect Mary the virgin (PBUH). Unlike the Jews, who accused her (PBUH) of fornication.
It is considered blasphemous to believe that Mary (PBUH) conceived god in her womb and gave birth to god or to a son of god. Instead, Muslims believe that Mary gave birth to one of the greatest Prophets of time, who was sent by Allāh, the Exalted.
Allāh, the Glorified and Exalted, had freed himself of having neither a son nor a similitude; He said about Himself:
“He begets not, nor was He begotten; (3) And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (4) (The Noble Qur’ān: Ch. 112:3-4)
Also He, the Exalted, said: “And they say: "The Most Gracious (Allāh) has begotten a son (88) Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. (89) Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, (90) That they ascribe a son to the Most Gracious (Allāh). (91) But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allāh) that He should beget a son.” (92) (The Noble Qur’ān: Ch. 19:88-92)
To learn more about Mary (PBUH), please read Chapter 19 and the beginning of Chapter 3 of the Noble Qur’ān.
