Maryam (as): The Chosen Woman and Her Miraculous Son

A Woman Unlike Any Other

In the annals of sacred history, few figures stand as elevated as Maryam (as), the daughter of ‘Imran. The Qur’an declares that Allah chose her, purified her, and preferred her above all the women of the world (Q 3:42). Her story is not a marginal footnote but a central narrative that connects the houses of Prophets Ibrahim, Zakariya, and Jesus. She is a living sign that Allah’s power transcends all human limitations.

The Vow of a Righteous Mother

The journey begins with Maryam’s mother, the wife of ‘Imran, who dedicated what was in her womb entirely to the service of Allah. She prayed, “My Lord! I have given birth to a girl,” and named her Maryam, seeking protection for her and her offspring from Satan, the accursed (Q 3:36). Allah accepted her graciously and blessed Maryam with a pleasant upbringing, entrusting her to the care of the Prophet Zakariya (as) (Q 3:37).

The Guardian and the Miraculous Provisions

Whenever Zakariya visited Maryam in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions out of season. He would ask, “O Maryam! Where did this come from?” And she would reply, “It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit” (Q 3:37). This scene was not merely a miracle of sustenance; it was a direct lesson for Zakariya himself, who, upon witnessing this, was moved to pray for his own righteous offspring despite his old age and his wife’s barrenness.

The Good News of a Word from Allah

Then came the announcement that would forever change history. The angels proclaimed to Maryam, “O Maryam! Allah gives you good news of a Word from Him, his name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Maryam; honoured in this world and the Hereafter, and he will be one of those nearest to Allah” (Q 3:45). When Maryam wondered how she could have a child when no man had ever touched her, the reply came: “So will it be. Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, ‘Be!’ And it is!” (Q 3:47).

A Sign for All Peoples

Maryam’s life teaches us that Allah’s plan often defies human expectation. Her mother expected a son for service but was given a daughter who surpassed all men in rank. A young woman in seclusion was chosen to bear a prophet without a father. Her story is a testament that true honour comes not from lineage or gender but from piety and submission to the Divine Will. As the Qur’an affirms, she and her son were made “a sign for all peoples” (Q 21:91).

Haj Firas Naji