Brief introduction
The name of the father of the mother of Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا is ‘Imran Bin Masaan who had passed away when Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا was born. Her blessed mother Sayyidatuna Hannah Bint Faqooza [فاقوذا], who was the maternal aunt of Sayyiduna Yahya عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, was very pious and abstinent. (Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 35, pp. 111)
Blessed birth of Sayyidatuna Maryam
Sayyidatuna Hannah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا had no child. One day, in the shade of a tree she saw a sparrow which was loving its baby and feeding grain to it. Having seen this scene she felt like crying and made Du’a in the court of Allah Almighty for a child. Allah Almighty blessed her with an excellent daughter Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا. (Tafseer Baydawi, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 35 to 37, vol. 2, pp. 29-33)
Who brought her up?
Her father had departed this life when Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا was born, therefore after she was born, Sayyidatuna Hannah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا wrapped her up in a piece of cloth and presented her to the scholars of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas so that they could provide guardianship to Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا. These respectful scholars were the descendants of Sayyiduna Haroon عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and were given the responsibility for serving Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Since Sayyiduna ‘Imran رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, his father was prominent amongst these Islamic scholars, all these Islamic scholars who were 29 in total took interest in bringing up Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا. Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said: ‘I deserve her more because her maternal aunt is in my home.’ The matter was resolved by a draw. When lots were drawn, the name of Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was chosen. In this way he عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was given custody of Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا. (Khaazin, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 37, vol. 1, pp. 245)
Her virtues
With which virtues and marvels Allah Almighty has blessed this blessed girl who was born in the family of pious people can be read below. The name of no other woman except her has been mentioned in the Holy Quran. Satan touches every new-born baby with his fingers, but she رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا stayed safe from the touch of Satan. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3, pp. 107, Hadees 7712; summarised)
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has regarded her as a perfect woman. He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: There are many perfect men, but amongst women Aasiyah and Maryam, the daughter of ‘Imran (رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا), are perfect. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 445, Hadees 3411)
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: Maryam, the daughter of Imran, (رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا) is the best amongst women of her age. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1015, Hadees 6217)
Saintly-miracles
Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا continued to grow very fast as compared to other children. Commentators have said that she would grow so much in one day as other children grow in one year. (Tafseer Baghawi, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 38, vol. 1, pp. 228)
Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا would get unseasonal fruits from Paradise; she رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا was not nursed by any woman. (Tafseer Baydawi, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 37, vol. 2, pp. 34) Once finding the unseasonal fruits with Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام asked her a question: From where do you get this fruit? Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا replied: It is from Allah Almighty. Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا had this Conversation when she was being brought up in a cradle. (Khaazin, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 37, vol. 1, pp. 246)
Sayyiduna Zakariyya’s devotion to her
Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام had no child too. At the place where the above-mentioned saintly-miracles of Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا occurred, he made a Du’a for a pious child. That’s why to make Du’a at sacred Ka’bah, blessed Raudah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and shrines of blessed saints is very beneficial as these are the places which are greatly blessed with Divine mercy. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, part 3, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 38, vol. 1, pp. 470)
Patience of Sayyidatuna Maryam
Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was born to her without a father, therefore her nation inflicted great pain on her by taunting and speaking ill of her, but she remained patient and attained great status and high ranks. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has praised her like this:
وَ مَرْیَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرٰنَ الَّتِیْۤ اَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِیْهِ مِنْ رُّوْحِنَا وَ صَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَ كُتُبِهٖ وَ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْقٰنِتِیْنَ۠(۱۲)
And the (example) of Maryam the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity, We therefore breathed into her (through Jibra`eel) a Spirit from Ourselves, and she testified the Words of her Lord and His Books, and was amongst the obedient.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 28, Surah At-Tahreem, Ayah 12)
May Allah Almighty have mercy on her and forgive us without any accountability for her sake!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
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