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Al-Imran - 3:41
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قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّيَ ايَةً
He said:"O my Lord! Make a sign for me."
meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come.
قَالَ ايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا
(Allah) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals."
meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute.
In another Ayah, Allah said,
ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً
For three nights, though having no bodily defect.
(19:10)
Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition,
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالاِبْكَارِ
And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning.
We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam, Allah willing.
Al-Imran - 3:42
The Virtue of Maryam Over the Women of Her Time
Allah tells;
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَيِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَى نِسَاء الْعَالَمِينَ
And (remember) when the angels said:"O Maryam! Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the nations."
Allah states that the angels spoke to Maryam by His command and told her that He chose her because of her service to Him, because of her modesty, honor, innocence, and conviction.
Allah also chose her because of her virtue over the women of the world.
At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ali bin Abi Talib said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah say,
خَيْرُ نِسَايِهَا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَخَيْرُ نِسَايِهَا خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِد
The best woman (in her time) was Maryam, daughter of Imran, and the best woman (of the Prophet's time) is Khadijah (his wife), daughter of Khuwaylid."
The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ashari said that the Messenger of Allah said,
كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ اسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْن
Many men achieved perfection, but among women, only Maryam the daughter of Imran and Asiah, the wife of Fir'awn, achieved perfection.
The Six -- with the exception of Abu Dawud - recorded it.
Al-Bukhari's wording for it reads,
كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ اسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ
Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Asiah, the wife of Fir'awn, and Maryam, the daughter of Imran.
وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ عَايِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلى سَايِرِ الطَّعَام
The superiority of Aishah (his wife) to other women, is like the superiority of Tharid (meat and bread dish) to other meals.
We mentioned the various chains of narration and wordings for this Hadith in the story of 'Isa, son of Maryam, in our book, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, all the thanks are due to Allah.
Allah states that the angels commanded Maryam to increase acts of worship, humbleness, submission, prostration, bowing, and so forth, so that she would acquire what Allah had decreed for her, as a test for her. Yet, this test also earned her a higher grade in this life and the Hereafter, for Allah demonstrated His might by creating a son inside her without male intervention.
Al-Imran - 3:43
Allah said,
يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
"O Maryam! Submit yourself with obedience (Aqnuti) and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with Ar-Raki'in."
As for Qunut (Aqnuti in the Ayah), it means to submit with humbleness.
In another Ayah, Allah said,
بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَـنِتُونَ
Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience (Qanitun) to Him.
(2:116)
Al-Imran - 3:44
Allah next said to His Messenger after He mentioned Maryam's story.
ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيكَ
This is a part of the news of the Ghayb which We reveal.
"and narrate to you (O Muhammad),"
وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُون أَقْلَمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam; nor were you with them when they disputed.
Meaning, "You were not present, O Muhammad, when this occurred, so you cannot narrate what happened to the people as an eye witness. Rather, Allah disclosed these facts to you as if you were a witness, when they conducted a lottery to choose the custodian of Maryam, seeking the reward of this good deed."
Ibn Jarir recorded that Ikrimah said, "Maryam's mother left with Maryam, carrying her in her infant cloth, and took her to the rabbis from the offspring of Aaron, the brother of Musa. They were responsible for taking care of Bayt Al-Maqdis (the Masjid) at that time, just as there were those who took care of the Ka'bah.
Maryam's mother said to them, 'Take this child whom I vowed (to serve the Masjid), I have set her free, since she is my daughter, for no menstruating woman should enter the Masjid, and I shall not take her back home.'
They said, 'She is the daughter of our Imam,' as Imran used to lead them in prayer, 'who took care of our sacrificial rituals.'
Zakariyya said, 'Give her to me, for her maternal aunt is my wife.'
They said, 'Our hearts cannot bear that you take her, for she is the daughter of our Imam.' So they conducted a lottery with the pens with which they wrote the Tawrah, and Zakariyya won the lottery and took Maryam into his care."'
Ikrimah, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, and several others said that; the rabbis went into the Jordan river and conducted a lottery there, deciding to throw their pens into the river. The pen that remained afloat and idle would indicate that its owner would take care of Maryam.
When they threw their pens into the river, the water took all the pens under, except Zakariyya's pen, which remained afloat in its place.
Zakariyya was also their master, chief, scholar, Imam and Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him and the rest of the Prophets.
Al-Imran - 3:45
Delivering the Good News to Maryam of 'Isa's Birth
This Ayah contains the glad tidings the angels brought to Maryam that she would give birth to a mighty son who will have a great future.
Allah said,
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَليِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ
(Remember) when the angels said:"O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word from Him, a son who will come into existence with a word from Allah, 'Be', and he was.
According to the majority of the scholars, this is the meaning of Allah's statement (about Yahya)
مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّهِ
(Believing in the Word from Allah)
(3:39).
اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
His name will be Al-Masih, 'Isa, the son of Maryam, and he will be known by this name in this life, especially by the believers.
'Isa was called "Al-Masih" (the Messiah) because when he touched (Mash) those afflicted with an illness, they would be healed by Allah's leave.
Allah's statement,
عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
('Isa, the son of Maryam), relates 'Isa to his mother, because he did not have a father.
وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.
meaning, he will be a leader and honored by Allah in this life, because of the Law that Allah will reveal to him, sending down the Scripture to him, along with the other bounties that Allah will grant him with.
'Isa will be honored in the Hereafter and will intercede with Allah, by His leave, on behalf of some people, just as is the case with his brethren the mighty Messengers of Allah, peace be upon them all.
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