Indexed OCR Text

أَلَّمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهَ مَنْ فِى السَّمُوتِ وَمَنْ فِى الْأَرْضِ وَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُوْمُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّ
وَآَبُّ وَكَثِيْرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ * وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ * وَمَنْ يُّهِنِ اللهُ فَمَا لَهَ مِنْ مُّكْرِمٍ * إِنَّ اللهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
(١٨٥)
TRANSLATION: Do you not see that all within the heavens and the earth prostate (submit
and physically bow down) to Allaah, including the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains,
the trees, the beasts and many people (however, man does not perceive the manner in which
these creation bow down to Allaah). And there are many who justly deserve punishment
(because they refuse to submit to Allaah). (When Allaah decides to humiliate a person because of
his/her disobedience, no one can help the person because) There is none to honour the person
whom Allaah humiliates. Indeed, Allaah does as He pleases (and none can challenge His
decision).387
Allaah also says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَآءً ى فَتُصْبِحُ الْأَرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً ٥﴿ إِنَّ اللّهَ لَطِيْفٌ خَبِيرٌ (٣٩°)
TRANSLATION: Do you not see that (it is) Allaah (and not the gods of the Kuffaar Who) sends
the rains from the skies, causing the earth to flourish with greenery? Verily Allaah is
Compassionate (provides for you), Informed (knows well when you are ungrateful to Him by
worshipping those who cannot provide for you).388
Another verse states:
387
Surah Hajj, verse 18.
388
Surah Hajj, verse 63.
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( ٣٠) أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهَ مَنْ فِى السَّمُوتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَفْتٍ كُلِّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيْحَمْ ٥*
وَاللهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُّوْنَ (٣١)
TRANSLATION: Do you not see that everyone in the heavens and the earth glorifies
Allaah, including the birds with their wings spread out? Each one knows its salaah (mode
of worship) and method of glorification. And Allaah has knowledge of what you do.389
Allaah states in another verse:
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللهَ يُؤْلِجُ الَّيْلَ فِى النَّهَارِ وَ يُؤْلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِى الَّيْلِ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ نْ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِئُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ
مُسَمَّى وَّ أَنَّ اللهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيرٌ (٢٩)
TRANSLATION: Do you not see that Allaah enters the night into the day, enters the day
into the night and has made the sun and the moon subservient (made them for the benefit of
man) ? Each one runs until an appointed term (when it will also come to an end). And (do you
not see that) Allaah is Informed of whatever you do (and will reward or punish you for your
actions).390
389 Sal Noor, verse 41.
Surah Luqmaan, verse 29.
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أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَآءً فَسَلَّكَمْ يَذَابِيْعَ فِى الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِمِ زَرْعًا مُخْتَلِفَا الْوَانُمْ تُمَّ يَبِجُ فَتَرِيمُ
مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُمَ حُطَامًا ﴿ إِنَّ فِئْ ذُلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِأُولِى الْأَلْبَابِ (٢١)
TRANSLATION: Do you not see that Allaah sends rain from the sky, and then channels it
(to people) in springs within the earth? Thereafter, He brings forth crops of different
colours with it (when the water is used to irrigate fields). Then (the time eventually comes when)
the crops wither away, and you will see it turn yellow (when it dries up), after which Allaah
reduces it to chaff (unwanted husks). There is certainly a reminder in this for people of
intelligence (reminding them that this world will also one day come to an end like the crops despite
it looking so green and flourishing).391
These are a few of many such verses of the Qur'aan, which reflects a manner of
address that Allaah uses to draw emphasis to something. The incident of the
elephants has therefore been given particular emphasis because there were
many people living during the revelation of the Qur'aan who heard first-hand
accounts of this incident or had been witnesses to the incident or its aftermath.
The Second
Allaah states further in the Surah, "Did He not lay their plan to waste". The Arabic
word "kayd" (5 - translated as 'plan') refers to a scheme/plot that has been
hatched secretly. However, the plan of Abraha was no secret since he travelled
to Makkah all the way from Yemen with an army of many thousands. He did not
also make any secret of his objective, which he made clear to all the Arabs,
including Abdul Muttalib when he met him. What then is meant by the word
? (كَيد) "kayd"
391
Surah Zumar, verse 21.
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The true objective of Abraha was to shift the religious focus of the Arabs from
the Kabah to his church in Yemen. It was this secret scheme that Allaah
thwarted by destroying him so that he could not even get close to the Kabah.
The failure of the plots and attempts of evil doers is mentioned in several verses
of the Qur'aan. Some of these are:
. Verse 25 of Surah Mu'min states, "The schemes of the Kaafiroon (to harm the
Mu'mineen) are ever lost"
. Verse 52 of Surah Yusuf states, "without doubt, Allaah does not promote the plot
of betrayers"
. Verse 37 of Surah Mu'min states, "The scheme of Fir'oun led only to destruction"
. Verse 50 of Surah Mu'min and verse 14 of Surah Ra'd state, "The prayer of the
Kaafiroon is lost"
The Third
The words "tayran abaabeel" (")L) \\\" - translated as 'flights of birds') refers
to several flocks of birds flying from various directions. Hadhrat Ikrama ail das, and
Hadhrat Qataadah la state that these flocks arrived from the Red Sea. Hadhrat
Sa'eed bin Jubayr , and Hadhrat Ikrama , both say that the like of these
birds have never before been and never after either. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin
Abbaas t stated that the birds had beaks like birds, but claws like dogs.
Hadhrat Ikrama il do, also states that the birds had the heads of birds of prey.
All Mufassireen agree that every bird held a pebble in its beak and another in
each claw. Some people of Makkah had preserved some of these pebbles for a
long time and Abu Nu'aym di wan, has reported from Hadhrat Naufal bin Mu'aawiya
t that he had seen them. He says that they were the size of little peas and were
reddish black in colour. Another narration states that they were the size of
goat droppings.
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The Fourth
The verse states that the pebbled were of clay. The Arabic word "sijjeel"
(translated as clay) refers to baked clay. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas t stated
that the word sijjeel is of Persian origin and refers to clay that has been baked
to harden. Referring to the punishment inflicted upon the people of Hadhrat
Hood v, Allaah says, "We rained down on the land continuously falling stones of pottery
clay that were marked by your Rabb" .392
The Fifth
When we study the tremendous details associated with the incident of the
people of the elephants, it is surprising to note that the Qur'aan speaks of the
incident with such brevity. The details that people commonly discuss about this
incident have been omitted from Surah Feel. This was so because the incident
was still fresh in the minds of the people, poets had elaborated at length about it
and there were people who during the time of the revelation of the Qur'aan,
who had been alive when the incident took place. In fact, people were so moved
by it that they worshipped none other but Allaah during the years that followed
the incident, even though they still had the 360 idols inside the Kabah. It was
therefore unnecessary to labour through the details of the incident when people
were so well acquainted with it. All that the Surah needed to so was to remind
people about the incident, which is adequately articulated in the Surah. The
Surah reminds people that the Allaah towards Whom Rasulullaah p was inviting
the people is the same Allaah Whom the Arabs turned to in their time of utter
desperation, when everything else failed them. People's attention is therefore
drawn to the fact that it is the same Allaah Whom they need to worship always.
The Surah also serves as a warning to the Arabs that if they choose to stifle the
truth, as Abraha had tried, they would be dealt with in an equally decisive
392
Surah Hood, verses 82-83.
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manner. This reminder is sounded in another verse in which Allaah says, "Such is
the grasp (punishment) of your Rabb when He seized a town that is oppressive (that commits
Shirk). Indeed His grasp (punishment) is painful and severe".393
The Sixth
When the Kabah is referred to as the house of Allaah, it does not mean that He
lives there and needs shelter. The Kabah serves as a focal point for the devout
servants of Allaah to face towards and concentrate upon when worshipping
Allaah. Man needs somewhere to focus and since it is impossible to face Allaah
Himself, it was necessary to establish a focal point for worship. The Kabah was
the very first structure built exclusively for the worship of Allaah by Allaah's
friend Hadhrat Ibraheem v and his blessed son Hadhrat Ismaa'eel v.
The Seventh
Because Abraha was a Christian, he could not tolerate the reverence that was
shown to the Kabah. He therefore planned to divert the attention and devotion
of the Arabs from this simple stone and mortar structure by erecting a structure
that was far more sophisticated and attractive than the Kabah in its design. He
therefore erected the highly embellished church in San'aa, the capital of Yemen.
However, to fulfil his plan, he needed a reason to destroy the Kabah. This reason
was easily found when his church was vandalised.
What Abraha failed to realise was that the Kabah was not just a simple structure
of mortar and stone, but a focus for people who worshipped Allaah. In fact, even
if the Kabah is destroyed, the Mu'mineen will still face in its direction when
they worship Allaah. A Hadith tells us that the Kabah will be destroyed just
before Qiyaamah by an Abyssinian slave. However, this will not affect the status
of the Qibla, which is the focus of direction. Islaam is the only Deen-religion
that has been blessed with this Qibla that will remain forever. All praise
belongs to Allaah for that.
393
Surah Hood, verse 102.
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827

Hadhrat Isa V
Introduction
Hadhrat Isa v was amongst the most eminent of the Ambiyaa >>ull male . While
Rasulullaah p was the seal of all the Ambiyaa >wll Make , Hadhrat Isa u was the last of
the Ambiyaa pull of the Bani Israa'eel (the descendants of Hadhrat Ya'qoob v).
Scholars unanimously agree that there were no Ambiyaa >wll Male between Hadhrat
Isa v and Rasulullaah p. This was a period of 570 years and referred to as the
period of Fatrah (cessation of revelation).
Another reason for Hadhrat Isa v being amongst the most eminent of the
Ambiyaa >ull male is the fact that, apart for the Torah, the Injeel that was given to
Hadhrat Isa v was the highest ranking scripture revealed to the Bani Israa'eel.
The Injeel corrected the malpractices and alterations made to the Deen of the
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Bani Israa'eel after the revelation of the Torah. It was therefore regarded as the
completion of the Torah. Hadhrat Isa v therefore revived the teachings brought
to the Bani Israa'eel by Hadhrat Moosa v.
In addition to this, Hadhrat Isa v was the greatest bearer of the glad tidings that
Rasulullaah p would soon be coming to this world. Hadhrat Isa v is amongst the
most mentioned figures in the Qur'aan, which provides great details about him.
Together with mentioning him, the Qur'aan also provides details of the life of his
mother Hadhrat Maryam bic al , as a precursor to his life. Mention of their lives
serves as a reminder of the favours of Allaah upon mankind and also provides
many lessons and advices.
Hadhrat Isa v and his mother are mentioned in 14 Surahs of the Qur'aan,
sometimes in detail and sometimes in brief. Hadhrat Isa v is sometimes referred
to by his name Isa, sometimes as Maseeh, Abdullaah the son of Maryam,
Kalimah or Rooh. These are as follows:
1. Surah Baqarah: verses 87, 136, 253
2. Surah Aal Imraan: verses 42-64, 84
3. Surah Nisaa: verses 156-159, 171, 172
4. Surah Maa'idah: verses 17, 46, 72, 75, 78, 110-120
5. Surah An'aam: verse 85
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6. Surah Towbah: verses 30, 31
7. Surah Maryam: verses 16-35
8. Surah Ambiyaa عليهم السلام : verse 91
9. Surah Mu'minoon: verse 50
10. Surah Ahzaab: verse 7
11. Surah Shura: verse 13
12. Surah Zukhruf: verses 57, 63
13. Surah Hadeed: verse 27
14. Surah Saff: verses 6, 14
Maryam, the daughter of loraan
Before commencing the story of Hadhrat Isa v, it is necessary to discuss the life
of his mother Hadhrat Maryam kis al ), who was an esteemed personality whose
name is specifically taken in the Qur'aan.
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Hadhrat Imraan &l das, was a pious and devout worshipper of Allaah from
amongst the Bani Israa'eel and had been appointed to lead the prayers in the
Masjidul Aqsa. His wife was also a pious and upright woman by the name of
Hanna and both held esteemed positions amongst the Bani Israa'eel because of
their piety and abstinence. However, the couple were childless and Hadhrat
Hanna Wie all day greatly desired to have children of her own.
She was once walking in the courtyard of the Masjid when she saw a mother bird
fondly kissing her little fledgling. This provoked such a strong feeling of love and
motherhood within her that she immediately made du'aa, saying, "O Allaah! Do
grant us children like this who will be a source of joy to us and a light for our
hearts." This du'aa was so sincere that it won immediate acceptance in the court
of Allaah and it was only a few days later that she started to feel confident that
she had conceived a child. She then took a vow to devote the child to the service
of the Masjidul Aqsa.
Hadhrat Ibn Is'haaq &ley and Ibn Asaakir al dony agree that Hadhrat Imraan &l dany Was
from the progeny of Hadhrat Sulaymaan u and that his wife was from the
progeny of Hadhrat Dawood v.
The Birth of Hadhrat Maryam is it is,
When the baby was born and she was informed that the child was not a boy, but
a girl, she felt that her vow could not be fulfilled because a woman cannot serve
the Masjid. However, Allaah informed her either through inspiration or by an
unseen voice that her child had been accepted for the service of the Masjid and
would soon be a cause for her family to gain more honour. Hadhrat Hanna lie all (play
named the child Maryam and prayed that Allaah save her and her progeny from
the evil of Shaytaan. The name Maryam means servant in the Hebrew language
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and she was thus named because she was to be in the service of the Masjid.
Some say that the name means 'esteemed' or 'worshipper'.
Hadhrat Bishr bin Is'haag writes that Hadhrat Imraan passed away while his
daughter was till an infant. However, her mother brought her up in a most
excellent manner with the assistance of Allaah. When she came of age and was
to be placed in the service of the Masjid, it became necessary to appoint
someone as her custodian. While all the devoted attendants of the Masjid were
eager to take custody of the child of their elder, it was Hadhrat Zakariyya v
who made the strongest claim to her custody because his wife was the sister of
Hadhrat Maryam Wie dil ,'s mother. Since the maternal aunt is the like the
mother to a child, she would be the natural choice to care for the girl.
However, the others were unconvinced and it was finally decided that lots would
be drawn. The manner of drawing lots at the time entailed the use of bamboo
pens that were used to write the Torah. Each person would write something of
the Torah upon his pen and cast it into a river. While a pen would naturally flow
downstream with the current, the person whose pen flowed upstream by the
command of Allaah was declared the winner. When this was done, it was
Hadhrat Zakariyya v who won. Some scholars say that this happened three
times, with Hadhrat Zakariyya v winning each time. The others realised that
Hadhrat Zakariyya v was certainly Allaah's choice and she was made over to him.
Hadhrat Zakariyya v then made a room for her in to stay and engage in worship.
It was common during those days for the custodians of the Masaajid to have
rooms attached to the Masjid in which they engaged in Ibaadah in seclusion.
Such a room was referred to as a Mihraab. Hadhrat Maryam wie dol gun, therefore
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had a room for herself to engage in Ibaadah all day, after which she would return
to the house of her uncle and aunt in the evenings for the night.394
This was the first time in the history of the Masjid that a girl had been appointed
to be its attendant. According to Christian sources, Hadhrat Maryam bie al (a ) Was
appointed in the service of the Masjid from the age of three and it made all the
other attendants very pleased to see the little girl there. Since Hadhrat Zakariyya
u was the chief attendant of the Masjid, it was his duty to oversee all the others.
The words of the Qur'aan "Whenever Zakariyya v went into the chamber"
indicate that he frequently checked on her to ensure that she was being
nurtured and trained properly.
Each time he went to her room, he would find fruit with her. In fact, she would
often have fruit that was out of season and unavailable in Baytul Muqaddas.
Upon enquiry, she told him that she was receiving these from Allaah. Some
narrations state that he never got the opportunity to give her any food
because she would always have some when he brought food.
As she followed her routine of engaging in Ibaadah all day long and remaining in
the service of the Masjid, Hadhrat Maryam kis al , developed tremendous piety
and righteousness. She was soon known as a very pious and ascetic woman and
became proverbial for this amongst the Bani Israa'eel of the time.
Even Hadhrat Zakariyya v was impressed by her. Seeing that she received fruit
out of season, his hope to have children was renewed even though he and his
wife were far past the age of getting children. He therefore made du'aa to Allaah
394
Ruhul Ma'aani.
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to grant him children and his du'aa was accepted. Allaah soon gave him the glad
tidings of a son by the name of Yahya that was to be born to him. The details of
this incident have passed in the chapters of Hadhrat Zakariyya v and Hadhrat
Yahya v.
Because Hadhrat Maryam Wie aul ) was to be the mother of one of Allaah's
greatest Ambiyaa >ll Male, Allaah ensured that she remained spiritually pure. With
regard to this, an angel announced to her, "O Maryam, certainly Allaah has
chosen you (to bear a special child without any man even touching you), purified you
(blessed you with noble qualities and a pure disposition) and preferred you above all
the women of the world (no other woman in the world was blessed with these virtues).
O Maryam, obey your Rabb, prostrate yourself and bow (in salaah) with those
who bow." (The various aspects of worship mentioned here denote all types of
worship)".395
In the Words of the Qur'an
The Qur'aan discusses what has been mentioned above in verses 33-44 of Surah
Aal Imraan, where Allaah says:
إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى أَدَمَ وَنُوْحًا وَّ ◌َلَ اِبْرُبِيْمَ وَ أَلَ عِمْرُنَ عَلَى الْعُلَمِيْنَ (٣٣) ذُرِّيَّةٌ بَعْضُهَا مِنَّ بَعْضٍ * وَاللهُ سَمِيْعٌ
عَلِيْمْ (٣٣٦) إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَاتُ عِمْرُنَ رَبِّ ◌ِنِّيْ نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِئْ بَطْنِى مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّىّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ
الْعَلِيْمُ (٣٥) فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّيْ وَضَعْتُهَا أُنْتَّى ﴿ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ ﴿ وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأَثْنَّىٌ وَ
إِنِّى سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَ إِنَّىْ أُعِيْنُبَابِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطِنِ الرَّحِيِمِ (٣٥) فَتَقَّلِهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُوْلٍ حَسَنٍ وَ آَنْبَتَّهَا نَبَاتًا
حَسَنًّا " وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيًّا ن « كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيًّا الْمِحْرَابَ " وَجَدَ عِنْدَبَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يُمَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ بُذَا - قَالَتْ بُوَ
مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (٣٧) بُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيًّا رَبَّهٌ قَالَ رَبِّ بَبْ لِى مِنْ أَّدُنْكَ
ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةٌَّ إِنَّكَ سَمِنْعُ الدُّعَاءِ (٣٨) فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلْئِكَةُ وَبُوَ قَائِمٌ يُّصَلَّىْ فِى الْمِحْرَابِ " أَنَّ اللّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيُى
مُصَدِّقًّا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَّحَصُوْرًا وَّنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصُّلِحِينَ (٣٩) قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُوْنُ لِيْ غُلُمٌ وَّقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ الْكِبَرُ
وَامْرَأَتِىْ عَاقِرٌ ﴿ قَالَ كَذْلِكَ اللهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ (٣٠) قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَلٌ لِّىَ أَيَةً - قَالَ أَيْتُكَ الَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلُثَ
395
Surah Aal Imraan, verse 42.
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آَيَّامِ إِلَّا رَمْزًا * وَاذْكُرْ رَّبَّكَ كَثِيْرًا وَّسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ (٣١٪) وَ إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلْنِكَةُ يُمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللهَ
اصْطَفَكٍ وَطَبَّرَكٍ وَاصْطَفُكِ عَلَى نِسَاءِ الْعُلَمِيْنَ (٢١) يُمَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِىْ لِرَبِّكٍ وَاسْجُدِى وَارْكَعِىْ مَعَ الرُّكِعِيْنَ
(٣٣) ذُلِكَ مِنْ آَتْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوْحِيْهِ إِلَيْكَ ﴿ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُوْنَ آَقْلَامَهُمْ آَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ. وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ
يَخْتَصِمُوْنَ (٣٣)
TRANSLATION: Certainly Allaah selected Aadam v, Nooh v, the family of
Ibraheem v and the family of Imraan v from the entire universe (by selecting
prophets from among them). (The Imraan v referred to here is the father of Maryam.)
They were descendants of each other. Allaah is All Hearing, All Knowing.
(Therefore, all His actions are based on sound and thorough knowledge.) (Remember the
time) When the wife of Imraan (Hanna bint Faqudha conceived a child and) said, "O
my Rabb, I vow to You (to dedicate to Your service) what (child) is in my belly to be
free (from all worldly duties and dedicated only to Your service), so accept (this vow)
from me. Verily only You are The All Seeing, The All Knowing (You know my
sincerity)." When she delivered the child, she said (in sadness), "My Rabb, I have
delivered a girl". Allaah knows best what she delivered (He knew best the value of
the baby girl). Male and female are not alike. (She said further,) "I shall name her
Maryam and I seek Your protection for her and for her offspring from the
accursed Shaytaan." Her Rabb accepted her (accepted Maryam from her mother)
with special acceptance, granted her an exceptional upbringing and placed her
in the custody of Zakariyya v. Whenever Zakariyya v went into the chamber (her
room where she lived and worshipped Allaah), he found food by her (including fruit that
was not in season). He said, "O Maryam, from where did you get this?" She
replied, "It is from Allaah. Allaah provides for whom He pleases without count
(without limit, in a manner that is beyond one's comprehension and imagination)." At this
point (when it occurred to him that just as Allaah can supply Maryam with fruit that are
out of season, He can give children to Zakariyya v and his wife even though they had
passed the age of bearing children) Zakariyya v prayed to his Rabb saying, "My
Rabb, grant me pure (pious) children from Yourself (by Your grace). Without doubt
You hear all prayers (and accept them)." So the angels (Hadhrat Jibra'eel v) called to
him while he stood praying in the chamber (the place where he worshipped Allaah),
"Allaah gives you the good news of Yahya who shall confirm the word from
Allaah (will confirm the prophethood of Isa v) and (who shall be) a leader, chaste
(extremely abstinent from carnal passions) and a Nabi from the righteous." He said,
"My Rabb, how can I have a son when old age has already reached me and my
wife is barren (unable to bear children)?" He (Allaah or Jibra'eel v) replied, "It (the
matter) shall be such. Allaah does as He pleases (and none can deter Him)." He
(Zakariyya v) said, "O my Rabb, fix a sign for me (by which I may know that my wife
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has conceived)." Allaah said, "Your sign is that you shall be unable to talk to
people for three days, except by indications (signs). Remember your Rabb
abundantly (express gratitude to Him) and glorify Him (worship Him) by night and
day." (Remember the time) When the angels said, "O Maryam, certainly Allaah has
chosen you (to bear a special child without any man even touching you), purified you
(blessed you with noble qualities and a pure disposition) and preferred you above all
the women of the world (no other woman in the world was blessed with these virtues).
O Maryam, obey your Rabb, prostrate yourself and bow (in salaah) with those
who bow." (The various aspects of worship mentioned here denote all types of worship)
These are from the narrations of the unseen that We inspire you with (O
Muhammad &). You were not present with them (with Zakariyya v and the other
caretakers of Baytul Maqdas) when they cast their pens (into the river to determine)
who will be the guardian of Maryam. You were not (also) present with them
when they disputed (about who should care for her).
Glad Tidings of the Birth of Hadhrat Ina V
It will be noted from the history of the most eminent of the Ambiyaa l Nul that
glad tidings of their arrival was always announced beforehand. This happened
either through inspiration, indications from the unseen or through the Ambiyaa
pull coming before them. Ambiyaa pull who foretold the coming of their
successors were Hadhrat Moosa v, Hadhrat Yahya v and Hadhrat Isa v. This
information paved the way for the Nabi v to come so that people would be more
receptive to him.
The coming of Hadhrat Isa v was therefore foretold by several Ambiyaa all posle.
The Qur'aan speaks of the duty of Hadhrat Yahya v in this regard, when Allaah
said to Hadhrat Zakariyya v, "Allaah gives you the good news of Yahya who shall
confirm the word from Allaah (will confirm the prophethood of Isa v)".396
396
Surah Aal Imraan, verse 39.
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Hadhrat Maryam Wie al gh) would not leave her room during the days except for the
call of nature and therefore never came into contact with men. It therefore came
as a shock to her when Hadhrat Jibra'eel v appeared before her in the form of a
human one day. She bade him to leave, but he assured her that she had nothing
to fear from him since he was an angel deputed by Allaah to give her a message.
He then proceeded to inform her that she would soon be giving birth to a special
and celebrated child. She exclaimed in surprise, "how can I bear a child when no
man has touched me?"
However, Hadhrat Jibra'eel v then gave her courage by describing to her the
special qualities of the child and assuring her that the child will be born as it is
the decree of Allaah.
In the Words of the Qur'an
Describing the above in verses 45-49 of Surah Aal Imraan, Allaah says:
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلْئِكَةُ يُمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ** اسْمُمُ الْمَسِيْحُ عِيْسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيْهًا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِيْنَ (٣٥) وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِى الْمَهْدِ وَكَبْلًا وَّمِنَ الصُّلِحِيْنَ (٣٢) قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُوْنُ لِىْ وَلَدٌ وَّلَمْ
يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ ﴿ قَالَ كَذْلِكِ اللهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ﴿ إِذَا قَضَّى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُوْلُ لَمْ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ (٢٧) وَيُعَلِّمُمُ الْكِتُبَ
وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَةَ وَالْإِنْجِيْلَ (٣٨٩) وَرَسُوْلًا إِلَى بَنِى إِسْرَاءِيْلَ ى أَنِّى قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَيَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ " أَنَّىَ آَخْلُقُ لَكُمْ
مِّنَ الطِّيْنِ كَهَْةِ الطَّيْرِ فَانْفُغُ فِيْهِ فَكُوْنُ طَيْرًّا بِإِذْنِ اللهِ ◌ّ وَأُبْرِىُّ الْأَكْمَرَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ وَأُخْىِ الْمَوْثَى بِإِذْنِ اللهِّ
وَأُنَبُِّكُمْ بِمَا تَأْكُلُوْنَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُوْنَ " فِئْ بُيُوْتِكُمْ " إِنَّ فِئْ ذُلِكَ لَأَيَةَّ لَّكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ (٣٩)
TRANSLATION: When the angels said, "O Maryam, indeed Allaah conveys to you
the good news of a word (a child) from Him (Isa v is referred to as Allaah's word
because he was created directly by Allaah's instruction of "Be!" and not by the usual
837

means of conception). His name shall be Al Maseeh ("the blessed one") Isa the son
of Maryam. He shall be celebrated in this world and in the Aakhirah and he will
be from among those brought close (to Allaah). He shall speak to people from his
cradle and when middle-aged, and he shall be among the pious." She (Maryam)
said, "O my Rabb, how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?" He
(the angel) replied, "It (the matter) shall be such. Allaah creates whatever He wills
(and in whichever way He wills. No limits can be placed on His power). When He decides
(to create) anything, He merely says, 'Be!' and it becomes (as He desires). He
(Allaah) shall teach him (Isa v) the book (the previous scriptures as well as the Qur'aan
and the Sunnah because he will return to the world before Qiyaamah), wisdom (of
things), the Torah and the Injeel. (Allaah will also make him) a Rasool to the Bani
Israa'eel (and he shall tell them), 'Indeed I come to you with a sign (a miracle) from
your Rabb (to prove that I am Allaah's Rasool). (The miracle is that) I can fashion for
you out of clay the likeness of a bird, then breath onto it and it becomes (a
living) bird by the permission (order) of Allaah. I cure him who was born blind
and the leper, and I raise the dead with the permission of Allaah. I can (also)
inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes. Surely in this is a
sign for you (that I am truly Allaah's messenger) if you are Mu'mineen."
The Birth of Hadhrat Ina V
After conveying this message to her, Hadhrat Jibra'eel v blew in her collar and
then disappeared. It was not long thereafter that Hadhrat Maryam bie al dony felt
that she was pregnant. As it would worry anyone, she also began to worry as
the pregnancy progressed. However, what worried her more was the fact that
people would accuse her of fornication. Therefore, when the time for birth was
imminent, she left her home and went out alone into the wilderness, until she
reached a hill close to the Saraat mountain, which was located approximately 9
miles out of Baytul Muqaddas. This place is now called Bethlehem.
838

She knew that if she remained in her room and gave birth there, the people
would be outraged, especially since she was an attendant of the Masjid and from
the family of Hadhrat Haaroon v. Her life and the lives of her family would then
become unbearable. She thought that if she went away and returned after a long
while, the anger of the people would be somewhat abated and life may return to
normal.
However, she had just reached Bethlehem when her labour pains started. She
was forced to sit down beneath a date palm, where she grew ever more
concerned about herself and the child. She wished that she had never been born
or that she had left the world a long time ago. She could see no way out for
herself. While she had managed to conceal the pregnancy all the months, she
wondered how she could ever conceal the child.
In this most desperate hour of need, Allaah sent Hadhrat Jibra'eel v to her again.
Calling out to her from a distance, he bade her not to grieve. He told her that
Allaah would cause a stream to flow beside her for water and that she only
needed to shake the trunk of the date palm for it to drop down fresh and
nutritious dates to eat. Since she recognised the voice and appearance of the
angel, she felt comforted and the child was soon born. The beautiful child
coupled with the words of the angel caused her grief and worry to dissipate and,
taking the child in her lap, she thanked Allaah for such a wonderful blessing. She
also thanked Allaah for the provision of water and food. However, the worry did
linger at the back of her mind concerning what she would say to her people
when she returned.
However, Allaah would not allow her to suffer slander and the angels arrived yet
again to provide the solution. He told her to tell the people that she was
observing a fast of silence and could therefore not answer their questions. She
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