The Story of Maryam

by Jamil Momand

Once there was a woman named Hannah who was married to a man named Imran. They were
good people and faithful servants to Allah.

One day Hannah found out she was pregnant. She made a special prayer to Allah and
dedicated her unborn child to His service.

Soon Hannah delivered a baby girl and she named her Maryam. Allah answered Hannah's
prayer and Maryam grew up to be a very beautiful, righteous and good girl.

Maryam's uncle, Zakariya, was a priest in the Jewish Temple.Sometimes Zakariya would go
to Maryam's room to see her.

One time he went in and found her eating some food. Zakariya was confused because he
knew that no one had brought her food recently. He said, "O Maryam! How did you get this
food?"

" Maryam answered, " it is from allah.Allah provides anything without to whom He
pleases."

Once Allah sent to her an angel disguised as a man. She was frightened at first but the angel
said,

"I am here to give you news that you will give birth to a holy son. His name is Isa. Isa will be
an important prophet for Allah and will be honored in this world and in the Hereafter. Isa will
be able to talk even as a baby."

Maryam was confused. She asked the angel how she could have a son without a husband.
The angel replied "Allah creates as He will. When Allah makes a plan all He has just to say
happen and it will happenAfter saying this the angel walked away.

Maryam went back home, packed up a few of her belongings and left her family and her city
to have baby Isa. She knew that no one would understand her situation. To have a baby
without a husband was a very serious offense

A few months later, when the baby was ready to be born, Maryam was so confused and
desperated.She felt a terrible pain.She saw a palm tree that cast a long cool shadow.

From out of the ground there came a voice! It said, "Don't be sad, for your Lord has provided
you with a little stream to help you."

When she looked down, she saw a little stream flowing beside her. The water was cold and
pure. She could use it to clean herself and quench her thirst. Maryam felt better and the pains
of childbirth lessened for a time.
The voice then told Maryam to make a promise to Allah not to talk to anyone. Maryam
promised and the voice became silent.

Maryam gave birth to baby Isa all alone. When she had regained her strength,she held the
baby in her arms and walked with him toward the city.The people who knew that she had a
baby thought that she was a sinner.she did proscumity.

Maryam wanted to tell the people that she was innocent ,instead she remembered her promise
to Allah not to talk to anyone. She prayed silently to Allah to help her.

Meanwhile more and more people gathered around her shouting at her and asking how she
got the baby. Finally, she laid baby Isa down in a cradle and pointed at him.

The people laughed and said, "How can we talk to a baby in the cradle?"

Prophet Isa (alayhis salam) looked out over the people. Then he opened his mouth and said,
"I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me a revelation and made me a prophet and He
has blessed me wherever I may go and has instructed me to give prayer and charity as long as
I live. Allah has made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable. Therefore,
there is peace on me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I shall be raised to live
again on the Day of Judgment."

After that no one spoke. They realized that a miracle had taken place and that Isa was a
prophet of Allah. Isa was a prophet from the day he was born to show the people the right
path. But the people turned away from Isa (alayhis salam) just as they had turned away from
other prophets.

This was the story of one of the most righteous woman of all time, Maryam.
Her life was devoted to serving Allah. Allah protected her from the people and helped her
through many hardships. He performed a great miracle by giving Maryam a son who was a
one of the great propheths

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "The superiority of 'Aisha to other ladies is like
the superiority of Tharid (i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men reached the
level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of Imran
and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 4.643]