Maryam (RA)

Maryam (RA)

March 2015 

Bismillahhirahmaniraheem. Alhamdulillah Asalatu wasalamu alaa Rasoolillah amma bad.

Honourable judges, respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters:

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

I begin my speech by asking a few questions to my audience:

·        Whoever has been the odd-one, out put your hands up.

·        Whoever has been bullied put your hands up.

·        Whoever has to battle everyday in order to keep their modesty put your hands up.

·        Whoever wants to know a perfect role-model to overcome these situations listen to my speech attentively.

Today I’m standing in front of you to talk about one of the greatest women who lived on the face of this earth. She is the only women whose name is mentioned in the Quran, and there is a whole chapter in the Quran named on her name. Yes, she is Maryam Bint Imran the mother of Isa (AS).

She is the women described by Allah (SWT) as the purest and the chosen one.

Allah (SWT) says in Surah Ala-Imran Verse 42:

Which means:

Oh Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds.

Subhanallah!

So when I came to know all about her status in Islam and with Allah (SWT), it really made me think:

Why Allah (SWT) has given her such a high status?

How did she attain this?

OK let’s find out;

Maryam (RA) was born into a noble family In Jerusalem. Her father was Imran Bin Mathan who was a pious scholar from the Bani Isra’eel. Her mother was Hannah Bint Faqudh who was a pious woman from the Bani Isra’eel. When her mother was pregnant, she made a promise to Allah (SWT) to dedicate her unborn child to the service of Bayt Al Maqdis. When Maryam (RA) was born, her mother didn’t break the promise, because at that time it was a role of a boy to serve in the Masjid. As the promise of her mother Maryam (RA) began to serve In the Masjid. This service included worshiping Allah (SWT) and taking care of the Masjid at all time. I just want you to think for a moment; Maryam (RA) was a child, while the rest of the children were playing outside, she (RA) was worshipping Allah (SWT) all day and night! And it was a role of a boy after all! Wasn’t she the odd one out amongst her society? But Subhanallah! Look at her devotion to Allah (SWT), she (RA) didn’t care about what other people thought of her, or being out from her society. Rather she loved the worship of Allah (SWT), as what her name meant, she was the one that worshiped, why? Because she understood that she is nothing but a slave of Allah (SWT). My dear brothers and sisters, we also need to understand that we are nothing but slaves of Allah (SWT). We should always follow the commands of Allah (SWT) even if we have to be the odd on out. Insha Allah!

Maryam (RA) was brought up under the care and guardianship of Zakariyyah (AS), because her father passed away before she was born.

Time passed by, and one day Maryam (RA) was encounted by Jibra’eel (AS) to give her the news of having a baby in a miraculous way. Jibra’eel (AS) came in a beautiful human form. As soon as she (RA) noticed that somebody was looking at her she said:

“Indeed I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you should be fearing of Allah.”

Subhanallah! Look at her level of haya and Taqwa. She (RA) immediately said what was in her mind, she (RA) didn’t even wait to listen to what he wanted to say and also reminded him to fear Allah (SWT).

My dear brothers and sisters, there is a greater lesson in Maryam (RA), especially where the society we live in views boys and girls relationships as normal! And not only that! Whomever stays away from this fitnah their view as abnormal! A’oodhu Billah!

I know it’s a battle, but as Muslims we should always keep in mind that Allah (SWT) has set boundaries for us. We should never ever surpass these boundaries. We should keep the two shields of Maryam (RA), which are her God conscious and Haya to battle against this fitnah. May Allah (SWT) protect all of us from this fitnah.  Aameen.

So now, we all know what happened afterwards, Maryam (RA) became pregnant, and went through all the sufferings all by herself. There wasn’t anyone to help her or console her. The only things she had was patience, Tawakkul, trust in Allah and she accepted the Qadr of Allah (SWT).

So when the baby Isa (AS) was born, Allah (SWT) ordered her to take the baby to the society, and even ordered her not to speak! The society at that time is no where near to todays… it’s totally opposite! Even if you smell like adultery you’ll be punished, bullied and abused! Now you can’t even explain that you’re innocent. And Maryam (RA) knew this very well! But she didn’t avoid the situation! She didn’t give up! Rather she faced the situation without any hesitation! How? Because she obeyed the commands of her creator, Allah (SWT), and she (RA) had a high level of Tawakkul, trust in Allah. ”If Allah is with me, then I don’t care, he (SWT) will show me a way out of it!”

And Allah (SWT) did show her a way out of it, by making the baby speak and prove the people that she was innocent! Subhanallah!

My dear brothers and sisters, remember, Maryam (RA) went through all of this only because she followed the commands of Allah (SWT)! Sometimes we also face situations, where people bully, abuse and reject us only because we follow the command of Allah (SWT). We also shouldn’t hesitate, give up or avoid the situation. Rather we should face the situation with Tawakkul. Insha Allah.

So now it made me clear, that Maryam (RA) attained her high status, not because she was a mother of a prophet, but because of who she was. Because of her high level of Haya, Taqwa, Obedience, devotion, submission, purity, e.t.c.! That’s how she (RA) attained perfection! Nabi (SAW) has said, that:

“Many amongst men attain perfection, but amongst women none attain perfection, except Maryam the daughter of Imran and Aasiyah the wife of Fir’ awn.”

That’s why Allah has mentioned her name in the Quran, and telling me and you to take her as our role models.

Finally, I conclude my speech by sharing this advice with you: Maryam (RA) gained all these qualities through knowing about Allah (SWT) and having a close relationship with him. So in order for us to gain these qualities, first of all we should get to know Allah (SWT), learn our deen and put it into practice. Insha Allah.

“May we all take Maryam (RA) as our role-models in every aspect of our lives.” Aameen!

Wa Aakhiru Da’wana Anilhamdulillahi rabbil Alameen.

Jazakallah Khairan.

Wasalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh.