Welcome
Who is your inspiration?
Someone who elevates your determination into fulfilling your purpose of life?
Someone who reminds you of the characteristics of how a Muslimah should be?
Someone who reminds you of how one should react during trials?
Amongst the individuals that inspire me in life besides my mother are the Muslim women of the Islamic History. One of these diamonds is Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy); who is also known as the Virgin Mary. She is the mother of one of our beloved Prophets Isa Alayhi salam and she was chosen above all other women in the world. She is the only woman who was named in the Glorious Quran; the Book of Allah that was sent during the blessed month of Ramadan. In the Quran; Isa is named as Isa ibn Maryam; and both of these amazing individuals are described predominantly in Chapters 19 and 3. A Surah is even named after her emphasising her status of her nobility; character and piety.
So what inspires me about her? Let me begin with the Quranic verse:
‘And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.’ (66:11)
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhi wa salam 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.’ (Bukhari 4.643)
*sighs* Amazing ma sha Allah.
A level of perfection? Yes our dear Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s chastity. Her modesty. Her dedication to seek knowledge. Her obedience to Allah in fulfilling His commands. Her courage and patience when faced with trials and tribulations. All this into one? Yes; our dear Maryam had these amazing qualities that inspires me.
She was born into the family of Al-Imran. Her mother made a special supplication to Allah subhanahu wa taala while Maryam was still in her mother’s womb as stated in the Quran:
“O my Lord! I do dedicate into Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things. ” (3:35).
When Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) was born; she said:
But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, "And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah ]." (3:36)
She thought her child would be a male but Allah gave her a female and Allah is the best of planners and named her child Maryam which literally means ‘Maidservant of God’.
Allah granted her dua and Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) was blessed and protected by Allah subhanahu wa taala as mentioned in Quran 3:37. She was taken care of after her mother’s death by our beloved Prophet Zakariya alayhi salam who at the time did not have a child and was old.
She was given food and Zakariya alayhi salam questioned its whereabouts. Her response was full of belief in Allah subhanahu wa taala:
“It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.” (3:37).
Subhanallah. Indeed Allah is our Provider who blesses whom He wills and when He wills. Her response pumped blood to all four walls of our beloved Prophet Zakariya’s alayhi salam as he longed to be a father and made dua in which his supplications were responded swiftly despite his wife was barren. Imagine how a young child having an impact on a Prophet and elderly man?
“At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, ‘My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.’ So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, ‘Indeed, God gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and prophet from among the righteous.’” (3:38-39)
Her glitter and sparkle here is just the beginning; her story and qualities gets even more special as you read on.
The musky essence of Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s modesty and her liberation from a spiritual perspective can be observed when she first met with Jibraeel alayhi salam who came as a form of her man into the location where she was. He seemed like a sort of an alarming threat to her in which she supplicated:
“I seek refuge in Ar-Rahman from you if you are God-fearing.” (19:18)
She didn’t want to break Allah’s commandments in which it is stated in 2:187:
“…These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach (come close to) them.”
This complements with the hadith in which our beloved Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam said:
“Whenever a man is alone with a woman the Devil makes a third.” (Bukhari)
Another example of her modesty, innocence and purity in her speech can be established when she wanted to protect her chastity after when Jibraeel alayhi salam introduced himself she replied:
“How can I have a son when no man has touched me nor have I been unchaste?”’ (19:20)
How many of our beloved sisters today would respond in that manner after hearing they would give birth whilst they have been untouched?
How many of our beloved sisters would use inappropriate language or even takes steps further by throwing something that is in whatever is in their reach?
How many of our beloved sisters would even raise the tone of our voices?
This emphasises the etiquettes of Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s character in which we can all take lessons from of how she disciplined her emotions; anger and fear.
This is not to say she did not communicate with the opposite gender. Zakariyah alayhi salam taught her as well as other male scholars even when she was at the age of maturity. Thus; speech with the opposite gender is permissible as long there is necessity in an open environment and a respectful; to the point speech is taking place. As the Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam said:
“to speak well or keep silent.” (Tirmidhi)
Her modesty in her speech can be inter-connected with her modesty in her heart as Allah said in the Quran:
“…she was of the Qaniteen (obedient).” (66:12)
She was obedient to Allah subhanahu wa taala and felt shameful. This is something we should all have especially in the presence of angels who record our good and bad deeds and are our witnesses besides Allah of all of our actions. May Allah forgive our sins.
Another aspect of her character that inspires me is after given birth; Allah instructed her that she should return back and do not speak to anyone who questions her:
“So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.’ Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, ‘O Maryam, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.’ So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?’ [Isa] said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and he has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.’” (19:26-33)
She responded to the vulgar speech of her crime of immodesty in which she did not commit with silence. Her baby Prophet Isa alayhi salam instead defended his mother from the accusation and introduced himself:
“That is Isa, the son of Maryam – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.” (19:34)
How many of our beloved sisters would react in which Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) did these immodesty accusations despite the experience of pain and suffering from the incident? To have even your family’s name mentioned and even being slandered?
My dear sisters in Islam; we can learn so much from the patience and modesty in speech portrayed from Maryam, Umm Isa alayhi salam. She was like a tree where blistering winds went from side to side; removing its leaves and some of its branches but still remained firm to the ground.
Moreover; another aspect of her personality that amazes me is her passion for knowledge. Seeking knowledge awakens the dead heart and revives the brains and souls that are lost and provide them nutrients.
As previously mentioned she was taught by Prophet Zakariya alayhi salam and male scholars. She was a bright and honoured student of knowledge and when she grew older; a place was built for her known as Al-Mihrab. She was the first female to be even taught at the masjid at the time.
Many women today are discouraged from pursing studies and are told from a cultural point of view that they should fulfil their duty to be a good wife and mother and not focus too much on educating oneself. In my point of view; I think it is not only important to be trained to be a good wife in obeying the husband and be competent in fulfilling the responsibilities of looking after the family and doing housechores; but equally I also think that having a touch of education islamically as well as a general education is necessary in order to aid in raising children.
I really don’t know how to end this article about how amazing and inspiration Maryam (May Allah be pleased and have mercy on her) is. In addition; I don’t think I have made justice in covering enough or emphasise on how much impact and important she is and the lessons we can extract like how honey is extract from the bee thing. I make dua to Allah subhanahu wa taala that I could meet her in Jannah and say ‘Dear Sister; you have amazed me so much when reading upon your biography whilst in my duniya journey; could I please give you a hug?’.
It is necessary for both brothers and sisters to reflect upon lessons from her life and reflect upon our lives and what have we done/achieved and what practical tips we can adapt in order to become better muslims. Amongst that circulate through my brain cells at the moment especially during this blessed month of Ramadan are:
May we absorb the lessons from Mariam (may Allah be pleased and have mercy upon her) and protect myself and the rest of the Ummah’s modesty in our speech and actions.
May Allah give us the ability to deal with trials and tribulations when we face them like how Maryam (may Allah be pleased and have mercy upon her), Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam, Prophet Yusuf alayhi salam and Prophet Aisha alayhi salam when being slandered or any type of cases.
Someone who elevates your determination into fulfilling your purpose of life?
Someone who reminds you of the characteristics of how a Muslimah should be?
Someone who reminds you of how one should react during trials?
Amongst the individuals that inspire me in life besides my mother are the Muslim women of the Islamic History. One of these diamonds is Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy); who is also known as the Virgin Mary. She is the mother of one of our beloved Prophets Isa Alayhi salam and she was chosen above all other women in the world. She is the only woman who was named in the Glorious Quran; the Book of Allah that was sent during the blessed month of Ramadan. In the Quran; Isa is named as Isa ibn Maryam; and both of these amazing individuals are described predominantly in Chapters 19 and 3. A Surah is even named after her emphasising her status of her nobility; character and piety.
So what inspires me about her? Let me begin with the Quranic verse:
‘And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.’ (66:11)
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhi wa salam 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.’ (Bukhari 4.643)
*sighs* Amazing ma sha Allah.
A level of perfection? Yes our dear Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s chastity. Her modesty. Her dedication to seek knowledge. Her obedience to Allah in fulfilling His commands. Her courage and patience when faced with trials and tribulations. All this into one? Yes; our dear Maryam had these amazing qualities that inspires me.
She was born into the family of Al-Imran. Her mother made a special supplication to Allah subhanahu wa taala while Maryam was still in her mother’s womb as stated in the Quran:
“O my Lord! I do dedicate into Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things. ” (3:35).
When Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) was born; she said:
But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, "And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah ]." (3:36)
She thought her child would be a male but Allah gave her a female and Allah is the best of planners and named her child Maryam which literally means ‘Maidservant of God’.
Allah granted her dua and Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) was blessed and protected by Allah subhanahu wa taala as mentioned in Quran 3:37. She was taken care of after her mother’s death by our beloved Prophet Zakariya alayhi salam who at the time did not have a child and was old.
She was given food and Zakariya alayhi salam questioned its whereabouts. Her response was full of belief in Allah subhanahu wa taala:
“It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.” (3:37).
Subhanallah. Indeed Allah is our Provider who blesses whom He wills and when He wills. Her response pumped blood to all four walls of our beloved Prophet Zakariya’s alayhi salam as he longed to be a father and made dua in which his supplications were responded swiftly despite his wife was barren. Imagine how a young child having an impact on a Prophet and elderly man?
“At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, ‘My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.’ So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, ‘Indeed, God gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and prophet from among the righteous.’” (3:38-39)
Her glitter and sparkle here is just the beginning; her story and qualities gets even more special as you read on.
The musky essence of Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s modesty and her liberation from a spiritual perspective can be observed when she first met with Jibraeel alayhi salam who came as a form of her man into the location where she was. He seemed like a sort of an alarming threat to her in which she supplicated:
“I seek refuge in Ar-Rahman from you if you are God-fearing.” (19:18)
She didn’t want to break Allah’s commandments in which it is stated in 2:187:
“…These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach (come close to) them.”
This complements with the hadith in which our beloved Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam said:
“Whenever a man is alone with a woman the Devil makes a third.” (Bukhari)
Another example of her modesty, innocence and purity in her speech can be established when she wanted to protect her chastity after when Jibraeel alayhi salam introduced himself she replied:
“How can I have a son when no man has touched me nor have I been unchaste?”’ (19:20)
How many of our beloved sisters today would respond in that manner after hearing they would give birth whilst they have been untouched?
How many of our beloved sisters would use inappropriate language or even takes steps further by throwing something that is in whatever is in their reach?
How many of our beloved sisters would even raise the tone of our voices?
This emphasises the etiquettes of Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy)’s character in which we can all take lessons from of how she disciplined her emotions; anger and fear.
This is not to say she did not communicate with the opposite gender. Zakariyah alayhi salam taught her as well as other male scholars even when she was at the age of maturity. Thus; speech with the opposite gender is permissible as long there is necessity in an open environment and a respectful; to the point speech is taking place. As the Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam said:
“to speak well or keep silent.” (Tirmidhi)
Her modesty in her speech can be inter-connected with her modesty in her heart as Allah said in the Quran:
“…she was of the Qaniteen (obedient).” (66:12)
She was obedient to Allah subhanahu wa taala and felt shameful. This is something we should all have especially in the presence of angels who record our good and bad deeds and are our witnesses besides Allah of all of our actions. May Allah forgive our sins.
Another aspect of her character that inspires me is after given birth; Allah instructed her that she should return back and do not speak to anyone who questions her:
“So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.’ Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, ‘O Maryam, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.’ So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?’ [Isa] said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and he has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.’” (19:26-33)
She responded to the vulgar speech of her crime of immodesty in which she did not commit with silence. Her baby Prophet Isa alayhi salam instead defended his mother from the accusation and introduced himself:
“That is Isa, the son of Maryam – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.” (19:34)
How many of our beloved sisters would react in which Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her and grant her mercy) did these immodesty accusations despite the experience of pain and suffering from the incident? To have even your family’s name mentioned and even being slandered?
My dear sisters in Islam; we can learn so much from the patience and modesty in speech portrayed from Maryam, Umm Isa alayhi salam. She was like a tree where blistering winds went from side to side; removing its leaves and some of its branches but still remained firm to the ground.
Moreover; another aspect of her personality that amazes me is her passion for knowledge. Seeking knowledge awakens the dead heart and revives the brains and souls that are lost and provide them nutrients.
As previously mentioned she was taught by Prophet Zakariya alayhi salam and male scholars. She was a bright and honoured student of knowledge and when she grew older; a place was built for her known as Al-Mihrab. She was the first female to be even taught at the masjid at the time.
Many women today are discouraged from pursing studies and are told from a cultural point of view that they should fulfil their duty to be a good wife and mother and not focus too much on educating oneself. In my point of view; I think it is not only important to be trained to be a good wife in obeying the husband and be competent in fulfilling the responsibilities of looking after the family and doing housechores; but equally I also think that having a touch of education islamically as well as a general education is necessary in order to aid in raising children.
I really don’t know how to end this article about how amazing and inspiration Maryam (May Allah be pleased and have mercy on her) is. In addition; I don’t think I have made justice in covering enough or emphasise on how much impact and important she is and the lessons we can extract like how honey is extract from the bee thing. I make dua to Allah subhanahu wa taala that I could meet her in Jannah and say ‘Dear Sister; you have amazed me so much when reading upon your biography whilst in my duniya journey; could I please give you a hug?’.
It is necessary for both brothers and sisters to reflect upon lessons from her life and reflect upon our lives and what have we done/achieved and what practical tips we can adapt in order to become better muslims. Amongst that circulate through my brain cells at the moment especially during this blessed month of Ramadan are:
- Increase in Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa taala as well as mankind for any mistakes intentionally and unintentionally).
- Reflecting each day of one’s good actions and bad actions.
- Reading upon our Islamic History that include women; sahaba; Prophets alayhoma salam; khilafahs; imams and so forth.
- Increase in Supplications and never give up.
- Renewing our intentions always.
May we absorb the lessons from Mariam (may Allah be pleased and have mercy upon her) and protect myself and the rest of the Ummah’s modesty in our speech and actions.
May Allah give us the ability to deal with trials and tribulations when we face them like how Maryam (may Allah be pleased and have mercy upon her), Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa salam, Prophet Yusuf alayhi salam and Prophet Aisha alayhi salam when being slandered or any type of cases.
