Maryam (AS): Chosen Above the Women of the Worlds حضرت مریم علیہا السلام: تمام جہانوں کی عورتوں میں برگزیدہ

Maryam (peace be upon her), daughter of Imran, is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, and an entire surah, Surah Maryam, carries her name. Allah describes her as chosen and purified above the women of the worlds.

Her story begins before her birth. Her mother, the wife of Imran, prayed: "My Lord, I have pledged to You what is in my womb, dedicated to Your service, so accept it from me" (3:35). When she gave birth to a girl, she said: "I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge for her and her descendants in You from Shaytan the outcast" (3:36). Allah accepted her with a good acceptance, made her grow in a good manner, and placed her in the care of the Prophet Zakariyya (AS) (3:37).

Maryam grew up devoted to worship in her place of prayer. Every time Zakariyya came to her there, he found provision with her. He asked: "O Maryam, from where does this come to you?" She said: "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account" (3:37).

The angels said to her: "O Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Maryam, be devoutly obedient to your Lord, and prostrate and bow with those who bow" (3:42-43).

Then came her greatest test. She withdrew from her family to a place toward the east, and Allah sent His angel to her in the form of a man. She said: "I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you fear Allah" (19:18). He said he was a messenger from her Lord, sent to give her a pure son. She asked how she could have a son when no man had touched her and she had never been unchaste. He said: "Thus it will be; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me'" (19:21).

When the pains of birth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree, she said: "I wish I had died before this and been completely forgotten" (19:23). She was called from below her: "Do not grieve; your Lord has placed a stream beneath you. Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you; it will drop fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and be content" (19:24-26). She was told that if she saw anyone, she should indicate that she had vowed a fast of silence to the Most Merciful.

She brought the child to her people, and they accused her: "O sister of Harun, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste" (19:28). She simply pointed to the child. They asked how they could speak to an infant in the cradle, and the infant spoke: "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet" (19:30). Allah defended her honour with a miracle.

The Prophet ﷺ said that among women, perfection was reached by Maryam daughter of Imran and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh. Allah presents her as an example for all believers: she "guarded her chastity... and believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and was of the devoutly obedient" (66:12).