An Address to Young Girls (Part 2)​

“A Muslimah’s Guide to Living a Blissful Life” 

My dear daughters! I do realise that (even if you do not prepare yourself while in your parents’ home, then) the day will eventually come when you will have improved, acquired the skills that you need and learnt what you need to know. As time passes, your weaknesses will transform into skills, because you will learn from the difficulties that you underwent and the mistakes that you made. 

However, of what good will it be, when people who wished well for you and had aspirations in you would no longer be around? It is my aspiration that you begin, from now, acquiring all the qualities and skills that will shield you from the challenges and difficulties that you will face later on.

If you think that you ‘know it all’, and you will be able to deal with the demand of every occasion, then you are absolutely wrong and mistaken, even though you may have occasionally sewed yourself an outfit, or cut out the draft and design of a garment, or cooked a pot of food now and again, or embroidered on a kurta, topi or purse at some point, or you learnt to read the Quraan Majeed and a few kitaabs in some madrasah and then left, and let alone understanding the kitaabs – you did not even know what subject the kitaab was written on! Can this ever be regarded as capability, and can such a person be considered competent? If someone has to ask you a question, then you will be left speechless.

What is required of you is that when you need to perform some task, then regardless of how difficult, complicated or intricate the task may be, you must be able to accomplish it with complete ease and competence. You must neither require the assistance of people, nor should you be dependent and reliant on a domestic worker. It must not be such that you cannot complete your domestic work without burdening your elders or the men folk of the family to help you.  Instead, you must display such intelligence and energy in attending to your domestic work and tasks that even the men folk of your family will be impressed with you and marvel at your ability and efficiency.

Look after your children, raise them correctly and care for them well. When they are sick then nurse them to good health while also seeing to the running of the home and other domestic responsibilities. You should not become so engrossed in attending to one responsibility, that in the process you neglect a hundred other responsibilities. Instead, you should be mindful of all your responsibilities and show due attention to everything. You should also enquire and find out what is happening out of the home from time to time[1].

If you acquire all these qualities and skills, then even if you encounter an unfavourable situation, you will be able to turn it to your advantage. If something gets damaged, you will be able to apply your intelligence to find the solution and remedy it. You will know who your friends are, and you will similarly know who your enemies are. When you speak, then you will not utter anything that will put yourself into a problem or that will hurt others. You will completely avoid all fights, arguments and quarrels. You will find people all over welcoming you and receiving you with warmth and love. In fact, you will even win the hearts of your enemies and turn them into your friends. Nobody will have a chance or opportunity to complain about you.

On account of you behaving intelligently at all times, people will show love and affection for you. Thereafter, even if perchance you do something unintelligent, people will not regard it to be irrational, since the occasional foolish action of an intelligent person is overlooked. On the other hand, when a person is foolish, then even if he happens to do or say something intelligent, many people will still view his action or statement in the light of his foolishness. Furthermore, because a fool lacks intelligence, then he often causes problems where none existed. He turns his friends into enemies, whereas an intelligent person turns his enemies into his friends.

In order for you to correctly understand and practise on the advices that I have given you thus far, as well as the advices that I am still going to give you, it will be necessary for you to apply your mind and intelligence and ponder deeply over what I have mentioned. You must realize that every virtue of this world and the next can only be attained if you learn to think and reason correctly. Intelligence and hayaa (modesty and bashfulness) are two invaluable gems. This quality of hayaa is also such that it will save you from many wrongs.

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[1] This will refer to those things that concern us, relate to us and will benefit us. For example, we should know if any woman in our locality is sick so that we could visit her and help her, or if any person passed away, so that we can console them, or if any person is in need so that we can render them assistance, or if there is a Deeni programme taking place in the locality, we could attend it, etc.

An Address to Young Girls (Part 1)

“A Muslimah’s Guide to Living a Blissful Life” 

My Dearest Daughters'

Let me give you a picture of the life of comfort that you currently enjoy in your home as well as the life that you will be leading in future, when you will move into someone else’s home.

One day you will move out of your parents’ home and live in another person’s home. Although you conduct yourself and behave in a certain way in your parents’ home, you will be expected to conduct yourself and behave differently tomorrow when you are in someone else’s home. The conditions and situations that you face in your parents’ home are different, whereas the conditions and situations that you will encounter tomorrow will be entirely different.

Through the grace of Allah Ta‘ala, we currently live in the care of our parents. Hence, due to their care and protection, it is very difficult for any harm to afflict us. However, when we leave our parents’ care, who will be there to take care of us? Whenever we ‘pulled up’ our faces, behaved in a surly and sulky manner, displayed bad manners or an ill-temper, desired comfort and luxury and acted with laziness, refused to share something with others and showed selfishness, our parents overlooked our faults and did not expose us. Who will overlook our faults tomorrow, when we leave our parents’ home?  Why would others be prepared to tolerate and put up with our bad behaviour?

If you have understood this well, then while living a comfortable life under your parents’ roof, you will learn how to live correctly in their home, as well as how to conduct yourself tomorrow when you will move into someone else’s home. You will learn and identify those qualities and aspects which form the foundation of a happy and peaceful life.

My dear daughters! Listen attentively to what I am going to tell you! If you want to live a comfortable, enjoyable and happy life, then accept the advices that I am going to give you and ensure that you practise upon them. If you do so, your entire life will be one of happiness.

I am first going to tell you how to live and conduct yourself in your parents’ home in such a way that your parents’ home will serve as a training ground for you, through which you will gain great experience (which you will require very much later on in life). I will thereafter tell you how to behave and conduct yourself in the home of your in-laws so that you will be well prepared and equipped for all that you may encounter.

If you learn these aspects correctly, you will remain safe from the harm of people. In fact, (you will win the hearts of people due to which) they will only want to give you ease and comfort. Your parents will then be pleased with you. When they see your excellent character, good qualities and the manner in which you conduct yourself, their hearts will brim with happiness and joy. Likewise, your husband will be pleased with you and will always treat you with kindness and sympathy. Let alone your husband, all your relatives and family members will be sympathetic towards you and will always be ready to assist you. You will acquire the excellent character that your elders possessed before you. When people see how organized and efficient you are, they will all be pleased. In this manner, people will hold you in high regard, honour you and treat you with respect.

The gist of what I am saying is that while you are in your parents’ home, you need to learn how to completely take charge of the home. If you have equipped yourself in this manner, then you will be taking those very same skills with you when you go to the home of your in-laws.

In this regard, you must realize that the very first thing which you will need to pay attention to on entering your new home after marriage is the household and domestic affairs. It is your capability and efficiency in this department that will be the gauge through which your in-laws will assess and judge you. They will view the cleanliness and hygiene of your home, the manner in which you entertain your guests, whether you display courtesy and good character when meeting and interacting with family and friends and whether you are accomplished and capable with your hands (i.e. in performing basic tasks that relate to your hands, such as cooking, baking, sewing etc.). It is for this reason that the most important skills which you will require are domestic skills and the skill of efficiently running a home. These skills are so important that if you do not acquire them, then it is as though you are completely incapable and cannot do anything at all.

Today (at your parents’ home), at least you have people who can teach you these skills and give you guidance. Tomorrow, there will be no one who will care for you. You will have to handle your own problems. If you do not prepare and equip yourself with the appropriate skills and qualities today, you won’t cope and manage with your responsibilities tomorrow, and if you do eventually cope, it will be through learning the ‘hard way’ and repeatedly ‘burning your fingers’. Carelessness will become your nature and will be entrenched in you. As a result of your carelessness and negligence, you will always suffer embarrassment in front of others. When this is the case, how will you ever gain respect and enjoy happiness?

(to be continued Insha-Allah)

Haaya (Modesty)

There was once an eagle that lived atop the highest of mountains, nesting among the crags. One day, the eagle felt curious about the village that lay at the foot of the mountain and decided to pay it a visit. As it landed on the ground below, an old lady suddenly threw a sack over it, capturing it and taking it to her home!

Once at home, she took the bewildered and frightened eagle out of the sack. Never having seen an eagle before, she looked at it and exclaimed, “You poor bird! Nobody’s been looking after you! Your nails are so long and filthy! And your beak has become curved and sharp! And your wings are overgrown! Shame!” Saying so, she clipped the eagle’s wings. Then, she trimmed its beak. Finally, she cut its talons.

Obviously, that was the end of the eagle. With its wings trimmed, it could no longer fly. With its talons trimmed, it could no longer hunt, and with its beak cut, it could no longer eat. What seemed like kindness was, in reality, absolute cruelty to the eagle as it effectively killed the bird. Furthermore, it obliterated the beauty and unique features of the eagle, which lay in its curved beak, hooked talons and large, powerful wings, and rendered the eagle indistinguishable from an overgrown chicken.

In comparison to this example, Allah Ta‘ala has blessed the Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with the quality of hayaa (modesty and shame). This is their own special quality that sets them apart and distinguishes them from every other Ummah and religion, and this is the quality on which the survival of their imaan is dependent. To some people, hayaa may seem to be a hindrance and obstacle in the path of ‘progress’. The reality is that stripping a Muslim of hayaa is an act of utter cruelty and completely handicaps a person, preventing him from progressing on the path to Jannah.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said, “Hayaa and imaan have been joined together. When one leaves, the other follows.” (Mustadrak Haakim #58) When hayaa has been joined to imaan, we can understand that if a person inculcates more hayaa in his life, his imaan will also proportionately progress, and if one loses his hayaa, he will soon thereafter lose his imaan (may Allah Ta‘ala save us all).

Similarly, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has mentioned, “Indeed every religion has a distinguishing characteristic, and the distinguishing characteristic of Islam is hayaa.” (Sunan Ibni Maajah #4181) If a Muslim is void of hayaa, he or she will eventually become indistinguishable from the disbelievers. Sadly, this is commonly witnessed today, where many Muslim brothers and sisters, on account of their dressing, etc, cannot be distinguished from the disbelievers.

It is a lamentable reality that we live in an age of indecency, shamelessness and immorality. However, instead of being swept away by the tsunami, we should rather strive to rekindle the spirit of hayaa – especially as the very survival of our imaan depends on the level of our hayaa. For this purpose, Uswatul Muslimah has commenced a new category on the website dedicated to the revival, promotion and understanding of hayaa. This category is entitled ‘Hayaa Handbook’. Insha-Allah, we will regularly post articles to this category, discussing and elaborating on different dimensions of hayaa and its role in our lives.

May Allah Ta‘ala accept us all to lead lives of complete hayaa and to strive for the revival of hayaa, in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Imitating the deeds of previous nations

Imitating the deeds of previous nations

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “The Final Hour will not come until my followers imitate the deeds of the previous nations and follow them closely, span by span, and cubit by cubit (inch by inch).” (Bukhari)

The celebration of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating sweet treats.

Concerning Halloween, The Encyclopaedia of Religion writes: “On this occasion, it was believed that a gathering of supernatural forces occurred as during no other period of the year. The eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken. Otherworldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures. Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers who controlled the fertility of the land.” (pp. 176-177)

In terms of Shariah, it will not be permissible to participate in the celebration of Halloween as it is based on satanic practices and beliefs. As Muslims, we are required to preserve our beliefs and not imitate un-Islamic practices. 

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Whoever imitates a nation will be amongst them” (Abu Dawood)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

The Best of Women (Pious Women) ~ Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Eight

The Recipe to Raise Pious Offspring

(Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Eight)

When Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was confronted by the people and accused of being unchaste, she gestured towards Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) who was an infant. As a miracle, Allah Ta‘ala allowed Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) to speak. He thus raised his index finger and addressed the people.

The very first thing that Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) told them was, “I am the slave of Allah Ta‘ala.” In this way, he clearly declared that he was the slave of Allah Ta‘ala and not the son of Allah Ta‘ala. He then told the people that Allah Ta‘ala would reveal a divine kitaab to him and make him a Nabi. By telling the people that he would become the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala, the people understood that his mother was innocent of unchaste behaviour and her name was thus cleared of all accusations.

Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) then declared, “Allah Ta‘ala has made me blessed, wherever I may be.” In this context, when Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) mentioned ‘blessed’, it referred to the blessing of encouraging people towards righteous works and preventing them from committing evil deeds.

Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) next said, “Allah Ta‘ala has enjoined on me salaah and zakaat as long as I am alive.” Zakaat refers to ‘purity’ – of both wealth (through discharging zakaat and giving optional charity) and of the soul through purifying one’s character of evil habits and traits.

Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) finally mentioned to the people that Allah Ta‘ala had made him obedient and kind to his mother, and Allah Ta‘ala had not made him harsh and rude, and he would not break the commands of Allah Ta‘ala in any way.

(Tafseerul Madaarik vol. 2, pg. 38, Tafseer Ibnu Katheer vol. 5, pg. 225, Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 2, pg. 79)

Lesson:

The qualities that Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) mentioned as a child are the same qualities that we should all strive to instil in our children, which are:

1. Complete submission before Allah Ta‘ala and His commands, as we are all His slaves.

2. The effort to engage them in works of righteousness such as inviting people towards good and preventing them from evil, as this, in reality, is a great blessing and favour of Allah Ta‘ala.

3. To instil the importance of salaah in their hearts so that they never neglect any salaah, and to ensure that they strive for purity in all facets of life, financial as well as in character.

4. The children must be taught to respect, honour and serve their parents and seniors, must be raised to be civilized and dignified and to behave respectably, not in a harsh and rude manner.

In order to instil these qualities within their children, the parents will have to first acquire the qualities themselves. Thereafter, they will become practical role models and examples for their children to emulate. Additionally, we should all make du‘aa on a regular basis that Allah Ta‘ala bless us with pious, obedient offspring who will please us as well as Allah Ta‘ala, Aameen

The Best of Women (Pious Women) ~ Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Seven

Maintaining Modesty

(Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Seven)

Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) bore Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) for the normal period of pregnancy. Thereafter, when the labour pains commenced, she went to the jungle, far away from people, to give birth to her child. As it was difficult for her to sit and stand, due to the labour pains, she went to a date palm and used it for support.

This was indeed a great test for Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam). She was all alone with nobody to assist her. She was in pain, she had no food or drink with her, and she anticipated that people would accuse her of being unchaste and committing zina. In this state of desperation, she exclaimed, “If only I had died before this and was totally forgotten!” In order to console her, Allah Ta‘ala sent Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) to her. He stood away from her, on an area that was lower than the place she was standing on and said, “Do not grieve! Allah Ta‘ala has provided a small river below you. And shake the trunk of the date palm, it will drop fresh dates for you.”

In this manner, Allah Ta‘ala made divine arrangements for Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam). On her command, the small river would flow, and on her command, it would cease. Similarly, it was a miracle that the date palm bore fruit for her to eat, as it was not the season for dates.

After the period of nifaas (postnatal bleeding) terminated, approximately forty days later, Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) returned to the people carrying Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam). As soon as they saw her, they began to rebuke and chastise her, as she had born a child without being married. They asked her how she could have stooped to such behaviour, whereas she hailed from the most pious of families.

Placing her complete reliance on Allah Ta‘ala, Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) remained silent and gestured towards the infant child. The people thought that she was mocking them, as a child cannot speak. However, as a miracle, Allah Ta‘ala allowed Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) to speak. He informed the people that he was the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala, and in this manner, the name and reputation of Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was preserved.

(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 2, pg. 74-78, Tafseerul Madaarik vol. 2, pg. 37 and Ma‘aariful Quraan vol. 6, pg. 22-28)

Lessons:

1. When people still possessed shame and modesty, they frowned on immodest behaviour. Today, with the surge of immodesty, people regard dating and other illicit relationships to be the norm. This shows how far we have drifted from the values of Islam. Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) preferred to be dead than to be accused of indecent and unchaste behaviour.

2. When a believer leads a life of piety and chastity, has a strong link and relationship with Allah Ta‘ala and places his reliance and trust in Him, then Allah Ta‘ala assists him in his hour of need and comes to his rescue.

The Best of Women (Pious Women) ~ Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Six

Pleased with His Decree

(Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Six)

Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) realized that in conceiving Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam), there was a test for her, as people would notice that she was expecting and would ask who had fathered the child. However, she placed her trust in Allah Ta‘ala and accepted that this was His decision.

The first person to notice that Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was expecting was her cousin, Yusuf bin Ya’qoob Najjaar. Since he was well aware of the piety and chastity of Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam), and everyone knew that she was unmarried, he was extremely surprised to see that she was expecting a child.

He thus asked her, “O Maryam (‘alaihas salaam)! Is it possible for a plant to grow without a seed first being planted?” She replied, “Yes! After all, who created the very first plant?” He next asked her, “Is it possible for a tree to grow without water and rain?” She replied, “Yes! After all, who created the first tree?” Finally, he asked, “Can a child be born without a father?” She replied, “Yes! Allah Ta‘ala created Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) without a mother or a father.” She then informed him that Allah Ta‘ala had given her the glad tidings of being the mother of Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) without the intermediary of any father.

When Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) would be in solitude, Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) would converse with her and speak to her from within the womb, and when she would be among people, he would engage in reciting tasbeeh.

(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 2 pgs. 73 to 75)

Lesson:

We should never desire or ask to be tested by Allah Ta‘ala. However, if He has decreed a certain test for us, be it an illness, financial difficulty or any other test, then we should place our trust in Him and be happy with His decision. We should never question Allah Ta‘ala, and we should turn to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa saying, “O Allah! Since you have given me this test, and I am weak, You assist me to pass this test and secure Your happiness.”

The Maqaam-e-Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam)

فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

In it are clear signs (among which is) the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim.

Maqaam-e-Ebrahim refers to the stone on which Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) would stand when he was building the Ka‘bah. As the height of the building rose, the stone would automatically rise, lifting Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) so that he could continue to build the Ka’bah, and when it was time for Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) to return to the ground, the stone would automatically descend.

The impression of the blessed footprints of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) can be seen in the stone until today. It is obviously a miracle for a stone to automatically rise and descend, based on the need of the person standing on it, and for a hard stone to soften sufficiently so that it could be imprinted with his footsteps. It is for this reason that Allah Ta‘ala says that the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim contains clear signs (that will guide one to recognize Allah Ta‘ala).

The Maqaam-e-Ebrahim is housed in a round structure made from glass and metal, located on the mataaf, close to the door of the Ka‘bah.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The Hajr-e-Aswad and Maqaam-e-Ebrahim are two precious stones from the precious stones of Jannah. Allah Ta‘ala has extinguished their radiance. Had Allah not extinguished their radiance, they would have illuminated everything between the east and the west.” (Sunan Tirmizi #878)

The Best of Women (Pious Women) ~ Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Five

The Preparation of Piety

Allah Ta‘ala instructed the angels to give Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) the glad tidings that she would give birth to a son named ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) without the medium of a father. The angels also gave her the glad tidings that this son would be the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala who would invite people towards Him while still a child. However, Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was instructed to exert herself in ‘ibaadah so that she would become worthy of this great favour and bounty of Allah Ta‘ala. Hence, she exerted herself in ‘ibaadah and performing salaah to such an extent that her legs would become swollen.

Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) would only leave Musjidul Aqsa when she was impure or when she had a need to fulfill. Once, while she was out, Allah Ta‘ala sent Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) to her in the form of a man. As soon as she saw him, out of her extreme purity, chastity and shame, she exclaimed, “I seek the protection of the Most Merciful from you! If you possess taqwa (then do not come close to me)!” Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) assured her that he was an angel sent to her by Allah Ta‘ala to bless her with a child. She asked, “How will I give birth to a son whereas no man has touched me (I am unmarried) and I am not unchaste?” Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) replied, “So it will be. Your Lord has said, ‘It is easy for me.’” Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) then blew into her collar through which Allah Ta‘ala caused Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) to be conceived.

References: Surah Aal ‘Imraan v45-46, Surah Maryam v16-21, Tafseer Ibni Katheer vol. 2, pg. 346 and Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 2, pgs. 67, 73 and 74.

Lessons:

1. Allah Ta‘ala had honoured Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) above all the women of the world to be the mother of Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) without the medium of a father. However, in order to become worthy of this bounty, she was instructed to exert herself in ‘ibaadah. Similarly, Allah Ta‘ala loves all His servants and wishes to bless them and shower His favours upon them. However, the general system of Allah Ta‘ala is that He blesses His servants when they strive and show that they are eager for His blessings. Hence, together with making du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala for Him to bless us, we have to exert ourselves in His ‘ibaadah and in acquiring His pleasure.

2. As soon as a strange man had come close to Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam), she sought the protection of Allah Ta‘ala and reminded the man to adopt taqwa. This is the automatic, spontaneous reaction of a person who possesses hayaa (shame and modesty) – that they are always on their guard and are wary of non-mahrams coming close to them or approaching them.

The Best of Women (Pious Women) ~ Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Four

The ‘Produce’ of Piety

(Sayyidah Maryam [‘alaihas salaam] – Part Four)

Allah Ta‘ala bestowed Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) with His divine acceptance and blessed her to receive an upbringing that was excellent and outstanding. In regard to her upbringing, Allah Ta‘ala mentions in the Quraan Majeed, “And her Lord accepted her graciously and made her grow excellently.”

One aspect of “making her grow excellently” is that she received an excellent upbringing of piety and righteousness. Hence, from a young age, she would remain engaged in the worship and obedience of Allah Ta‘ala.

It is on account of this very piety and purity with which Allah Ta‘ala had blessed her that Allah Ta‘ala instructed the angels to announce to her, “O Maryam (‘alaihas salaam)! Indeed Allah Ta‘ala has selected you, purified you and chosen you above all women.”

As she was in the care of Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam), he would often enter the special area in which Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) would remain and engage in the worship of Allah Ta‘ala. To the surprise of Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam), whenever he would enter, he would find that she had fruit that was out of season! In winter, she would be enjoying the fruit of summer, and in summer, she would be enjoying the fruit of winter. Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam) asked her, “O Maryam (‘alaihas salaam)! From where does this come to you?” She replied, “It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.”

At that moment, although Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam) was advanced in age, he desired to be blessed with a child. Hence, he turned to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa and supplicated saying, “O the One who blessed Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) with fruit that was out of season, bless me with a child, even though I have passed the ‘season’ (age) of fatherhood.”

Allah Ta‘ala accepted the du‘aa of Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam) and eventually blessed him with a son who was Nabi Yahya (‘alaihis salaam).

(Surah Aal ‘Imraan v37-39 and v42, Bayaanul Quraan vol. 1 pg. 223, Tafseer Ibni Katheer vol. 2 pg. 344 and Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 2 pg. 65)

Lessons:

1. Just as every parent wishes that their child will have good and healthy physical development, they should have an even greater concern for the Deeni and imaani upbringing and development of their children. In this regard, it is incumbent for them to constantly make du‘aa for their children’s Deen and imaan – if not after every salaah, then at least once a day. Additionally, they must ensure that their children attend a good maktab madrasah and daily ta’leem is conducted in the home.

2. Allah Ta‘ala alone is the sole Sustainer of every creation. When we have firm imaan and conviction in this, we will turn to Allah Ta‘ala and believe that it is only in obeying Him and pleasing Him that we will gain barakah (blessings) in our sustenance. Furthermore, just as Allah Ta‘ala sent fruit that was out of season for Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) while she was within her chamber, Allah Ta‘ala can easily arrange and see to our sustenance while we remain within our homes seeking His pleasure.

3. The power of du‘aa should never be forgotten or overlooked. Allah Ta‘ala, in the blink of an eye, can literally make our dreams come true. Remain in the obedience of Allah Ta‘ala and turn to Him for your every need.