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.