islaam.

com | What's New | World News | Help | Search

Islaam.Com Iman
Mouse over links for
description
Non-Muslims
Français The Truth About Jesus (Part
Tools
Audio Main Two): Who Was Mary? And The Printer-ready
• Quran Truth About The Immaculate Send to a friend
• Lectures Conception And The Birth Of Increase font size
Decrease font size
Scholars Jesus
107 users rated this
Yahya Adel Ibrahim article
Knowledge
Iman 3.47 out of 5
Ibadah Most Popular
Da`wah

Qur'an
Sunnah All Praise is for Allah alone. He is the Rabb of all that exists.
Tazkiyah Surely, we send the highest Salah and Salam upon the
Shahadah
Final Prophet, the leader of the pious and upon his family,
Prayer companions and those who follow their example with Ih’san
Zakat till the Day of Reckoning.
Ramadan
Hajj
Amma Ba‘du:
Fiqh
Challenges
Miscellaneous One of the greatest hurdles confronting Muslims today is a
Free Books lack of knowledge about certain essential beliefs that we as
Pamphlets
Muslims must unwaveringly adhere to. Of the most
Orphans pertinent issues facing Muslims living in localities that are
Prayer Times heavily influenced by western culture is how we view ‘Issa
Links
bin Marium -Jesus the Son of Mary – ‘alihi as-Salaam (AS).

On a cyclical basis we are confronted with different

"religious" occasions that are marked by our Christian
neighbours, coworkers and acquaintances. It is paramount
that we as Muslims have a firm understanding of what he –
‘Issa (AS) represents to us as Muslims. Whether it is Easter
Monday or Christmas day, we as Muslims should know
what Islam says about the issues that are presented to us
on a regular basis.

This four part series will attempt to expound upon the basic
knowledge that Muslims may already have. It will also seek
to introduce evidences from the Nobel Quran and the Pure
Sunnah with regards to issues that may not have been
discussed in detail before. There are four main issues
regarding ‘Issa bin Marium (AS) that we as Muslims must
have knowledge of.

• The Muslim Nation is more Worthy of

‘Issa than all the other nations.
 • Who was Marium? And the Truth about
the Immaculate Conception and the Birth
of ‘Isaa (AS).
• The Life and Near Death of ‘Issa (AS).
• The Inevitable Return of ‘Issa to Slay the
Dajjal (One-eyed liar or the Anti-Christ)
and Lead the Muslim Nation.

We will attempt to deal with each of these four points –

continuing here with Part two – in a knowledge-based
manner. The opinions expressed will be those that are held
by the majority of the Scholars of Islam. The weaker
opinions or those that do not have an evidentiary basis will
not be discussed unless to show their inaccuracy or
incorrectness. In discussing this issue we will only turn to
the verified sources of authenticity. We will only narrate that
which is accepted as true and verified by the Muslim
scholars of past and present. We will not look into sources
that do not have an Islamic basis. A Muslim writes this
discussion for Muslims, from exclusively Islamic scholarly
sources. To debate these issues from others sources (Bible)
is a wholly separate discussion that has no place here.

Who was Marium? And the Truth

about the Immaculate Conception
and the Birth of ‘Isaa (AS).
It has been aptly stated that behind every successful man
there is a woman. In most cases, ones’ mother is by far the
single most profound shaping force behind a young man or
woman. From the moment of conception the mother to be
undergoes emotional, physical and psychological changes
that ready her for the responsibility of shaping the life a new
human being. The mother is an institution of higher
learning. She is a bastion of blind love for her child. She is a
proprietor of undying devotion. The mother is a source of
physical nutrition and safety, emotional attachment,
psychological comfort and spiritual guidance to her growing
child.

Therefore, we are compelled as Muslims to honour, elevate,

adore, protect, esteem, respect, revere, strengthen,
recognize, be dutiful to, give comfort to, show loyalty and
allegiance to, pay homage to and supplicate for ones
mother.

The mother-son relationship is one of great importance and

value in Islam. As such, we have been given many great
examples in the Quran and the Sunnah to model ourselves
after. One can see examples in the Quran of all of the
different forms of family structure. To see the relationship of
a foster mother with her adopted son look to the example of
Musa or Moses (AS) and his foster mother Asiya (AS). To
see the relationship of a single mother raising her son alone
look to the example of Isma‘eel or Ishmael (AS) and his
mother Hajar (AS). To see the relationship of an
unrighteous mother with her children look to the example of
the daughters of Lot or Lut (AS) and their unrighteous
mother.

Of the most poignant and telling mother-son relationships in

the Quran is that of ‘Issa bin Marium (AS). For the first and
last time in history a Prophet would not be addressed by his
father’s name. Rather, he is referred to as Jesus the son of
Mary.

To assess and grasp the true virtue of ‘Issa (AS) it is

necessary to learn about his mother Marium ibnata ‘Imran
(AS).

Who is Marium (AS)?

Marium (AS) simply is of the most complete women of all
humanity, past, present and future.

Rasool ul Allah (SAAW) said: "Many men have reached

completion (in their relationship with Allah such as the
many thousands of Prophets; Ibn Hajr). (Yet,) only four
woman have reached (this same level of) completion.
Marium bint (daughter of) ‘Imran, Asiya the wife of
Pharaoh, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (wife of Rasool ul
Allah) and Fatimah bint Muhammad (reached
completion). The excellence and superiority of ‘Aisha
(wife of Rasool ul Allah) in relation to the rest of women
is the equal of that of Thareed (Meat filled dish) in
relation to other dishes." Agreed upon its authenticity by
both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim.

Marium is the daughter of one of the most well known and

respected men from the Jewish nation. She is from the
house of ‘Imran. Her mother is Hinah bin Faqoud (Ibn
Katheer’s Bidayah).

Hinah bint Faqoud was unable to bear a child for a number

of years. She turned in sincere supplication to Allah (SWT)
beseeching Him (SWT) to bless her with a child whom she
vowed to dedicate to the service of Allah. Allah (SWT) says:
"Allah chose Adam, Nuh (Noah), and the family of
Ibrahim and the family of ‘Imran above the ‘Alameen (all
creation during their respective times). Offspring, one
of the other and Allah is the All-Hearer, All-Knowing.

(Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: ‘O my Lord! I

have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb
to be dedicated for your services (free from all worldly
work and obligations; solely for your worship) so
accept this from me. Verily you are the All-Hearer (You
hear my Du‘a) and the All-Knowing (and you know my
sincere intention in fulfilling this vow).’

Then when she gave birth to her (Marium), she said ‘O

my Lord! I have given birth to a female child (Ibn Abbas
states that the Jews only accepted males into dedicated service).’ – And
Allah knew better what she brought forth (He is the
Creator), - ‘And the male is not like the female, and I
have named her Marium (literally = pure maidservant of
Allah), and I see refuge with You (Allah) for her and her
offspring from the Shaytan (Satan), the outcast.’

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly

acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and
put her under the care of Zakariyya (Prophet Zachary)."
Ali-‘Imran 3:33-37

Rasool ul Allah (SAAW) mentions: "No new born escapes

the prick (touch) of the Shaytan at the time of their
birth. (The touch is what) causes them to begin to
scream. Only Marium and her son (escaped being
molested by the Shaytan)." Reported through authentic
narrations in the Musnad of al-Imam Ahmed and the Sahih
of al-Imam Muslim.

Allah (SWT) thus answered the supplication by Hinah for

Marium and her future offspring.

Marium was taken under the tutelage of the great Prophet

of Allah Zackariya (AS). In fact Allah chose Zachariya (AS)
for the great task of spiritually rearing Marium (AS). Allah
(SWT) describes this in the Quran:

"This is part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, news of

past nations of which you have no knowledge prior to
this) which We reveal to you (O Muhammad). You were
not with them when they cast lots with their pens as to
which of them should be charged with the care of
Marium; nor were you with them when they disputed."
Ali-‘Imran 3:44
The pious leaders of Bani Israel gathered in dispute as to
whom would be given charge of Marium. They decided to
throw their pens in the river (Jordan). The owner of the pen
that flowed against the current would be given charge of
Marium (Ibn Katheer al-Bidayah).

To truly appreciate the virtue of Marium we remember the

words of Allah:

"And (remember) when the angels said: ‘O Marium!

Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you (from Shirk
and disbelief and sin), and chosen you above the
woman of the ‘Alameen (all creation during her time). O
Marium! Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord
and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with those
who bow down (to Him).’" Ali-‘Imran 3:42,43

The angels would openly address her and bring her what
she desired in forms of sustenance. Allah (SWT) says:

"So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly

acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and
put her under the care of Zakariyya (Prophet Zachary).
Every time he entered the praying place to (visit) her, he
found her supplied with sustenance. He said, ‘O
Marium! From where have you received this?’ She said,
‘This is from Allah.’ Verily Allah provides sustenance to
whom He Wills, without limit." Ali-‘Imran 3:37

This honoured woman was therefore chosen by Allah for a

unique mission that would test her faith and resolve.

The Immaculate Conception

Owing the delicate and confusing nature of this great
occurrence, Allah (SWT) records this happening in the
Quran with precision and point by point detail. In a Sura
titled Marium (Chapter 19), Allah (SWT) describes to us the
Immaculate Conception and the birth of ‘Issa (AS). To gain
full benefit and strengthen our grasp of this great happening
we will at times insert explanatory words and arguments
(derived from the Tafseer of the Rabbani Scholars) in the
midst of the verses (in Italics).

Allah (SWT) says in Surat Marium (19:16-26):

"And mention in the Book (the Quran, O Muhammad the

story of) Marium, when she withdrew in seclusion from
her family to a place facing the east.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them. We
then sent unto her our Ruh (Jibreel or Archangel
Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a
man in all respects (physically). In the midst of her
screen and secluded state a strange man confronted her in
her private quarters. Feeling threatened she turned to Allah.

She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious

(Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah.’ Instead of saying I
seek refuge with the Most Mighty she mentioned Allah with
His attribute of Rahmah (Most Gracious) to remind the
seemingly threateningly stranger of Mercy and Grace rather
than Anger and Wrath. Her immediate impulse was to turn
to Allah the Protector rather than to seek what may be the
futile aid of others on the onset of the happening.

(The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your

Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’

She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man has

touched me, nor was I unchaste?’

He said: "So (it will be), your Lord has said, ‘That is
easy for Me (Allah)! And (We wish) to appoint him as a
sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a
matter already decreed.’"

By whose Power and Might were the heavens created and

raised above one another without supports?

By whose Power and Might was the earth created as a

sphere yet made flat for those who tread upon its surface?

By whose Power and Might was Ibraheem (AS) saved from

the fire?

By whose Power and Might was Musa (AS) Saved from

Pharaoh?

By whose Power and Might was Yunus or Jones (AS)

saved from the whale?

By Whose Power and Might was ‘Issa (AS) eventually

going to be saved from the plots of the Jews and Romans?

The answer is found in Suratil-Hashr (59:22-24):

"He is Allah, beside Whom none has the right to be

worshipped but He. (Allah is) the All-Knower of the
unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the
Most Merciful.

He is Allah beside Whom none has the right to be

worshipped but He. (Allah is) the King, the Holy, the
One Free from all defects, the Giver of Security, the
Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the
Compeller, The Supreme. Glory is to Allah! (High is He)
above all that they associate as partners with Him.

He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the

Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All
that is in the Heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He
is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." Al-Hashr (59:22-24)

He said: "So (it will be), your Lord has said, ‘That is
easy for Me (Allah)! And (We wish) to appoint him as a
sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a
matter already decreed.’" A sign of Tawheed during his
stay with Bani Israel and a sign of the nearness of the Day
of Judgment after his descent from the heavens to say the
one eyed liar or the Dajaal.

So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a

far place (Bethlehem about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem).
She remained in Jerusalem until the signs of her pregnancy
began to manifest themselves. When the signs began to
show themselves she moved to Bethlehem for privacy. After
the conception she went to visit her sister, the mother of
Yahya (AS) bin Zachariya (AS) and told her of what had
transpired.

Imam Malik (RA) states: It has reached me that Yahya bin

Zachariya and ‘Issa bin Marium are cousins from the side of
the mother, and that their conception was in the same day
(look for an upcoming discussion of the Story of Yahya and
his father Zachariya). Reported by Ibn Kathir in Bidayah.

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a

date palm. It should not be misunderstood that after
conception Marium immediately and simultaneously gave
birth to a child. This should not be misconstrued due to the
nature of the wording or in misunderstanding the placement
of the Faa (Faa ut-Ta‘qeeb). The previous verse is
preceded with the verse of Conception. The verse of
conception does begin with a Faa, as does this one. This
usually means that the two acts are linked in a specific time
constraint, and in sequence. The important point is that the
time constraint and sequence is relative to the action in
question. The Faa is also used in Surat al-Mu’minoon verse
number 14. Allah says: "Then we made the Nutfah
(semen and ovum) into a clot, then We made the clot
into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little
lump of flesh bones...." The Faa (translated to the word
Then in this example) is used in the same manner of linking
the respective phases. Yet there is no claim that these
phases are done simultaneously, rather it implies that they
are consecutive in nature. As well, we will soon see that the
people accused Marium of immorality because she came
carrying a newborn. This implies that the time frame caused
them to uniformly suspect that the child was hers. Ibn Kathir
states that the majority of the scholars (Ibn Jareer, Ibn al-
Qayim, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Taymiyyah) contend that she
carried ‘Issa (AS) for full term (9 months).

She said: ‘Would that I had died before this, and had
been forgotten and out of sight!’ The pain, fear of
reaction of people and loneliness was unbearable.

Then (the babe or Jibreel) cried unto her from below

her saying: ‘Grieve not, your Lord has provided you a
stream of water beneath you. And shake the trunk of
the date-palm tree towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-
dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad. And if
you see any human being say I have vowed a fast unto
the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any
human being this day.’ Surat Marium (19:16-26)

A spring sprout from beneath her and food was made

available for nourishment. Taking a vow of silence was the
preferred from of fasting during those times. It is deemed
Haraam (prohibited) in Islam.

The conception was Divinely Ordained. This is the

undeniable, verified truth of what truly transpired more than
2000 years ago. It has been eternally recorded for humanity
in the Quran so that there is to be no discrepancy or
disillusion.

In our upcoming discussion we will analyze and dissect

what ‘Issa called to and the miracles that Allah bestowed
upon him to be a sign to mankind. What were the attitudes
of the people towards ‘Issa during his young years and
throughout his Prophethood? How and why ‘Issa was saved
from the cross?

These and other points will be discussed in part three of this

four part series seeking to learn about the slandered and
oppressed Prophet and Messenger of Allah ‘Issa bin
Marium.
Related Items

Articles
• The Truth about Jesus (Part One): The Muslim Nation is More Worthy of
Jesus Than All Others by Yahya Adel Ibrahim
• Belief in the Messengers by Dr. Ja`far Sheikh Idris

Audio Lectures
• The Birth of Jesus Was a Miracle (& the Story of Maryam) by Yahya Adel
Ibrahim
• The Message of Jesus Christ by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
More From This Section
• Iman

What do you think of this article?

Recommend this link to a friend

© Islaam.com | Contact us | Disclaimer | ^ Back to top