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PROLOGUE
Hadhrat Sayyidah Maryam (Alaihis-Salaam)
Before commencing with the story of Hadhrat Nabi Isaa (Alayhis Salaam), it is necessary to discuss his noble and wonderful mother, Hadhrat Sayyidah Maryam (Alaihis Salaam)
In the Quraan Majeed Allah Ta’laa mentions that He has granted her a status higher and nobler than all the women of the world of her time. Allah Ta’laa has made Hadhrat Maryam a sign of His Qudrat (Power) by her giving birth miraculously to Hadhrat Nabi Isaa (Alaihis Salaam) without the natural agency of a father.
Hadhrat Sayyidah Maryam (Alayhis-Salaam), the noble mother of Hadrat Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam), occupies one of the loftiest ranks of Divine Proximity, On the Day of Qiyamah, at a certain juncture, an Angel will call: (All Rijaal come forward.” The first person to step out from the crowds will be Sayyidah Maryam (Alayhas salaam). While the literal meaning of rijaal is ‘men’, in the terminology of the Aakhirat it will be reference to the Auliya. The Quraan and Ahaadith speaking glowingly of her: About seven centuries or more, prior to the advent of Rasullullah (sallallhu alayhi wa sallam), there was the nation of Bani Israeel an Aabid (i.e. a buzrug/pious person who devoted his life to the worship of Allah Ta’laa). His name was Imraan. By virtue of his profound piety he was appointed the Imaam of Masjidul Aqsa.
Hadhrat Imraan’s wife, Sayyidah Hannah too was extremely pious. She was renowned for her Taqwa. The entire nation highly honored and loved both husband and wife for their nobility and piety. Both Nabi Sulaimaan (alayhis salaam), and the roots of their lineal tree was Hadhrat Nabi Haroon (alaihis salaam), the brother of Hadhrat Nabi Musaa (alaihis salaam)
However, Sayyidah Hannah felt sad because she was childless. She had an intense yearning for a child. Her desire for a child was intensely consuming. Her days were perpetually sad. She always supplicated to Allah Ta’laa for a child. Once while Sayyidah Hannah was relaxing in the yard of her home, her gaze fell on a bird which was affectionately feeding her chick. The love which the mother bird displayed towards her chick exercised a profound effect on Sayyidah Hannah. It intensified her sadness and yearning for a child. Restless and stricken with grief, she raised her hands and supplicated (made dua with greater fervour). In her dua she supplicate:
“O Allah! Bestow to me also offspring as you have bestowed to the bird so that the child be the Noor(Light) and happiness of my heart.”
This supplication which emanated from the innermost recess of Sayyidah Hannah’s heart found its target of Divine Acceptance. Allah Ta’laa accepted her dua. Within a short while, Sayyidah Hannah perceived that she had conceived. There was no limit to her joy and delight. In her moments of ecstatic delight she made a vow to Allah Ta’laa : “I shall dedicate (make Waqf) to Musjidul Aqsa the child that will be born to me.”
Dedicating a child for the service of Musjidul Aqsa was an act of the highest merit in the Deen of Bani Israeel.
Sayyidah Hannah eagerly awaited the moment of her child’s arrival. When the child was born, to her surprise, it was a girl. She had been under the impression that a boy would born, hence her Vow of dedicating the child to the Masjid.
Despite her delight, the thought of not being able to fulfill her vow apprehended her with anxiety and uncertainty. She was extremely perplexed. How will she able to honor the Pledge she had given to Allah Ta’laa? “How can I now discharge the Vow I made to Allah Ta’laa? The baby is a girl!” The rule was that only males could be dedicated to the service of the Masjid. Dispelling her grief on this issue, a Voice from Allah Ta’laa said to her: “We have accepted your girl. Your family will gain greater honor and blessedness by virtue of this girl.”
Sayyidah Hannah named her baby Maryam, and supplicated to Allah: “O Allah! Protect her and her offspring from every mischief of shaitaan.” In the Suryaani (Syriac) language Maryam means servant. This name was selected for her in view of her being dedicated (made Waqf) for the service of Masjidul Aqsa.
Hadhrat Sayyidah Maryam (alaihis salaam) was born an orphan. Her father, Imraan had died during the pregnancy of her mother. According to another version, Sayyidah Maryam was orphaned during infancy. Sayyidah Hannah tended to her child with profound love and care, She left no stone unturned in her care for Sayyidah Maryam (alaihis salaam).
The Ambiya Of Allah Ta’laa by Majlisul Ulama
