The announcement of the birth of Prophet Isa (AS) is mentioned in two places in the Qur’an. Initially she was visited by many angels and they announced to her: “OMaryam, indeed God gives you glad tidings of a word from Him; his name is the Messiah, son of Mary, eminent in this world and the Hereafter and he is of those drawn near. And he shall speak to people in the cradle and as a grown man, and he shall be of the righteous.” (Qur’an, 3: 45-46) Maryam was shocked by the announcement made to her by the angels and she said: “My Lord, how shall I have a son while no human being has touched me?” He said, “So shall it be! God creates whatever He wills. When He decrees a matter, He but says to it ‘Be’ and so it is.” (Qur’an. 3:47) Isa(A) the son of Maryam, is the only person who has a maternal reference to his name because he has no father. He is entirely the flesh of her flesh; the Creator deemed that he had to Be, and like Prophet Adam(A); who was created from the many different types of clay, and Hawa (Eve) from Adam(A)’s rib, was created by the word Be, all three are miracles of Allah. The angels comforted Maryam and announced to her that her son was to be the long awaited prophet to her people, that with divine guidance he would walk God’s path helping to revive the Torah and the Evangel and would bear a new revelation from God. Maryam immediately retreated into solitude and during her seclusion Allah(SWT) sent the Angel Jibril in the form of a man who made the second proclamation to her. Maryam was struck with fear upon seeing a man in her cubicle and appealed to Allah for protection. The Angel Jibril announced: “Indeed, I am none other than a messenger of your Lord, to grant to you a boy, most pure” (Qur’an, 19:19) We do not find any details in the Qur’an on the duration of her pregnancy, but we read that she secluded herself by moving away from her people: So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a remote place. And the birth pangs drove her to the trunk of a date –palm.She said: “ Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight. (Qur’an, 19:22-23) Her cry did not go unanswered. In her moment of anguish, Allah re- sponded immediately. “Do not sorrow. Assuredly your Lord has placed beneath you a streamlet. And shake toward you the trunk of the date- palm, and it shall drop upon you a date, ripe and fresh. So eat and drink and cool your eyes. And if you should see any hu- man being, then say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the All- Merciful a fast. Thus never shall I speak today to any human being.” (Qur’an, 19:24-26) She brought the baby to her people. They asked her how could she do this when she came from a family known for their righteousness? She pointed to the baby and they angrily retorted: “How shall we speak to one in the cradle, an infant boy?” (Qur’an, 19:29) Responding from within the cradle, Isa(A) said: “Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and has made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined me the Prayer and Charity, as long as I am alive, and being virtuous to my mother; and He has not made me insolent, wretched. So peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised to life.” (Qur’an, 19:30-33) Allah (SWT) the Most Merciful begets not nor is he begotten. He is the Creator and Maker of everything. Maryam’s conception of Isa (A) without a father is one of the beautiful miracles of Allah (SWT). Maryam is an example of a righteous woman who dedicated her life to serve Allah (SWT). He (SWT) is the Ordainer and Creator of All Things. One must always put their trust in Allah (SWT) and know that He is in control of the entire universe. Maryam’s (A) story is a great example to all Muslims around the world today. Do not sorrow. Assuredly your Lord has placed beneath you a streamlet. And shake toward you the trunk of the date-palm, and it shall drop upon you a date, ripe and fresh. (Qur’an, 19:24-25)
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