Page 51 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman
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giving birth. 12
Doctors suggest that in the second stage of labor, the woman's head
should be slightly raised to take advantage of gravity. Thus, hospital de-
livery rooms have beds with suitably placed handles and footrests that
enable pregnant women to give birth in the most comfortable position.
Other practitioners advise their patients to squat or sit on specially
adapted birth chairs. Before recent technological developments, some
birth rooms featured a rope hanging from the ceiling, which the expec-
tant mother was to use to try and pull herself up, thus helping the birth
process. All of these methods are theoretically and logically helpful. 13
Perhaps this is why Allah told Mary to pull and shake the date tree.
(Allah knows the truth.)
Mary Returns to Her Community
When Mary returned with the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), her people
could not comprehend Allah's miracle. Thus, they slandered her, even
though they knew that she, being a member of 'Imran's family, was de-
vout, held Allah in great fear and respect, had an immac-
ulate character, and always protected her
modesty. Allah reveals some of these
slanders:
