Page 54 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman

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abstinence to the All-Merciful, and today I will not speak to any hu-
man being'" (Surah Maryam: 26). This is what she told her people.
After this, she only pointed to the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), about

whom Allah said through Gabriel: "He will speak to people in the cra-
dle and when fully grown, and will be one of the believers" (Surah Al
'Imran: 46), when people confronted and slandered her.
Allah showed her people a great miracle by enabling the Prophet
Jesus (pbuh) to speak while he was still a baby in the cradle. Through his
words, Allah exonerated his mother Mary and also introduced the
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as one of His Prophets sent to the Israelites:
She pointed toward him. They asked: "How can a baby in the cradle
speak?" He [Jesus] said: "I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the
Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am,
directed me to perform prayer and give alms [zakat] as long as I live, and
to show devotion to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arro-
gant. Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I die, and the day
I am raised up again alive." That is Jesus, son of Mary, the Word of Truth
about which they are in doubt. (Surah Maryam: 29-34)

This miracle amazed Mary's people. By saying: "… and she who
guarded her chastity. We breathed into her some of Our Spirit and
made her and her son a Sign for all the worlds" (Surat al-Anbiya': 91),
Allah made both of them superior to all other people. Mary's superior
character, honor, and purity were revealed through this speech, and
those who had slandered her were defeated.
By saying: "And We made the son of Mary and his mother a Sign
and gave them shelter on a mountainside where there was a meadow
and a flowing spring" (Surat al-Mu'minun: 50), He reveals that the
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Mary continued to live under His grace after
these events.

Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman