Page 63 - The Glad Tidings of the Messiah

ccording to the historical sources, Mary
was born at a time when the disorder
mentioned earlier in the book was hap-
pening, when Roman oppression was
real, and the Jews were impatiently await-
ing the Messiah's (pbuh) arrival. She was a
descendent of 'Imran, whose family had been
made superior by Allah (Surah Al 'Imran, 33). Allah
chose her from among them, purified her, and placed her
above all other women, for as Allah reveals in the Qur'an:
And when the angels said: "Mary, Allah has chosen
you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other
women. Mary, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow
with those who bow." (Surah Al 'Imran, 42-43)
The family of 'Imran was known to believe in Allah, to
seek His good pleasure in whatever they do, and to always re-
spect the limits that He has established. When Imran's wife
learned of her pregnancy, she immediately turned to Allah in
prayer and dedicated her unborn child to Allah. It is a sign of
her true submission to Allah that she named her child Maryam
(Mary in English), meaning "someone who is always worship-
ping Allah." This subject is revealed in the Qur'an:
Remember when the wife of 'Imran said: "My Lord, I
have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated
[for Your service]. Please accept my prayer. You are the
All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." When she gave birth,