Allah says: (And [mention] when the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]) Surah Ali ‘Imran 42-43)
The name Mary is mentioned in the Quran about 34 times, 11 of which directly mention Mary herself and 23 times mention Jesus, the son of Mary.
She is the only woman named in the Quran, and her name is explicitly mentioned, not implied as with other believing women.
Hannah, the mother of Mary, prayed to God Almighty to protect her daughter and offspring from the devil. The Holy Quran mentions Hannah's vow and her prayer in Surah Ali ‘Imran: {˹Remember˺ when the wife of ’Imrân said, “My Lord! I dedicate what is in my womb entirely to Your service,1 so accept it from me. You ˹alone˺ are truly the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” 35. When she delivered, she said, “My Lord! I have given birth to a girl,”—and Allah fully knew what she had delivered—“and the male is not like the female.1 I have named her Mary, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Satan, the accursed.” 36}
The young Mary grew up worshipping and dedicating herself to God, and she found solace in the sanctuary of Zacharias. Zacharias, her guardian, would find fruits out of season whenever he entered the sanctuary: grapes and apricots in winter, oranges and lemons in summer. Mary's life was marked by goodness and righteousness despite her pure beauty and youthfulness. She remained steadfast in her devotion and prayer, secluded from her family for long hours. One day, while Mary was in a secluded place outside her family's home, she felt the urge to pray.
As she began to pray, the Angel Gabriel appeared to her in human form. Initially startled, Mary sought refuge in God from any harm if the angel feared God and was righteous. Allah says in the holy Quran: (And mention in the Book ˹O Prophet, the story of˺ Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east,16. screening herself off from them. Then We sent to her Our angel, ˹Gabriel,˺ appearing before her as a man, perfectly formed.17) Surah Maryam
Mary told Gabriel not to harm her if he fears God. Gabriel reassured her that he was sent by God with a message and did not intend any harm. He informed her that God had chosen her to bear a son, Allah says in the Holy Quran: (She appealed, “I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! ˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.” 18 He responded, “I am only a messenger from your Lord, ˹sent˺ to bless you with a pure son.” 19 Surah Maryam: 18 & 19) – Surah Maryam
Mary did not reject Gabriel's message but was astonished. She asked how she could conceive a child when she had not been married or committed any indecency. Allah says: (She wondered, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor am I unchaste?” 20. He replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so will We make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.’ It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed 21). Surah Maryam: 20 & 21
Gabriel replied that God is capable of all things and had ordained this child to be born as a sign of His will.
After a while, Mary decided to withdraw from her people and devote herself entirely to worship, awaiting the birth of her miraculous child.
When the pains of childbirth began, she was alone but God was with her and in these difficult times. She had mixed feelings. Her feelings were conflicted between her love for God and absolute faith in Him, and He had chosen for her and her son, and between her fear of being accused in her religion. She was wondering what will she be telling them? As she has never lied or deceived anyone. She sought refuge under a palm tree and wished she had died before this moment.
God granted her another miracle: as soon as Jesus was born and breathed his first breath, he spoke to comfort his mother, assuring her not to grieve telling her: “mother do not grief”.
Jesus instructed Mary to shake the trunk of the palm tree so ripe dates would fall down for her to eat, providing her with nourishment and strength. He also instructed her not to speak to anyone and to remain silent when she returned to her people. Allah says: (So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a remote place.22 Then the pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, “Alas! I wish I had died before this, and was a thing long forgotten!”23 So a voice1 reassured her from below her, “Do not grieve! Your Lord has provided a stream at your feet.24) Surah Mayam: 22,23 & 24
Mary, carrying her newborn, returned to her village with faith and determination, ready to face whatever questions her people might ask about the child. She remained silent, leaving the answers to God.
She carried her argument and evidence between her arms, confident that God would support and save her and her child. She embraced the child and walked in the streets. When people saw her in this state, which showed motherhood, they said as mentioned in the Quran: (Then she returned to her people, carrying him. They said ˹in shock˺, “O Mary! You have certainly done a horrible thing!)- Surah Maryam: 27
She was known among the people for her uprightness and good character. She was the daughter of two pious parents, and she had lived in the care of Zakariya. So how could she come with the signs of motherhood so apparent, with no justification for this except what the people thought of her !!
The people were astonished to see Mary with her newborn child and questioned her. They accused her of immorality, but Mary remained steadfast, relying on God's help and the miraculous speech of her infant son, Jesus, who defended her innocence. This miraculous event served as proof of Jesus' prophethood and Mary's purity and sanctity as his mother.
So they said to her: "How can we be answered by one who is a small, speechless baby?"
Allah says in the Quran: (So she pointed to the baby. They exclaimed, “How can we talk to someone who is an infant in the cradle?”) - Surah Maryam: 29
(Jesus declared, “I am truly a servant of Allah. He has destined me to be given the Scripture and to be a prophet. 30 He has made me a blessing wherever I go, and bid me to establish prayer and give alms-tax as long as I live,31 and to be kind to my mother. He has not made me arrogant or defiant.32) - Surah Maryam: 30, 31 & 31
This surprise made them collapse in awe. They had wanted to prove Mary's wrongdoing to stone her as the wrongdoer, but Allah supported her and her child and saved them with a miracle that proved the prophecy of Jesus and her purity and sanctity... she is his mother.
History, which tells the story of our Lord Jesus, may peace be upon him, mentions that his mother was with him in all stages of his mission. She deserved to be a symbol of motherhood and mentioned in the Quran as an example of modesty, as Allah says:
(˹There is˺ also ˹the example of˺ Mary, the daughter of ’Imrân, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her ˹womb˺ through Our angel ˹Gabriel˺.1 She testified to the words of her Lord and His Scriptures, and was one of the ˹sincerely˺ devout.) – Sura At-Tahrim
