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The mother of Maryam was wife of `Imran, and her name was Hannah bint Faqudh. Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned that Hannah could not have children and that one day, she saw a bird feeding its chick. She wished she could have children and supplicated to Allah to grant her offspring. Allah accepted her supplication, and when her husband slept with her, she became pregnant. She vowed to make her child concentrate on worship and serving Bayt Al-Maqdis (the Masjid in Jerusalem), when she became aware that she was pregnant she said, “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing” (Surah Al-Imran, #35) meaning, You hear my supplication and You know my intention. She did not know then what she would give birth to, a male or a female. ‘Then when she gave birth to her, she said: “O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child, ـ and Allah knew better what she bore. And the male is not like the female“. in strength and the commitment to worship Allah and serve the Masjid in Jerusalem. “And I have named her Maryam” (#36)

Allah states that He has accepted Maryam as a result of her mother’s vow and that ‘He made her grow in a good manner‘ meaning, made her conduct becoming, her mannerism delightful and He made her well liked among people. He also made her accompany the righteous people, so that she learned righteousness, knowledge and religion. ‘And put her under the care of Zakariyya’ meaning, Allah made Zakariyya her sponsor. Allah made Zakariyya Maryam’s guardian for her benefit, so that she would learn from his tremendous knowledge and righteous conduct. He was the husband of her maternal aunt, as Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Jarir stated.

Allah then emphasizes Maryam’s honor and virtue at the place of worship she attended, ‘Every time he entered the Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance’, meaning he would find with her the fruits of the summer during winter, and the fruits of the winter during summer.’When Zakariyya would see this; He said: “O Maryam! From where have you gotten this” meaning, where did you get these fruits from ? She said, “This is from Allah.” Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit’. (# 37)

Ibn Jarir recorded that `Ikrimah said, “Maryam’s mother left with Maryam, carrying her in her infant cloth, and took her to the rabbis from the offspring of Aaron, the brother of Musa. They were responsible for taking care of Bayt Al-Maqdis (the Masjid) at that time, just as there were those who took care of the Ka`bah. Maryam’s mother said to them, `Take this child whom I vowed [to serve the Masjid], I have set her free, since she is my daughter, for no menstruating woman should enter the Masjid, and I shall not take her back home.’ They said, `She is the daughter of our Imam,’ as `Imran used to lead them in prayer, `who took care of our sacrificial rituals.’ Zakariyya said, `Give her to me, for her maternal aunt is my wife.’ They said, `Our hearts cannot bear that you take her, for she is the daughter of our Imam.’ So they conducted a lottery with the pens with which they wrote the Tawrah, and Zakariyya won the lottery and took Maryam into his care.”’. `Ikrimah, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, and several others said that the rabbis went into the Jordan river and conducted a lottery there, deciding to throw their pens into the river. The pen that remained afloat and idle would indicate that its owner would take care of Maryam. When they threw their pens into the river, the water took all the pens under, except Zakariyya’s pen, which remained afloat in its place. Zakariyya was also their master, chief, scholar, Imam and Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be on him and the rest of the Prophets.

Part II: Coming soon inshallah

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