Yahya Adel Ibrahim

All Praise is for Allah alone. He is the Rabb of all that exists. Surely, we send the highest Salah and Salam upon the Final Prophet, the leader of the pious and upon his family, companions and those who follow their example with Ih�san till the Day of Reckoning.

One of the greatest hurdles confronting Muslims today is a lack of knowledge about certain essential beliefs that we as Muslims must unwaveringly adhere to. Of the most pertinent issues facing Muslims living in localities that are heavily influenced by western culture is how we view �Issa bin Marium -Jesus the Son of Mary � �alihi as-Salaam (AS).

On a cyclical basis we are confronted with different "religious" occasions that are marked by our Christian neighbours, coworkers and acquaintances. It is paramount that we as Muslims have a firm understanding of what he � �Issa (AS) represents to us as Muslims. Whether it is Easter Monday or Christmas day, we as Muslims should know what Islam says about the issues that are presented to us on a regular basis.

This four part series will attempt to expound upon the basic knowledge that Muslims may already have. It will also seek to introduce evidences from the Nobel Quran and the Pure Sunnah with regards to issues that may not have been discussed in detail before. There are four main issues regarding �Issa bin Marium (AS) that we as Muslims must have knowledge of.

We will attempt to deal with each of these four points � continuing here with Part two � in a knowledge-based manner. The opinions expressed will be those that are held by the majority of the Scholars of Islam. The weaker opinions or those that do not have an evidentiary basis will not be discussed unless to show their inaccuracy or incorrectness. In discussing this issue we will only turn to the verified sources of authenticity. We will only narrate that which is accepted as true and verified by the Muslim scholars of past and present. We will not look into sources that do not have an Islamic basis. A Muslim writes this discussion for Muslims, from exclusively Islamic scholarly sources. To debate these issues from others sources (Bible) is a wholly separate discussion that has no place here.

Who was Marium? And the Truth about the Immaculate Conception and the Birth of �Isaa (AS).

It has been aptly stated that behind every successful man there is a woman. In most cases, ones� mother is by far the single most profound shaping force behind a young man or woman. From the moment of conception the mother to be undergoes emotional, physical and psychological changes that ready her for the responsibility of shaping the life a new human being. The mother is an institution of higher learning. She is a bastion of blind love for her child. She is a proprietor of undying devotion. The mother is a source of physical nutrition and safety, emotional attachment, psychological comfort and spiritual guidance to her growing child.

Therefore, we are compelled as Muslims to honour, elevate, adore, protect, esteem, respect, revere, strengthen, recognize, be dutiful to, give comfort to, show loyalty and allegiance to, pay homage to and supplicate for ones mother.

The mother-son relationship is one of great importance and value in Islam. As such, we have been given many great examples in the Quran and the Sunnah to model ourselves after. One can see examples in the Quran of all of the different forms of family structure. To see the relationship of a foster mother with her adopted son look to the example of Musa or Moses (AS) and his foster mother Asiya (AS). To see the relationship of a single mother raising her son alone look to the example of Isma�eel or Ishmael (AS) and his mother Hajar (AS). To see the relationship of an unrighteous mother with her children look to the example of the daughters of Lot or Lut (AS) and their unrighteous mother.

Of the most poignant and telling mother-son relationships in the Quran is that of �Issa bin Marium (AS). For the first and last time in history a Prophet would not be addressed by his father�s name. Rather, he is referred to as Jesus the son of Mary.

To assess and grasp the true virtue of �Issa (AS) it is necessary to learn about his mother Marium ibnata �Imran (AS).

Who is Marium (AS)?

Marium (AS) simply is of the most complete women of all humanity, past, present and future.

Rasool ul Allah (SAAW) said: "Many men have reached completion (in their relationship with Allah such as the many thousands of Prophets; Ibn Hajr). (Yet,) only four woman have reached (this same level of) completion. Marium bint (daughter of) �Imran, Asiya the wife of Pharaoh, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (wife of Rasool ul Allah) and Fatimah bint Muhammad (reached completion). The excellence and superiority of �Aisha (wife of Rasool ul Allah) in relation to the rest of women is the equal of that of Thareed (Meat filled dish) in relation to other dishes." Agreed upon its authenticity by both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim.

Marium is the daughter of one of the most well known and respected men from the Jewish nation. She is from the house of �Imran. Her mother is Hinah bin Faqoud (Ibn Katheer�s Bidayah).

Hinah bint Faqoud was unable to bear a child for a number of years. She turned in sincere supplication to Allah (SWT) beseeching Him (SWT) to bless her with a child whom she vowed to dedicate to the service of Allah. Allah (SWT) says:

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyya (Prophet Zachary)." Ali-�Imran 3:33-37

Rasool ul Allah (SAAW) mentions: "No new born escapes the prick (touch) of the Shaytan at the time of their birth. (The touch is what) causes them to begin to scream. Only Marium and her son (escaped being molested by the Shaytan)." Reported through authentic narrations in the Musnad of al-Imam Ahmed and the Sahih of al-Imam Muslim.

Allah (SWT) thus answered the supplication by Hinah for Marium and her future offspring.

Marium was taken under the tutelage of the great Prophet of Allah Zackariya (AS). In fact Allah chose Zachariya (AS) for the great task of spiritually rearing Marium (AS). Allah (SWT) describes this in the Quran:

"This is part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, news of past nations of which you have no knowledge prior to this) which We reveal to you (O Muhammad). You were not with them when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Marium; nor were you with them when they disputed." Ali-�Imran 3:44

The pious leaders of Bani Israel gathered in dispute as to whom would be given charge of Marium. They decided to throw their pens in the river (Jordan). The owner of the pen that flowed against the current would be given charge of Marium (Ibn Katheer al-Bidayah).

To truly appreciate the virtue of Marium we remember the words of Allah:

"And (remember) when the angels said: �O Marium! Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you (from Shirk and disbelief and sin), and chosen you above the woman of the �Alameen (all creation during her time). O Marium! Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with those who bow down (to Him).�" Ali-�Imran 3:42,43

The angels would openly address her and bring her what she desired in forms of sustenance. Allah (SWT) says:

"So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyya (Prophet Zachary). Every time he entered the praying place to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said, �O Marium! From where have you received this?� She said, �This is from Allah.� Verily Allah provides sustenance to whom He Wills, without limit." Ali-�Imran 3:37

This honoured woman was therefore chosen by Allah for a unique mission that would test her faith and resolve.

The Immaculate Conception

Owing the delicate and confusing nature of this great occurrence, Allah (SWT) records this happening in the Quran with precision and point by point detail. In a Sura titled Marium (Chapter 19), Allah (SWT) describes to us the Immaculate Conception and the birth of �Issa (AS). To gain full benefit and strengthen our grasp of this great happening we will at times insert explanatory words and arguments (derived from the Tafseer of the Rabbani Scholars) in the midst of the verses (in Italics).

Allah (SWT) says in Surat Marium (19:16-26):

She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them. We then sent unto her our Ruh (Jibreel or Archangel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects (physically). In the midst of her screen and secluded state a strange man confronted her in her private quarters. Feeling threatened she turned to Allah.

She said: �Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah.� Instead of saying I seek refuge with the Most Mighty she mentioned Allah with His attribute of Rahmah (Most Gracious) to remind the seemingly threateningly stranger of Mercy and Grace rather than Anger and Wrath. Her immediate impulse was to turn to Allah the Protector rather than to seek what may be the futile aid of others on the onset of the happening.

He said: "So (it will be), your Lord has said, �That is easy for Me (Allah)! And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter already decreed.�" A sign of Tawheed during his stay with Bani Israel and a sign of the nearness of the Day of Judgment after his descent from the heavens to say the one eyed liar or the Dajaal.

So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (Bethlehem about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem). She remained in Jerusalem until the signs of her pregnancy began to manifest themselves. When the signs began to show themselves she moved to Bethlehem for privacy. After the conception she went to visit her sister, the mother of Yahya (AS) bin Zachariya (AS) and told her of what had transpired.

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date palm. It should not be misunderstood that after conception Marium immediately and simultaneously gave birth to a child. This should not be misconstrued due to the nature of the wording or in misunderstanding the placement of the Faa (Faa ut-Ta�qeeb). The previous verse is preceded with the verse of Conception. The verse of conception does begin with a Faa, as does this one. This usually means that the two acts are linked in a specific time constraint, and in sequence. The important point is that the time constraint and sequence is relative to the action in question. The Faa is also used in Surat al-Mu�minoon verse number 14. Allah says: "Then we made the Nutfah (semen and ovum) into a clot, then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of flesh bones...." The Faa (translated to the word Then in this example) is used in the same manner of linking the respective phases. Yet there is no claim that these phases are done simultaneously, rather it implies that they are consecutive in nature. As well, we will soon see that the people accused Marium of immorality because she came carrying a newborn. This implies that the time frame caused them to uniformly suspect that the child was hers. Ibn Kathir states that the majority of the scholars (Ibn Jareer, Ibn al-Qayim, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Taymiyyah) contend that she carried �Issa (AS) for full term (9 months).

She said: �Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!� The pain, fear of reaction of people and loneliness was unbearable.

Then (the babe or Jibreel) cried unto her from below her saying: �Grieve not, your Lord has provided you a stream of water beneath you. And shake the trunk of the date-palm tree towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human being say I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.� Surat Marium (19:16-26)

A spring sprout from beneath her and food was made available for nourishment. Taking a vow of silence was the preferred from of fasting during those times. It is deemed Haraam (prohibited) in Islam.

The conception was Divinely Ordained. This is the undeniable, verified truth of what truly transpired more than 2000 years ago. It has been eternally recorded for humanity in the Quran so that there is to be no discrepancy or disillusion.

In our upcoming discussion we will analyze and dissect what �Issa called to and the miracles that Allah bestowed upon him to be a sign to mankind. What were the attitudes of the people towards �Issa during his young years and throughout his Prophethood? How and why �Issa was saved from the cross?

These and other points will be discussed in part three of this four part series seeking to learn about the slandered and oppressed Prophet and Messenger of Allah �Issa bin Marium.