Our Islam

27- SHE WENT TO HER PEOPLE CARRYING HIM, THEY SAID: “O MARIAM, YOU HAVE DONE A VERY WRONG DEED”.

28- “O HARON’S (AARON) SISTER, YOUR FATHER WAS NOT AN EVIL MAN, NEITHER WAS YOUR MOTHER AN ADULTERER”.

29- SHE POINTED TO HIM, THEY SAID: “HOW WILL WE SPEAK TO AN INFANT IN THE CRADLE?”

30- HE SAID: “I AM A SLAVE OF ALLAH, HE HAS GIVEN ME THE BOOK AND MADE ME A PROPHET”.

31- “AND HE MADE ME BLESSED WHEREVER I MAY BE, AND ENJOINED ME TO KEEP THE SALAH AND GIVE ZAKAH AS LONG AS I LIVE”.

32- “AND TO BE GOOD AND KIND TO MY MOTHER, AND DID NOT MAKE ME OVERPOWERING OR TO BE HAPPY WITH EVIL”.

33- “AND PEACE IS UPON ME THE DAY I WAS BORN, THE DAY I DIE AND THE DAY I WILL BE RESURRECTED TO LIVE”.

The miracle of the immaculate conception, was supported by another miracle seen by all, which was the newly born baby Jesus speaking fluently to people, and telling them all about himself.

Mary having heard the newly born Jesus, peace upon him, speak to her fluently, was contented and reassured.  She carried him to her people, who spoke to her harshly rebuking her.  She pointed to the newly born baby in her arms, asking them to address him instead, which surprised them, but they were more than astonished to hear him speak to them in very clear and fluent words, telling them about himself being a learned prophet, for Allah the Highest taught him the book (Torah) and blessed him.

It is interesting that Allah the Highest states, Jesus peace upon him, as being good and kind to his mother, as He stated about Yahiya, peace upon him, being good and kind to his parents.  “AND HE WAS GOOD AND KIND TO HIS PARENTS AND WAS NOT OVERPOWERING AND DISOBEDIENT”. (S:19  A:14)

Allah the Highest bestowed peace upon Jesus on the day he was born, the day he dies and the day he will be resurrected, as He also promised Yahiya.

22- SHE CARRIED HIM AND WENT HIDING IN A DISTANT PLACE.

23- THEN CHILDBIRTH CAME TO HER AND MADE HER REST ON THE STEM OF A PALM DATE TREE, SHE SAID: “I WISH I DIED BEFORE THIS AND WAS TRIVIAL AND TOTALLY FORGOTTEN”.

24- HE CALLED HER FROM UNDERNEATH HER: “DO NOT GRIEVE, FOR ALLAH HAS MADE A STREAM OF WATER  UNDERNEATH YOU”.

25- “AND SHAKE THE STEM OF THE PALM DATE TREE, AND IT WILL DROP DOWN ON YOU GOOD AND RIPE DATES”

26- “EAT AND DRINK AND BE CONTENTED, AND IF YOU SEE ANY HUMAN BEING SAY: I HAVE VOWED TO FAST FOR THE MOST MERCIFUL, THEREFORE I WILL NOT SPEAK TO A HUMAN BEING TODAY”.

After Mariam became pregnant, she hide away from her people, some say that she stayed with Zakariah’s  wife, who was also her blood relation (sister, aunt or cousin).

When her labour pains came, it forced her to rest against the stem of a date palm tree.  This was the hard moment, as she would not be able to hide her child when born,  therefore she felt very despondent and desperate wished that she died before that happened and was totally forgotten.

She gave birth to Jesus peace upon him, and as soon as he was born, he called he spoke to her from underneath her, saying: “DO NOT GRIEVE, FOR ALLAH HAS MADE A STREAM OF WATER  UNDERNEATH YOU” *  “AND SHAKE THE STEM OF THE PALM DATE TREE, AND IT WILL DROP DOWN ON YOU GOOD AND RIPE DATES” *  “EAT AND DRINK AND BE CONTENTED, AND IF YOU SEE ANY HUMAN BEING SAY: I HAVE VOWED TO FAST FOR THE MOST MERCIFUL, THEREFORE I WILL NOT SPEAK TO A HUMAN BEING TODAY”

The infant Jesus peace upon him speaking, was the miracle which was to prove her miracle of the immaculate conception of Jesus peace upon him.  She was given water to drink and food to eat after having given birth, but above all she had her newly born speaking, and she could face the world then.

It is interesting that while Allah the Highest provided to Mary in the temple, without her having to work, yet on this occasion, she had to get the water to drink from the stream, and had to shake the stem of the date palm tree to drop the dates.  In reality, no woman, let alone one who has just given birth, could shake such a tree enough to drop any dates.  When I tried to see what it takes to drop dates from a date palm tree, it took 4 strong men to move the tree to drop few dates.  Yet it is Allah’s policy on Earth that one has to act, even if in a small way for things to happen.

Jesus peace upon him told his mother Mariam not to speak to people but to tell them, perhaps by signing that she is fasting and not speaking.  Fasting by not speaking to people was a way of fasting of the Children of Israel at the time.  She Had her newly born baby Jesus to speak on her behalf.

16- AND REMEMBER MARIAM IN THE BOOK, AS SHE ISOLATED HERSELF FROM HER PEOPLE IN AN EASTERN PLACE.

17- SHE PUT A SHIELD BETWEEN HERSELF AND THEM AND WE SENT HER OUR SPIRIT WHO TOOK THE SHAPE OF A PERFECT HUMAN BEING BEFORE HER.

18- SHE SAID: “I SEEK REFUGE WITH ALLAH FROM YOU, IF YOU ARE PIOUS”.

19- HE SAID: “BUT I AM YOUR LORD’S MESSENGER TO GRANT YOU A PURE BOY”.

20- SHE SAID: “HOW WILL I HAVE A BOY WHEN NO HUMAN EVER TOUCHED ME AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN AN ADULTERER”.

21- HE SAID: “THIS IS WHAT YOUR LORD HAS SAID: “AND IT IS EASY FOR ME TO DO, AND TO BE A SIGN FOR MANKIND, AND A MERCY FROM US, AND IT IS A MATTER THAT IS TO HAPPEN”.

Mariam was born to Emran, who was the high priest at the temple and who was a descendant of David, peace upon him.  Mariam was given for the service of the temple where she lived and worshipped.  Being a female, her guardian was Allah’s prophet Zakariah, peace upon him, who was the only person to visit her in her chamber.  Zakariah used to see Allah’s blessings upon her, he used to see food in her chamber, when no one had brought her food, and he used to see her with food out of season; when he asked her where she got it from: “HER LORD ACCEPTED HER GRACIOUSLY, AND BROUGHT HER UP GOOD AND PURE, AND ZAKARIAH WAS ASSIGNED FOR HER CARE (IN THE TEMPLE), WHENEVER HE ENTERED THE CHAMBER ON HER, HE FOUND SHE HAD PROVISIONS, HE SAID: “MARIAM, WHERE ARE THESE PROVISIONS FROM?”  SHE SAID: “IT IS FROM ALLAH, FOR ALLAH PROVIDES TO WHOM HE WILLS WITHOUT LIMITS”.  (S:3  A:37)

The eastern place might be a description of the location of the place, being in the east, or it might be symbolic of the place being good and pure.

Allah the Highest sent her Gabriel, peace upon him, who appeared to her in her chamber in the form of a perfect human being, which frightened Mariam, and she asked Allah the Highest to protect her and to keep him away from her if he was a pious person.  He reassured her that he was her Lord’s messenger and his mission was to let her have a good and pure boy child.

Mary was not married, and she had never had any sexual relationship, therefore she could not understand how could she have a child.  Gabriel, peace upon him, however told her that it will happen, being Allah’s Command; for it is easy for Allah the Highest who created her in the first place.  Allah’s commands are always carried out and cannot be stopped.

12- O YAHIYA, TAKE THE BOOK FORCEFULLY AND EAGERLY, AND WE GAVE HIM THE WISDOM WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN.

13- AND WE ALSO GAVE HIM KINDNESS FROM US, PURITY, AND HE WAS PIOUS.

14- AND HE WAS GOOD AND KIND TO HIS PARENTS AND WAS NOT OVERPOWERING AND DISOBEDIENT.

15- AND PEACE IS UPON HIM, THE DAY HE WAS BORN, THE DAY HE DIES, AND THE DAY HE IS TO BE RESURRECTED BACK TO LIFE.

Allah the Highest went on directly from telling us about answering the Dawa of Zakariah to telling us about Yahiya.

Allah the Highest gave Yahiya the wisdom and taught him the Torah, and commanded him to take the teachings and commands of the Torah eagerly and strongly.  Obeying Allah’s commands requires strength and will power, to obey and to resist temptations.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Fire is surrounded with temptations, and the Paradise is surrounded with hardship”.

Allah the Highest gave Yahiya the wisdom and taught him the Torah very early in life, probably in his teens or early twenties.  Allah the Highest gave him special bounties, one of them was kindness in general, and kindness and with humility to his parents in particular.

Allah the Highest also made Yahiya pure, both inside and in his actions, he made him chaste, he never married or had any sexual relationship; as well as being a righteous prophet.  Allah the Highest said: “THE ANGELS CALLED HIM WHILE HE WAS STANDING PRAYING IN THE CHAMBER: “ALLAH GIVES YOU THE GOOD NEWS OF YEHIA (JOHN), HE WILL BELIEVE IN THE WORD FROM ALLAH, A MASTER,  CHASTE, AND A PROPHET OF THE RIGHTEOUS”. (S:3  A:39)

A believer who is good and kind to his parents has a passage to Paradise.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Has lost a great deal, he whose parents reached old age in his life, and did not grant him entrance to Paradise”.  (meaning through being good and kind to them)  (M:Ber;8 & A:2;346)

On the other hand a person, being overpowering and disobedient, to Allah the Highest, and to their parents, is the key to the Hell-Fire.

Allah the Highest bestowed peace upon him at three particular times, the time of his birth, the time of his death and the time of his resurrection.  These are all times when a person enters a new life, and Allah’s peace and comfort  then will be a great blessing for him.  At birth, one enters life, and at death, one enters the first stage of the Hereafter, and at resurrection is the time of the greatest panic and fear, Allah the Highest said about: “THE DAY WHEN A MAN RUNS AWAY FROM HIS BROTHER * HIS MOTHER AND HIS FATHER * HIS FEMALE COMPANION AND HIS CHILDREN * FOR EACH PERSON THEN WILL HAVE HIS OWN WORRIES”.  (S:80  A:34-37)

But some of us will be in peace, not worrying and not panicking on that day, this is the peace from Allah the Highest.

7- “O ZAKARIAH, WE ARE GIVING YOU THE GOOD NEWS OF A BOY CALLED YEHIA (JOHN), A NAME WHICH NO ONE HAS EVEN BEEN CALLED BEFORE”.

8- HE (ZAKARIAH) SAID: “MY LORD, HOW WILL I HAVE A BOY WHILE MY WIFE IS BARREN AND I HAVE REACHED RIPE OLD AGE?”

9- HE (ALLAH) HAVE SAID: “THIS IS WHAT YOUR LORD HAS SAID AND IT IS EASY FOR ME TO DO, AND I HAVE CREATED YOU BEFOREHAND, AND YOU WERE NOTHING”.

10- HE (ZAKARIAH) SAID: “MY LORD GIVE ME A SIGN”.  HE (ALLAH) SAID: “YOUR SIGN IS TO BE UNABLE TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE FOR THREE DAYS, NOT DUE TO ANY AILMENT”.

11- HE (ZAKARIAH) WENT OUT OF THE INNER CHAMBER OF THE TEMPLE AND SIGNALED TO HIS PEOPLE TO HYMN ALLAH’S PRAISES BY DAY AND BY NIGHT.

Allah the Highest answered Zakariah, peace upon him, by giving him the good news that he was going to have a child, a boy to be called Yahiya (meaning to live) and in English he was called John, he was to become John the Baptist.  This name was not known beforehand.

Zakariah believed Allah the Highest, however he wanted to know how will it happen, while his wife is barren and he is a very old man, meaning that all the physical means were not available.  Allah the Highest reminded him that Allah the Highest does what He wills regardless of the means, and reminded Zakariah of his own creation.  Allah the Highest reminded him of the creation of Adam and also of his creation, which is like the creation of every human being.

Zakariah, peace upon him, asked for a further sign, and Allah the Highest told him that his sign will be, that he will be unable to speak to people, not due to suffering an ailment, for 3 days except by signaling.   This was the proof that it was going to happen.

Zakariah, peace upon him, went out of the inner chamber of the temple where he received the revelations, and was unable to speak to his people, while at the same  time he was full of joy and gratitude to Allah the Highest for granting his Dawa.  When he saw his people, he made as sign to them to hymn Allah’s praises by day and by night.  When the believers enjoy a bounty from Allah the Highest, they hymn Allah’s praises as Allah the Highest commanded: “WHEN ALLAH’S VICTORY AND THE OPENING COMES * AND YOU SEE PEOPLE ENTERING ALLAH’S RELIGION IN LARGE GROUPS * HYMN THE PRAISES OF YOUR LORD AND ASK FOR HIS FORGIVENESS, FOR HE IS ALWAYS FORGIVING” (S:110  A:1-3)

1- KAF, HAE, YAE, EIN, SADE.

2- THE MENTION OF YOUR LORDS MERCY TO HIS SLAVE ZAKARIAH.

3- AS HE CALLED UPON HIS LORD IN PRIVATE.

4- HE SAID: “MY LORD, MY BONES ARE NOW FRAIL, AND MY HEAD IS FULL OF GREY HAIR, BUT I NEVER SUFFERED AFTER ASKING YOU”.

5- “BUT I FEAR FOR THOSE I WILL BE LEAVING BEHIND, AND MY WIFE IS BARREN, THEREFORE, GIVE ME A GOOD SON, FROM YOU”.

6- “TO INHERIT ME AND INHERIT FROM THE FAMILY OF YACOB (JACOB) AND MAKE HIM ONE YOU WILL BE PLEASED WITH”.

The first Ayah consists of five separate Arabic letters, which some of the Sorahs of the Quran start with.

Allah the Highest is telling us about His Mercy to his slave Zakariah, who was one of Allah’s prophets.  Allah the Highest embraced him with a special Mercy from Him.

Zakariah was one of the prophets of the Children of Israel, and he was the High priest of the temple.  He did not have any children from his wife Elizabeth, until he reached old age.  His wife Elizabeth was either Mariam’s sister or ante (mother’s sister).  Zakariah was also Mariam’s (Mary) guardian in the temple, and was the only male who could visit her in the inner chamber.  Allah the Highest said: “HER LORD ACCEPTED HER GRACIOUSLY, AND BROUGHT HER UP GOOD AND PURE, AND ZAKARIAH WAS ASSIGNED FOR HER CARE (IN THE TEMPLE), WHENEVER HE ENTERED THE CHAMBER ON HER, HE FOUND SHE HAD PROVISIONS, HE SAID: “MARIAM, WHERE ARE THESE PROVISIONS FROM?”  SHE SAID: “IT IS FROM ALLAH, FOR ALLAH PROVIDES TO WHOM HE WILLS WITHOUT LIMITS” * THEN ZAKARIAH PRAYED TO HIS LORD: “MY LORD GRANT ME FROM YOU GOOD AND PURE OFFSPRING, YOU HEAR OUR DAWA”. (S:3  A:37-38)

What Zakariah saw comforted him and confirmed what he knew that Allah the Highest gives whom he wills without limit, and therefore he was encouraged to ask for a child for himself.  This is just like when Ibrahim peace upon him asked Allah the Highest to show him the dead being revived.  Allah the Highest said: “AND AS IBRAHIM SAID: “MY LORD, SHOW ME HOW DO YOU REVIVE THE DEAD”.  HE (ALLAH) SAID: “DID YOU NOT BELIEVE?” HE (IBRAHIM) SAID: “YES, BUT ONLY TO COMFORT MY HEART”.  HE SAID: “TAKE FOUR BIRDS, TAME THEM TO YOURSELF, THEN PUT A PIECE OF EACH OF THEM ON A MOUNTAIN, AND THEN CALL THEM AND THEY WILL COME TO YOU HURRYING, AND KNOW THAT ALLAH IS EXALTED IN POWER AND MOST WISE” (S:2  A:260)

Zakariah peace upon him asked Allah the Highest in private.  He started by admitting his incapacity because of old age, and his wife being barren, therefore he did not have the human means to have children.  However, he asked Allah the Highest for a child after admitting his human inability.

Zakariah asked for a biological child, a son, not an adopted one, this was shown in asking for a son to inherit him and inherit the prophet-hood from the family of Yacob (Jacob), this is even though the prophet’s money is not inherited, but is left for charity.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “We the prophets are not to be inherited, what we leave is a charity”.  (Bukhari & Muslim)

He also asked for a good and righteous son, whom Allah the Highest will be pleased with.

Before asking Allah the Highest for a son, Zakariah stated that he never suffered after asking Allah the Highest.  He did not say that his dawa was always answered, but his suffering and hardship were relieved.

This is not a narration of the life of Zakariah peace upon him, but a narration of how Allah the Highest was merciful to him in his old age, and granting him the son he wished for, but did not have.  In old age and when his desire for a son was very strong, Allah the Highest pleased him, and gave him the righteous son he asked for, despite of the human inability of Zakariah and his wife Elizabeth.  This was Allah’s Mercy upon his slave and prophet Zakariah peace upon him, for Allah the Highest is always merciful to His righteous slaves, in this life and in the Hereafter.

110- SAY: “I AM BUT A HUMAN BEING LIKE YOU, AND IT IS REVEALED TO ME THAT YOUR GOD IS ONE GOD ONLY, THEREFORE WHOEVER LOOKS FORWARD TO MEETING HIS LORD, LET HIM DO RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, AND NOT WORSHIP ANYONE BESIDES HIS LORD”.

The Ayah starts with an assertion from Allah’s prophet and messenger of the human nature of Allah’s prophets and messengers.   Allah the Highest said in the Quran that Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “PRAISE AND GLORY TO MY LORD WHO IS BEYOND FAULTS, I AM BUT A HUMAN MESSENGER”. (S:17  A:93)

And Allah the Highest said: “AND THE MESSENGERS WE SENT BEFORE YOU ATE FOOD AND WALKED IN THE MARKETS”. (S:25 A:20)

And Said: “SAY: “HAD THERE BEEN ANGELS WALKING COMFORTABLY AND PEACEFULLY ON EARTH, THEN WE WOULD HAVE SENT THEM DOWN FROM THE SKY AN ANGEL FOR A MESSENGER”. (S:17  A:95)

Allah the Highest commands the believers to be guided by the messengers and to take them as an example to follow.  Allah the Highest said: “YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE IN ALLAH’S MESSENGER, FOR THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY AND WHO REMEMBER ALLAH A GREAT DEAL”.  (S:33  A:21)

Man follows the example of man, not of angels or Jinn, therefore the messengers Allah the Highest sent for mankind to follow were men.

The believers who do good deeds are those who can expect that Allah the Highest will meet them with reward.  It is therefore that we should look forward to meeting our Lord, but we should be believers and send good deeds before us.  They are the acts of sincere worship of Allah the Highest and of living and behaving righteously with all of Allah’s slaves and His creation.  Then, we will have reason to look forward to meeting our Lord.

109- SAY: “SHOULD THE SEA BECOME INK FOR MY LORD’S WORDS, THE SEA WILL RUN OUT BEFORE MY LORD’S WORDS RUN OUT, EVEN IF WE RESUPPLY IT WITH AS MUCH AGAIN.

Allah’s knowledge is infinite and without limit.  Allah’s knowledge embraces all and every, thing.

Allah the Highest is making a parable here, drawing a picture of the sea, meaning all the water on Earth, as being ink for pens writing Allah’s knowledge, but then the ink runs out before Allah’s knowledge is written fully.  Then as much ink again is brought as a further supply, and it again runs out, before the writing of Allah’s knowledge is finished.

Allah the Highest gave us another parable in Sorah Loqman, which draws another picture showing us the magnitude of Allah’s knowledge.  Allah the Highest said: “AND IF ALL THE TREES ON EARTH ARE PENS AND THE SEA IS RESUPPLIED WITH SEVEN MORE SEA (WITH INK), ALLAH’S WORDS WILL NOT RUN OUT”.  (S:31  A:27)

107- THOSE WHO BELIEVED AND DID GOOD DEEDS WILL HAVE THE GARDENS OF THE FERDAWS AS AN ABIDING PLACE.

108- LIVING THERE FOR ETERNITY, NEVER DESIRING TO BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

All the prophets and messengers and all the holy books sent to us, have two main aims: for people to believe in Allah the Highest, and to live righteously and do good deeds, involving both worship and in dealings with people.  Those who fulfill these two criteria, are promised a great reward, which is the garden of the Ferdaws.  This might not seem like hard work, but this is what we need to gain that great reward, and it is not easy to achieve.

This garden is a very special place in Paradise.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Al-Ferdaws is a plateau in Paradise, it is the best and most beautiful part”.  (T:Tafseer & A:3;290)

And he also said: “When you ask Allah, ask him for the Ferdaws, for it is the highest place in Paradise, and the best place of Paradise, and the rivers of Paradise burst out of it”.   (Bukhari & Muslim)

There, they will be shown Allah’s hospitality and generosity in a manner no one could ever dream of.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said that, Allah the Highest said: “I have prepared for my righteous slaves, what no eyes have seen, no ears have heard of, and no human heart ever imagined’.

There, they will abide forever, for eternity, where there is life and no death.  Some might think this will get boring or they would like to change the place and scenery, however, this will never happen there, there will be total happiness and contentment.  There will be no happiness or pleasure which they cannot have there.

103- SAY: “SHALL I INFORM YOU WHO WILL LOSE OUT MOST BY THEIR DEEDS?”

104- “THEY ARE THOSE WHOSE STRIVING IN THIS LOWER LIFE HAS GONE ASTRAY, WHILE THEY CONSIDER THAT THEY ARE DOING GOOD”.

105- THEY ARE THOSE WHO DISBELIEVED IN ALLAH’S AYAHS AND IN MEETING HIM, THEIR DEEDS WILL BE IN VAIN, AND ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION THEY WILL BE OF NO WEIGHT.

106- THE RECOMPENSE OF THOSE IS THE HELL-FIRE, BECAUSE OF THEIR DISBELIEF AND BECAUSE OF TAKING MY AYAHS AND MESSENGERS IN JEST.

Most of us go through life with some aim, simple or great.  Most of us think that what we aim for is good and right, at least for us.

However, the ultimate judge of our aims and of what we do is Allah the Highest, who judges our aims and our deeds.  We will know this judgement on the Day of Resurrection, and then we will see the recompense for what we did in life.

Most of us believe that we are on the right track in life.  Religion is a way of life, therefore our choice of religion is a choice of the way to live.  Indeed, it is the most important decision we make during our lives and we should make sure that we make the right decision.

Allah the Highest rewards the believers and the disbelievers for their good deeds on Earth.  However, the disbelievers are rewarded in this life in full.  Allah the Highest said: “THOSE WHO DESIRE THE LOWER LIFE AND ITS ORNAMENTS, WE WILL RECOMPENSE THEM THEREIN IN FULL, AND THEY WILL NOT BE UNDERPAID THERE”. (S:11  A:15)

And said: “WHOEVER DESIRES THE PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE TO ENJOY SOON, WE WILL HASTEN FOR HIM WHAT WE WILL AND TO WHOM WE DESIRE, THEN WE WILL MAKE THE HELL-FIRE HIS PLACE, WHERE HE WILL BE BURNED, DESPISED AND DEFEATED”. (S:17  A:18)

On the Day of Resurrection, they will find out!