Translation
Say, “If you love God, then follow me [God’s prophet]. God will love you and protect you from committing evils. Know that God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful.” Say, “Follow the guidance of God and His Prophet.” But if people turn back, know that God has no relationship with those who deny His grace.178
God chose Adam, Noah, and the descendants of Abraham and Amran above others—generation after generation. God knows and He hears. The wife of Amran [and Mary’s mother] addressed God: “My Lord, I wish to entrust who is in my womb to be dedicated to You. So accept my wish; You certainly know, and You certainly hear (my prayer).” But when she gave birth, she exclaimed, “My Lord, I have given birth to a female.” God certainly knew who she brought forth and that a male [which she may have hoped for] could not be the same as this female. She named her Mary and entrusted her and her offspring to the protection of God from the devil.179
Her Lord accepted her offering as God accepts genuine offering and graced Mary with a good upbringing. She was placed under the guardianship of Zacharias. Whenever Zacharias used to come to visit Mary inside the sanctuary, he would find provision with her, and he would say, “Mary, where does this provision come from?” Mary would say, “It is from God who gives provision to whom He wishes in abundance.”
Zacharias was inspired to pray to his Lord: “My Lord, grant me a worthy offspring [as well]—surely You are the One who hears a genuine prayer.” God sent angels to Zacharias as he stood in devotion inside the sanctuary and said, “God gives you good news of John, a testimony to His promise, honorable, morally upright, and a prophet from among righteous people.” He [Zacharias] said, “My Sustainer, how can I have such an heir when I am of advanced age and my wife is not fit to conceive?” God replied, “This is how He does what He wishes to bring about!” Zacharias replied, “My Sustainer, Give me a sign [for this fortune].” God said, “The sign is that you will not be able to speak to others except by gestures; remember God and glorify Him day and night [as a sign of thanks].”
Interpretation
178. The love of God here is equated to following the guidance of God’s prophet. Just like the love of parents is expressed through respect and paying attention to parental guidance, in a similar manner, love for God can only be given meaning when we follow His guidance. God also reciprocates genuine love by showering His blessing on His creatures and protecting them from all evils. This causality is foundational in the way society is built and can prosper. Unless there is mutual respect and goodwill, a society will fail and succumb to all sources of evil that we find evident in our societies to a varying degree.
179. The story of Mary, mother of Jesus, is a living testimony of God’s blessing to all women and the dignity that God bestows on all His creatures, including women. When Mary’s mother expressed dismay at giving birth to a female, God answered promptly that He was fully aware of her birth and that no men of her time would match her in terms of her intellect, her devotion, and her purity of life, in a way that was unique to her and to her generation as well as generations to come.
Qur’anic and Islamic traditions mentioned a number of females throughout human history who had inspired men and profoundly influenced history such as Eve; Sarah; Hagar, wife of Pharaoh, who nurtured Moses; Mary, mother of Jesus; and Khadijah and Aisha, the wives of Prophet Mohammad, just to mention some women in the context of religious dialogue. It is perhaps not fully recognized or understood that these women were driven by their own right and played roles that shaped the thoughts and aspirations of men and women alike throughout human history.
REFLECTION
The role of Mary in human history cannot be overemphasized, to the extent that she was inspired by God and, in turn, had inspired Jesus. In our male-dominated human culture from antiquity till today, the narratives have been produced by men, and the contributions of women have not been adequately reflected and documented. When the Qur’an assures Mary’s mother that her daughter is unlike any men of her time, it is a testament to how God honors women, but it is human society that fails to do the same, though each one of us comes from the womb of a woman and is nurtured by a woman with unconditional love and care. The honor and dignity of women is grossly unappreciated—a trend that needs to be reversed.
ACTION
People of Faith should be at the forefront to dignify women and make them equal partners rather than perpetuating the age-old trend of marginalizing women in our societies. Every time a female child is born—and this happens 51 percent of the time—God says women matter. The challenge is, can we do the same?