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Zachary was old and childless, and his wife had been barren during their long marriage. He implored God with trust in his heart
to grant him a child. The angels called to Zachary and gave him the glad tidings of a righteous son, who was to be named John. This son would become a Prophet, and has become known in the Christian account as John the
Baptist.In the "Chapter of Mary," this story is amplified with more detail. The upbringing of the Prophet John is related in this fashion: The Chapter of Mary (Surat Mariam) 12. To the son of Zachary came the command: John, take hold of
the Book with might. We gave him wisdom even as a youth,
Mary Prayed and worshiped,
and her provision was continued. |
13. And sympathy for all creatures, as from Us, and purity. He was devout,
14. And kind to his parents, and he was not overbearing or rebellious. 15. So peace on John the day that he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life again.
The story of Zachary's supplication to the Lord is referred to in the Koran yet again, in the "Chapter of the Prophets." What was the importance of this event which is being
emphasised so markedly? Zachary in his piety wished to pass on an inheritance of the noble priestly message which he had kept burning, regardless of the corruption of the
other priests of his time. The desire was not just for a son, or otherwise that prayer would have been made much earlier in the lives of Zachary and his wife Elizabeth.
God granted this wish, for there was a role for John to play in His plan being unfolded for Mary. Indeed that intent is the inspiration for Zachary's prayer at the very time of his marvelling at the provisions of Mary.
An important message of the passage is a lesson in God's omnipotent power, which could revitalise the reproductive capacity of the old couple. God's will be done. The
message is reaffirmed in yet another passage from a later chapter of Koran. The Chapter of the Prophets (AJ Anbiyaa) 89. And remember pious Zachary, when he cried out, Lord, leave me not without offspring, though You are the best of inheritors.
90. So We listened to him, and We granted him John. We cured his wife's barrenness. The three of them were ever quick in doing good works. They used to call on Us in yearning and awe. They humbled themselves before Us.
Let us return to the scene of Zachary's house. After his heartfelt supplication to his Lord, Zachary closed the chamber door and left Mary alone to read scripture, praising
and glorifying God. We will visit the "Chapter of the Family of Imran" to continue the story of Mary.
Chapter of the Family of Imran (Surat Imran) 42. The angels announced, Oh Mary! God has chosen you and purified you, chosen
you above the women of all nations.43. Worship the Lord devoutly, prostrate yourself, bow down in prayer. 44. This is part of the tidings of things unseen, which we reveal to you by inspiration.
You were not with them when they cast lots as to which of them should be charged with your care, nor were you with them when they disputed the point.
45. The angels said, Mary, God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name shall be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the hereafter, and of the company of those nearest to God.
46. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be in the company of the righteous. 47. Mary asked. Lord, how shall I have a son when no man has touched me? He said,
Even so, God creates what He wills. When He has decreed a matter. He has but to say to it, BE, and it is! God's Will God has determined the laws by which the physical universe is governed, but as The All Powerful, He is the ultimate arbitrator of what is possible and what is not.
God's selection of Mary was for an extremely special purpose. Because of her purity and the destiny which was planned for her, Mary was chosen to host the birth of
Jesus. Mary was requested to prostrate herself to glorify and praise God for the grace and affection shown to her. Mary prayed and worshipped, and her provision was continued. The second glad tiding
came to her from the angels, heralding the great event which would move the whole world. We turn now to the chapter devoted to the story of Mary. The Chapter of Mary (Surat Mariam)
16. Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.17. She placed a screen to separate herself from the others. We then sent to her Our
angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. 18. Mary said, I seek refuge from you in God the most gracious. Do not come near if you fear God.
19. The angel said, No, I am only a messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a pure son. 20. She replied, How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?
21. He said, So it will be. Your Lord says, 'That miracle is easy for me. We wish to appoint your child as a sign to people, and a mercy from Us for mankind. It is decreed.' Revelation The appearance of Gabriel to Mary in a human form, and not in his real brilliance, was
calculated to reassure the young woman. It was in the same guise that Gabriel visited the Prophet Mohammed. The creative act, BE, emanates from the will of God and supersedes all normal
physical laws and the notions of cause-and-effect which had been originally set forth in the universe by God himself. It is He who created all things; it is from nothing that
God called everything into existence; it is only He who can issue decrees to that creation. By this very same word BE, God gave Mary the wonderful and terrifying news
that she would conceive a son without contact with a man. A Miracle There is no wonder in this miracle, as nothing is impossible for The Omnipotent who created the whole universe by His command. Why then marvel at the creation of
Jesus without father? As with the issue of Adam, God uttered the word BE and Jesus was.This situation was more than puzzling for the young woman. Mary was of course
greatly perplexed as to the method of conception, as she was a religious devotee, living a secluded life, still a virgin. Her questions had the element of fear, as how
would people believe that she could conceive a son without a mortal man having touched her? The answer of the angel Gabriel to her could only be accepted by a pure woman of
great faith. God had decreed her destiny and the miracle by His will, so she must accept her destiny as an act of faith. And this she did.
HE HAS BUT TO SAY TO IT BE AND IT IS The Chapter of Mary (Surat Mariam) 22. So Mary conceived a child, and she retired bearing him in her to a remote place.23. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried in her
anguish, Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten... 24. But a voice cried to her from beneath the tree, Grieve not! for your Lord has provided a small stream beneath you.
25. Shake the trunk of the palm tree, and it will le fall fresh ripe dates for you. 26. So eat and drink and cool your eye. And if you see any man, say, 'I have vowed a
fast to God the most gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' After the miraculous conception of the baby Jesus, Mary anticipated that the signs of
the pregnancy would become noticeable. The Virgin therefore decided to escape public notice and retreated from Nazareth to Bethlehem, which was a journey of considerable difficulty at the time.
Moslem tradition holds that Mary was accompanied and protected on this trip by Joseph, her cousin, a carpenter, a pious Jew who was the son of Jacob. They
sheltered in a decrepit and humble structure exposed to the elements. The Birth of Jesus The moment of birth arrived. Every woman bears the fate of the agony of childbirth, and Mary was no exception. As she suffered terribly, by God's power a dry and
fruitless palm tree became laden with fruit and a sweet spring gushed forth to refresh her. The revelation tells that she was told to eat and drink, and to let her eyes be
content with the grace of such a miracle. She was instructed to set her mind at peace, and not to sadden herself.Mary was admonished that if she feared that her people would condemn her for
bearing a child without a husband, then she was not to dispute with them. She was told not to explain anything, as the birth was a miracle from God, beyond human
understanding and comprehension. She was to simply say that she had vowed in God's honour a fast in which she was not to speak to any human. The Chapter of Mary (Surat Mariam)
27. At length she brought the babe to her people, carrying him in her arms. They said, Mary, you have surely brought about a wrong thing.
28. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste. 29. But Mary simply pointed to the baby (as though he would offer the answer). The
others said, How can we talk to one who is still a child in the cradle? The Virgin returned to her family in Nazareth with her son in her arms. There she
faced great blame and reproach. She was accused of having committed a terrible sin, that she had brought sorrow and grief to her community, that none of her family had
ever committed such a crime against their religion or God, that her father Imran had been a pure man who did not even recognise vice, and that her mother had been
chaste. So from where did she learn such evil morals? Thus did Mary's people attack her. Reproach and Astonishment The reproach would have been mixed with astonishment, as all knew of Mary's pious behaviour, and that she had in fact been in religious devotions during the time when
conception would have taken place. The woman's lack of shame when she returned, with what would have been a burden of shame in any other woman's arms, must have
either amazed or enraged her relatives. The Virgin was calm and must have radiated the grace of her blessing. She was secure in her knowledge of obedience to God's choice and will.
The mother of Jesus returned to the expected reproach of her people, self-assured of her purity and virginity. As instructed, her only words of defence were to explain her
vow of silence in God's honour, and to point to the blessed child in her arms to indicate that her accusers should seek the explanation from the child.
Mary of course would not be able to convince her people, so the best course of action for her was to keep silent. The miracle was there to defend her most eloquently.
Of course the irate relatives would have been even more astonished that the accused should resort to such tactics. How could she be silent to the charge of shame? How
should the family elders expect a baby to talk? Imagine their reaction when the child Jesus then began to preach the Word of God! to be continued.... |
