"Indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the universe." [Quran 3:42]
This beautiful declaration was addressed to none other than Maryam, the mother of Prophet Esa. Mary, the mother of Jesus. I can only imagine the joy she felt at being mentioned by her Lord and in such esteemed words. But it did not come as mere praise; Maryam was a woman of piety and humility...traits that were nourished years before through the prayers of her mother.
Long before a baby is born or that first kick, the instincts of motherhood kick in and a mother's priorities shift from herself to her child. The prayers flowing off her lips in the middle of the night center around this child...for its protection from whatever negative thing our minds can imagine. Above all else, we pray for a righteous child who loves Allah regardless.
Hannah, the mother of Maryam, thought of her child's upbringing long before she gave birth like so many mother's before her and so many more since. She wanted a pious child who would be granted Eternal Paradise...after all, a mother wants the best for her child and there is nothing better than that.So when she realized that she was pregnant, she supplicated to her Lord saying, "I have vowed to You that what is in my womb to be dedicated for your services, so accept this from me." [Quran 3:35]
Her prayers did not stop there though. Upon the birth of her baby daughter, Hannah made another sincere prayer to Allah asking Him for what every mother has prayed for. She prayed, "I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast." [Quran 3:36]
From that moment onwards, Maryam's entire life was marked by piety and righteousness. She grew up in the house of worship under the care of the Prophet Zakariyya (Zechariah) where she spent her hours in worship and was known for her deep faith in Allah. The piety that characterized the life of Maryam did not waver, even through the many trials that she faced during her life. Her greatest trial was to come with the glad-tidings from Allah of the "gift of a righteous son" [Quran 19:19]. Maryam accepted this miraculous birth with steadfast faith. Her trust remained in Him when the people taunted her in regards to the virgin birth of her son and when he was subsequently persecuted for calling to the Straight Path.
But Maryam was not the only one blessed with Allah's Protection through her mother's prayers. It extended to her son too. When Prophet Esa was born, the prayers of his mother's mother were still being answered. He was the only baby to be protected from Satan at the moment of birth and when Satan inspired the people to kill him, he was instead raised up to the Heavens by Allah until Judgement Day.
Just reflecting on this prayer at the start of Maryam's life fills one with so much awe. How powerful that prayer was! How powerful a mother's prayer is! At the moment of Maryam's birth, she received the gift of her mother's supplication like so many children before and after her, a prayer that unbeknownst to her mother or herself would lay the groundwork for one of the greatest miracles of Allah. Her mother, Hannah, was able to articulate a perfect prayer for her baby girl. And so I, like many other mothers who can’t find the right words, repeat those prayers so Allah will bless our children with His Protection too.
Maryam Baksh is a new mother, and graduate of the University of British Columbia. She is a member of the Muslim community in Vancouver.
You can view more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking, HERE
* This article was published in the print edition of the TImes Colonist on Saturday July 29 2017
