Maryam is the mother of Prophet Isa (a) and her story can be read in surah Al Imran (3:35-37) of the Qur'an.
(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: "O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing."
Then when she gave birth to her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: "O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child," - and Allah knew better what she brought forth, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast."
So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariya (Zachariya). Every time he entered Al-Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam (Mary)! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allah." Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit."
The story continues in surah Maryam (19:16-34):
And mention in the Book (the Qur'an, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibril (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.
She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."
(The angel) said: "I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
He said: "So (it will be), your Lord 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, (by Allah).' "
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem valley about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem).
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
Then [the babe 'Îsa (Jesus) or Jibril (Gabriel)] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not: your Lord has provided a water stream under you.
"And shake the trunk of date-palm 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: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"
Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariyy (a mighty thing). [Tafsir Al-Tabari]
"O sister (i.e. the like) of Harun (Aaron) ! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman."
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle? "
"He ['Îsa (Jesus)] said: "Verily I am a slave of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; "
"And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salat (prayer), and Zakat, as long as I live."
"And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest.
"And Salam (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!"
Such is 'Îsa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). (It is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute).
This is just an idea for a lesson. If you have any others then feel free to do them and share.
Lessons and Activities
There are so many lessons here, starting with Maryam's mother who wanted to dedicate her unborn child to Allah's cause.When she gave birth to a girl she was surprised as males are the ones who are messengers and priests. But Allah accepted her.
So it doesn't matter whether you're a boy or a girl, Allah accepts your work in His cause. You can talk about gender roles in Islam, how males are the leaders of the family while the females are the nurturers of the family. Even though Maryam couldn't be a messenger or priest she was important to the birth of Prophet Isa (a).
You could also talk about being chaste and pure, for both females and males. In today's world of prevalent pornography and nudity it is so important that we keep our eyes down and away from such images.
These are just two ideas for lessons and activities. If you have others then feel free to do them and share.
Comments Required
There are so many lessons here, starting with Maryam's mother who wanted to dedicate her unborn child to Allah's cause.When she gave birth to a girl she was surprised as males are the ones who are messengers and priests. But Allah accepted her.
So it doesn't matter whether you're a boy or a girl, Allah accepts your work in His cause. You can talk about gender roles in Islam, how males are the leaders of the family while the females are the nurturers of the family. Even though Maryam couldn't be a messenger or priest she was important to the birth of Prophet Isa (a).
You could also talk about being chaste and pure, for both females and males. In today's world of prevalent pornography and nudity it is so important that we keep our eyes down and away from such images.
These are just two ideas for lessons and activities. If you have others then feel free to do them and share.
Comments Required
There are so many other lessons to learn. Can you think of any others? I'd love to hear them. Please write in the comment below.
At the end of this Ramadan Reading Challenge, if you or your children have participated then you will get a prize. (Please go here to see the prize). To be eligible, please leave a comment on what lesson you have learnt from the reading of the story and include any activities that you did to extend it. Just a line or two would be fine (so that I can contact you).
A Slight Change
You might have noticed that I changed the title on the graphic from 30 days to 20 days. Since it's the last ten days of Ramadan, I find that I don't have time to carry this into the last ten days. I apologise for this, I should have planned this more and learnt from last years' parenting challenge.
Insha Allah, next Ramadan if I do another challenge it'll be for 20 days as I think 20 days is the right amount of time for a Ramadan challenge as it leaves the last ten days for us to concentrate on our ibadah. I encourage you to continue to read the Qur'an as there is so much to learn and be guided by it.
Thank you to those who have joined me this year. I know there are more than the two who have commented as I can tell by the statistics that there are those who are reading this challenge. I'm glad that you can join me in any way that you could. May Allah guide us and increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen.
A Slight Change
You might have noticed that I changed the title on the graphic from 30 days to 20 days. Since it's the last ten days of Ramadan, I find that I don't have time to carry this into the last ten days. I apologise for this, I should have planned this more and learnt from last years' parenting challenge.
Insha Allah, next Ramadan if I do another challenge it'll be for 20 days as I think 20 days is the right amount of time for a Ramadan challenge as it leaves the last ten days for us to concentrate on our ibadah. I encourage you to continue to read the Qur'an as there is so much to learn and be guided by it.
Thank you to those who have joined me this year. I know there are more than the two who have commented as I can tell by the statistics that there are those who are reading this challenge. I'm glad that you can join me in any way that you could. May Allah guide us and increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen.
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