The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 86)

Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan

The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 86)

Manifestations of Miracles in the Pregnancy of Maryam (peace be upon her) and the Speech of Jesus (peace be upon him)

The conception of Maryam (peace be upon her) with Jesus (peace be upon him) without a father is itself an extraordinary event and a breaking of the normal laws of nature. Likewise, the speaking of Jesus (peace be upon him) while still in the cradle is another miracle beyond ordinary human laws.

Moreover, the choice of words that the infant uttered at the very beginning of his life is itself astonishing. If we reflect upon these statements, we find that these short sentences carry deep and vast meanings that no human—except Jesus (peace be upon him)—could express with such brevity and depth. In reality, a form of miracle lies behind every word.

Allah the Exalted says: «قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَآتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا * وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا * وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلَنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا» Translation: “He said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be and has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live. And He has made me dutiful to my mother and has not made me arrogant and miserable.” [1]

Jesus (peace be upon him) begins his speech with the statement, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah.” It is as if from the very beginning he knew that some of his followers in the future would elevate him to divinity and consider him the son of God. Therefore, his first words reject this false belief and affirm pure servitude to Allah.

Then he says, “And He has given me the Book and made me a prophet,” even though this child had not yet understood the meaning or greatness of prophethood. This shows that this is not the speech of an ordinary infant, but rather divine and unseen knowledge.

Then he says, “And He has made me dutiful to my mother,” while he was born without a father. Therefore, he mentions only his mother, not both parents—unlike Prophet John (peace be upon him), about whom it is said: «وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَيْهِ» Translation: “And dutiful to his parents.” [2]

This difference in expression is a subtle and precise indication of the reality of the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him).

Finally, when Jesus (peace be upon him) reached maturity, all the qualities he mentioned in the cradle were fully realized in him. This is clear evidence that those words originated from divine knowledge and inspiration, not from ordinary human awareness.

The Glad Tidings Given to Maryam (peace be upon her) About the Characteristics of Jesus (peace be upon him)

When Allah the Exalted gave Maryam (peace be upon her) the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) through the angel Gabriel (peace be upon him), He also mentioned important characteristics of this child.

Allah the Exalted says: «إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ * وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ * وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ * وَرَسُولًا إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَالِكَ لَآيَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ * وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلِأُحِلَّ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَجِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ * إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ» Translation: “[Remember] when the angels said: ‘O Maryam, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Maryam—honored in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah]. And he will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be among the righteous. And He will teach him the Book, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. And [He will be] a messenger to the Children of Israel [who will say]: Indeed, I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I create for you from clay the form of a bird, then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s permission. And I heal the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead by Allah’s permission. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed, in that is a sign for you if you are a believer. And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and making lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him—this is the straight path.’” [3]

These verses present a collection of the distinguished qualities and characteristics of Jesus (peace be upon him):

• His existence came into being through the “Word of Allah,” meaning Allah created him by His command “Be”;

• His name is “the Messiah, Jesus son of Maryam,” a name that would become widely known;

• He holds a high status in this world due to his prophethood, noble character, and guidance;

• In the Hereafter, he will have a lofty rank and closeness to Allah;

• He is among those brought near to Allah;

• He speaks in the cradle and in adulthood—the speech in the cradle being a miracle proving Maryam’s purity;

• He is among the righteous;

• Allah teaches him writing, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel;

• He is sent as a messenger to the Children of Israel and is granted great miracles, such as raising the dead, healing the sick, and informing about unseen matters. [4]

To be continued…

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Sources:

1. Maryamam: 30–32.
2. Maryamam: 14.
3. Muhammad al-Sayyid al-Wakil, Reflections on the Best of Stories, Vol. 2, p. 305.
4. Aal-e-Imran: 45–51.