Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 85)
The Attitude of the People of Maryam toward the Newborn
After Maryam (may Allah be pleased with her) gave birth to her child, she carried him in her arms and brought him to her people. When they saw this scene, they were astonished and said in a tone of denial and protest, “O Maryam! You have certainly done something shocking and unacceptable!”
They said, “O sister of Harun! Your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an immoral woman. (So how could such a thing come from you?)”
Meaning: How could this happen from you, while you come from a pure, righteous, and well-known family known for piety and chastity?
When Maryam (may Allah be pleased with her) found herself under pressure and unable to respond to the people, she placed her trust in Allah and turned to Him alone, knowing that deliverance from this hardship could only come from Him. [1]
So she pointed to the child, indicating that they should ask him. They were surprised by this and thought she was mocking them, because they could not imagine that a baby in the cradle could speak.
But suddenly, the truth became clear. By the permission of Allah (SWT), the infant spoke and uttered clear and miraculous words in which he declared his servitude to Allah and spoke about his future: prophethood, wisdom, and kindness to his mother.
Without doubt, this response from Jesus (PBUH) was sufficient to refute the accusations and false claims, especially against those who later refused to regard him as a servant of Allah and instead falsely claimed that he was “God” or the “son of God,” while he is completely free from such false attributions.
Allah the Exalted says: «فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا * يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا * فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا * قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَآتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا* وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا * وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا * وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا * ذَالِكَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قَوْلَ الْحَقِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ * مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ سُبْحَانَهُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ» Translation: Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said: “O Maryam, you have certainly done something unprecedented! O sister of Harun, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother immoral.” So she pointed to him. They said: “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle, a child?” He said: “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He will give me the Book and make me a prophet. 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 or miserable. And peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised alive.”
That is Jesus, the son of Maryam—the word of truth about which they dispute. It is not befitting for Allah to take a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is. [2]
The Prophethood of Hazrat Esa (Jesus) [PBUH]
Jesus (PBUH) grew up, was nurtured, and became strong. Allah taught him the Book and wisdom, then honored him with prophethood and sent him to the Children of Israel. He was commanded to call people to worship the One God.
Allah granted him great miracles as clear signs of his prophethood. However, despite all these signs, many among the Children of Israel did not believe in him; rather, they rejected him and refused to follow him.
Allah the Exalted says: : «إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ * وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِي وَبِرَسُولِي قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ» Translation: [Remember] when Allah said: “O Jesus, son of Maryam, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother—when I supported you with the Holy Spirit, so that you spoke to people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you the Book, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel; and when you created from clay the form of a bird by My permission, then you breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper by My permission; and when you brought the dead to life by My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from harming you when you came to them with clear proofs, but those who disbelieved among them said: ‘This is nothing but clear magic.’ [3]
And remember when I inspired the disciples to believe in Me and My Messenger they said: We believe, and bear witness that we are Muslims submitting to Allah (SWT).
To be continued…
Sources:
- Muhammad al-Tayyib al-Najjar, History of the Prophets in the Light of the Noble Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah, p. 282.
- Maryam: 27–35.
- Al-Ma’idah: 110–111.
