Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Maryam (as), whom Allah (swt) praised and showed as an example to humanity, even though she was not a prophet, has a special place in Islam. So much so that the name Maryam became a name for a chapter in the Qur’an. The Quran mentions, “O Mary, indeed Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.”[1] Maryam (as) is a woman worthy of respect, who gave birth to Isa (as), whom Islam accepts as a servant and prophet, as “fatherless”. Allah (swt) praised her for being faithful, obedient and patient in the face of pressure, and presented her as an exemplary Muslim.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Our Prophet Muhammad (saw) the last link in the chain of prophets and sent as an example to humanity until the end of the world has said, “The best of the women of Paradise are Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imran and Asiya bint Muzahim, the wife of Pharaoh.”[2] Maryam (as), who set an example for all humanity with her patience, obedience, honour and chastity at a time when people who went astray, was indeed a person chosen by God. Some of the verses describing these aspects of her are as follows: “And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.”[3]

Dear Jama’ah!

Maryam (as) was slandered by those who did not believe in Allah. She overcame this thanks to her obedience to Allah and faith and patience. She therefore received the blessings of Allah. Her son Isa (as) was also blessed with the honour of being a prophet. The Quran mentions: “[The Day] when Allāh will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel] and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind [from birth] and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic.”.”[4]

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

There are lessons we can take from the Maryam (as) in attaining the blessings we pray for both in this world and in the hereafter. There are good examples for believing women in the story of Maryam (as), especially with her qualities such as chastity, faith, worship, obedience, patience and complete surrender to Allah. Because Allah (swt) informs us that He will reward His righteous, faithful and obedient servants, whether male or female: “To whoever, male or female, does good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life and reward them according to the best of their actions.”[5]

May Allah (swt) include us in the group of servants whose feet are firm on the straight path. Ameen!

[1] Surah Âl-i İmrân, 3:42

[2] Tirmizî, Menâkıb, 61

[3] Surah At-Tahrim, 66:12

[4] Surah Al-Ma’ide, 5:110

[5] Surah An-Nahl, 16:97

Khutba – The Chastity of Maryam