The 1st century CE holds profound significance in Islamic tradition as a period that witnessed the emergence of several key prophetic figures. Among these figures are Zakariya u (Zechariah), Yahya u (John the Baptist), and Maryam t (Mary), the mother of Esa u (Jesus)
Maryam’s mother, known as Hannah in history, made a vow next to Masjid Al-Aqsa, pledging to dedicate her child to the service of the mosque if Allah granted her a child.
Though the original Masjid Al-Aqsa built by Prophet Sulayman (AS) had been destroyed, it was later reconstructed upon the return of the Bani Israel to Jerusalem. When Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a girl, Maryam, she faced a dilemma. It was not customary for girls to serve in the mosque, but Hannah was determined to fulfill her vow. Tragically, ‘Imran, Maryam’s father, passed away shortly thereafter, leading to a contentious dispute within the community of Bani Israel concerning Maryam’s guardianship.
During the era, there lived a man named ‘Imran, highly renowned for his piety. Though not a Prophet or Messenger, his family was so noble and virtuous that an entire chapter in the Qur’an is named after them. ‘Imran’s pious wife was the sister of a Prophet, Zakariya u. Despite the clear merit of Zakariya u, Bani Israel, known for their contentious nature, engaged in disputes, harboring desires to claim the honor of raising ‘Imran’s daughter.
Eventually, the community agreed to resolve the matter through a random draw. Each contender inscribed their name on a pen, depositing them into a container. A child was tasked with drawing one of the pens at random, and the pen bearing Zakariya’s u name was chosen.
However, some remained unsatisfied with this outcome, insisting on repeating the process. In the subsequent attempt, all pens were placed in a river, with the condition that the pen defying the current would determine the guardian. Remarkably, Zakariya’s u pen was the sole one that swam effortlessly with the current, while the others struggled upstream The Quranic verse (Al Qur’an 3:44) narrates this incident.
Zakariya u emerged as the most suitable candidate for the role. He was Maryam’s uncle and the leader of the mosque at the time. Hannah entrusted Maryam to the service of Masjid Al-Aqsa. Maryam grew up as a devout and righteous woman from her early years. She spent her time in prayer and seclusion, residing in an enclosed area within Bait-al Maqdis that was specially constructed for her. Whenever Zakariya u, her guardian, would visit her, he would discover an abundance of food in her sanctuary. The remarkable aspect was that the fruits she had were out of season and still remained fresh. When Zakariya u inquired about the source of this provision, Maryam replied that it was a divine gift from Allah. She stated, “It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account” (Al Qur’an 3:37).
Encouraged by these miracles and the blessed environment around Maryam Zakariya, who has no offspring, prayed fervently to Allah: “My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication” (Al Qur’an 3:38).
He prayed despite his old age and his wife’s infertility. Allah blessed him with the news of a righteous son, Yahya u, through the angels. Zakariya, astonished, asked for a sign. The angel informed him that he wouldn’t speak to people for three days, except through gestures, as a sign of this miracle.
Yahya u was a man of unwavering piety and righteousness. His ascetic way of life, deep devotion to Allah, and commitment to moral excellence were renowned. He tirelessly conveyed the divine message to the Children of Israel, urging them to embrace virtuous and God-conscious lives. Tragically, he met a martyr’s end, standing steadfast in his mission despite the trials and challenges that beset him.
In the next article, we delve in to story of Maryam t and Isa u. “This marks the fifth article in the series ‘Masjidul Aqsa: The Spiritual Heart of Palestine and the Land of Prophets.’ Stay tuned for Part 6. Written by Abdu Shaheed Azhary, available at moralstudy.com.