In the land of Palestine, Imran was a pious and virtuous man from the People of Israel. He served as a priest in the Temple, and his wife Hanna was also righteous and pure. Both were deeply respected. Imran came from the lineage of Prophet Solomon, and Hanna was from the descendants of Prophet David. They longed for a child.
One day, Hanna saw a bird feeding its chick, and the love of motherhood overwhelmed her, so she prayed for Allah to bless her with a child. Soon she realised she had conceived and made a vow to dedicate the child to the Temple.
Before the child was born, Imran passed away. Hanna gave birth to a girl and became worried about fulfilling her vow. Allah assured her that He had accepted the child, and that she would bring great honour.
She named her Maryam.
Allah says:
إن الله اصطفى آدم ونوحا وآل إبراهيم وآل عمران على العالمين
Translation: Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran over all people.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 33
إذ قالت امرأة عمران رب إني نذرت لك ما في بطني محررا فتقبل مني إنك أنت السميع العليم
Translation: When the wife of Imran said: My Lord, I have dedicated to You what is in my womb for Your service, so accept it from me. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 35
فلما وضعتها قالت رب إني وضعتها أنثى والله أعلم بما وضعت وليس الذكر كالأنثى وإني سميتها مريم وإني أعيذها بك وذريتها من الشيطان الرجيم
Translation: When she delivered her, she said: My Lord, I have delivered a female. Allah knew best what she delivered. The male is not like the female. I have named her Maryam, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Satan the accursed.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 36
فتقبلها ربها بقبول حسن وأنبتها نباتا حسنا وكفلها زكريا كلما دخل عليها زكريا المحراب وجد عندها رزقا قالت هو من عند الله
Translation: So her Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance and raised her beautifully, and placed her under the care of Zakariyya. Every time Zakariyya entered her chamber, he found provision with her. She said: It is from Allah.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 37
Maryam grew in purity and devotion. Her spiritual light became known across the Holy Land. Zakariyya would find miraculous provisions with her and understood that she had a special rank.
The Angels announce Isa
One day, the angels called out to Maryam:
يا مريم إن الله اصطفاك وطهرك واصطفاك على نساء العالمين
Translation: O Maryam, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above all women of the world.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 42
يا مريم اقنتي لربك واسجدي واركعي مع الراكعين
Translation: O Maryam, be devoutly obedient to your Lord, prostrate yourself, and bow with those who bow in prayer.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 43
Then the angels gave her the greatest news:
إن الله يبشرك بكلمة منه اسمه المسيح عيسى ابن مريم وجيها في الدنيا والآخرة ومن المقربين
Translation: Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter and among those nearest to Allah.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 45
ويكلم الناس في المهد وكهلا ومن الصالحين
Translation: He will speak to people in the cradle and in maturity, and he will be among the righteous.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 46
Maryam asked how she could have a child without being touched by a man, and the angels replied:
قال كذلك الله يخلق ما يشاء إذا قضى أمرا فإنما يقول له كن فيكون
Translation: Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it: Be, and it is.
Surah Aal Imran, verse 47
This was the divine declaration of the miraculous birth of Jesus.
The Angel appears to Maryam
Maryam withdrew to an eastern place for worship.
فأرسلنا إليها روحنا فتمثل لها بشرا سويا
Translation: We sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared before her as a well-formed man.
Surah Maryam, verse 17
Terrified, she sought protection:
قالت إني أعوذ بالرحمن منك إن كنت تقيا
Translation: She said: I seek protection from the Most Merciful against you, if you fear Allah.
Surah Maryam, verse 18
He replied:
قال إنما أنا رسول ربك لأهب لك غلاما زكيا
Translation: He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord to give you a pure son.
Surah Maryam, verse 19
She said she had never been touched by a man. The angel told her:
قال كذلك قال ربك هو علي هين ولنجعله آية للناس ورحمة منا وكان أمرا مقضيا
Translation: Your Lord says: It is easy for Me. We will make him a sign for the people and a mercy from Us. It is already decreed.
Surah Maryam, verse 21
This is the moment the miracle was written into destiny.
The Birth of Isa
When the pains of childbirth came, Maryam withdrew to a distant place. She sat beneath a palm tree and cried out in anguish.
Allah comforted her:
لا تحزني قد جعل ربك تحتك سريا
Translation: Do not grieve. Your Lord has provided a stream beneath you.
Surah Maryam, verse 24
وهزي إليك بجذع النخلة تساقط عليك رطبا جنيا
Translation: Shake the trunk of the palm tree and fresh ripe dates will fall upon you.
Surah Maryam, verse 25
فكلي واشربي وقرّي عينا
Translation: So eat, drink, and be comforted.
Surah Maryam, verse 26
Jesus was born in purity, calmness, and divine protection.
The Infant Isa Speaks
Maryam returned to her people carrying the baby. They accused her. She remained silent and pointed to the infant. They protested: How can we speak to a newborn?
Then Jesus spoke as a baby by Allah’s command:
إني عبد الله آتاني الكتاب وجعلني نبيا
Translation: I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
Surah Maryam, verse 30
وجعلني مباركا أين ما كنت وأوصاني بالصلاة والزكاة ما دمت حيا
Translation: He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has commanded me to pray and give charity as long as I live.
Surah Maryam, verse 31
وبرا بوالدتي ولم يجعلني جبارا شقيا
Translation: And He has made me dutiful to my mother and not arrogant or miserable.
Surah Maryam, verse 32
والسلام علي يوم ولدت ويوم أموت ويوم أبعث حيا
Translation: Peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I will be raised to life again.
Surah Maryam, verse 33