Mary, the mother of Jesus (Maryam), was raised by Prophet Zechariah (Zakariyya) عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم. He provided her with religious education. Maryam was a pious woman who did not commit sins and devoted herself to worship day and night. Due to her devotion, she attained a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the best woman of mankind.
"Our Lady Maryam, the mother of the Prophet Jesus (^Isa) عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم, was a dignified, pure, and patient woman who endured the slander and accusations of her people. Despite facing great adversity, she showed tremendous courage in standing up to those who accused her and her child of wrongdoing. Some accused her of fornication because she had given birth to Jesus without a husband. Despite the false accusations, she remained steadfast in her faith and continued to seek Allah 's acceptance and rewards."
In the Qur’an, God quoted Lady Maryam. He said:
واذكر في الكتاب مريم إذ انتبذت من أهلها مكانا شرقيّا
(wadhkur fi l-kitabi Maryama ‘idhi-ntabadhat min ‘ahliha makanan charqiyya)
« And mention in the Book Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east." [ Maryam / 16]
And He said ^azza wa jall:
ما المسيحُ ابن مريم إلا رسولٌ قد خلت من قبله الرسل وأمّه صدّيقة كانا يأكلان الطعام
(ma l-Masihu bnu Maryama ‘ill a raçulun qad khalat min qablihi r-ruçul wa‘ummuhu siddiqatun kan a ya’kulani t–ta^am)
"Al-Masih, the son of Maryam, is none other than a messenger among the messengers who came before him."
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger among the messengers who passed on before him, and his mother is a truthful saint. Both of them used to consume food. [ Al-Ma'idah / 75]. There is an argument in this verse against the deification of Mary and her son.
Evidence from the Qur'an and Hadith on the high degree of our Lady Maryam
The honourable Lady Maryam is regarded as the best of all women according to the Holy Qu’ran and the Prophet's teachings.
God says in the Qur'an:
وإذ قالت الملائكة يا مريم إن الله اصطفاك وطهّرك واصطفاك على نساء العالمين يا مريم اقنتي لربّك واسجدي واركعي مع الراكعين
(wa’idh qalati l-mala‘ikatu y a Maryamu ‘inna l-Laha stafaki watahharaki wastafaki ^al a niça‘i l-^alamin ; y a Maryamu q nut i li Rabbiki wasjud i warka^ i ma^a r-raki^in)
The angels said to Maryam, "Allah has chosen you and purified you, above the women of the world. O Maryam remain obedient to your Lord and bow with those who bow." [ 'Ali ^Imran / 42-43]
Thus, His word (istafaki) means “He has chosen you, and granted you a degree of merit.” Thus, the first istifa' is an election by choice and the second is an istifa' based on merit. In this case, Allah has bestowed upon her a level of merit that surpasses all other women in the world. He chose her among all women to be the mother of His prophet ^Isa , al-Masih, without her having a husband and without any man touching her.
The Prophet said in the honoured h adith reported by Hafidh Ibnu ^Abdi l-Barr:
وخير النساء مريم بنت عمران ثم فاطمة بنت محمد ثم خديجة بنت خويلد ثم ءاسية بنت مزاحم
(wakhayru n-nisa’i Maryamu bintu ^Iimran thumma Fatimah bintu Muhammad thumma Khadijah bintu Khuwaylid thumma ‘Aciyah bintu Muzahim)
"The four greatest women in Islam are Maryam daughter of ^Imran, Fatimah daughter of Muhammad, Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid, and 'Asiyah daughter of Muzahim."
This hadith honours Mary as being superior to all other women in humanity. After Mary, Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammadﷺ, is the next most virtuous woman, followed by Khadijah, the wife of the Prophet, and then by 'Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh. Finally, ^A'ichah, the daughter of Abu Bakrand wife of the Prophet, is considered the fifth most virtuous woman. This hadith about Lady Maryam is not only beautiful but also contains valuable lessons in wisdom and morality.
