The birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, also known as the Messiah or `Eesaa, the son of Mary the virgin, was an extraordinary doing that the Creator willed to exist. Yes, such a birth of a human being is not common, but is it impossible for the Creator of this Universe, Allah, who created Adam, peace be upon him, the first man, without a father and a mother, to create a man, Jesus, without a father? No it is not.
• Allah said in Soorat `Aal `Imran, 42:
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ
The verse means that Allah chose Maryam to obey him and purified her from indecent manners and Allah chose her to be the highest ranking woman.
• Mary grew up in a pious manner. Prophet Zakaariyyah (Zacharias), peace be upon him, was her custodian and from him, Mary learned the rules of Islam. Mary endeavored in performing obedience and before attaining the age of fourteen (14), she was already a highly pious woman.
• Lady Maryam was a chaste and pure woman and was chosen by Allah to be Prophet Jesus’s mother without her having a husband or being touched by another human. Certainly, it is against the Muslim belief to offend Mary the virgin by attributing to her any sinful act such as fornication.
Maryam’s Story
• Allah said in Soorat Maryam, 16:
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ
The verse means: Recite to those whom you call to Islam O Muhammad what the Qur’an mentions about the story of Maryam to take a note of it and learn what happened to her.
إِذِ انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا
Maryam secluded herself away from people and stayed alone to worship at a place close to eastern of Jerusalem, or in her place away from the people. It was also said that she sat in an assigned place to perform the ghusl and wash herself from menses. This is mentioned to note the place where this amazing story took place.
• Soorat Maryam, 17:
فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا
She covered herself so that her family would not be able to see her so that she would take the ghusl while being behind the cover.
فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا
Allah sent Jibril, peace be upon him, whom Allah called a Soul, because Islam lives by him and by the revelation he conveys.
Allah refereed to Jibril by the saying “My Soul” to note that Jibril is an honorable creation of Allah and Allah is Jibril’s owner.
It is also known that Allah is not attributed with a soul or a body, as the soul and body are attributes of created things like the humans, jinn, angels and animals.
فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
Angel Jibril showed himself to Maryam in the form of a human youth having a beard, a bright face, curly hair and a perfect figure. He was given this form, the form of a man, so that Maryam feels comfortable with his speech and not driven back by his presence. Had he was shown to her like an angel she would have repelled and would not listen to what he was about to tell her.
Soorat Maryam, 18:
قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذِ بِالرَّحْمَنِ مِنكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا
She said to him if one hopes that you fear Allah I am seeking refuge with Allah from you.
• Soorat Maryam, 19:
Angel Jibril said:
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ
I am not a human being; rather I am an angel and a messenger of the One Whom she sought refuge with, i.e., Allah. Jibril made Lady Maryam feel secure and leave out the fear she had.
لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا
By Allah’s Will I will give you a noble child; or I would be a cause so that you have this child.
I would be blowing his soul through the collar of your shirt from the neck side. You will have a boy who is clear from sins; or who will grow up having goodness and blessing.
• Soorat Maryam, 20:
She said:
قَالَتْ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ
How would I have a son?
وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ
I haven’t been touched by a husband through marriage?
وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا
And I am not an indecent woman who seeks the pleasure from whatever man.
Usually, the inception for a child would be only from one of these two ways.
• Soorat Maryam, 21:
Jibril said:
قَالَ كَذَلِكِ
The matter is indeed what you described: you haven’t been touched but a man neither through marriage nor by fornication.
Allah said:
قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ ءَايَةً لِّلنَّاسِ
Giving a child without a father is an easy matter to Me.
I did so to make him (`Eesaa) an example and a proof of my Power; or I will show my Power through him and he will be a manifestation shown to people, that is a lesson learned and a proof of my Power.
وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا
He is sent as a mercy to those who have faith in him.
وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا
This matter of creating `Eesaa, peace be upon him, is a destined matter written in the Guarded Tablet.
Companion ‘Ubayy bin Ka`b, may Allah raise his rank, said:
When Lady Maryam felt secure because of angel Jibril’s saying, he came closer to her and blew in the collar of her shirt. `Eesaa’s soul entered her body from her mouth and then it reached her abdomen.