Transliteration:( Fataqabba lahaa Rabbuhaa biqaboolin hasaninw wa ambatahaa nabaatan hasananw wa kaffalahaa Zakariyyaa kullamaa dakhala 'alaihaa Zakariyyal Mihraaba wajada 'indahaa rizqan qaala yaa Maryamu annaa laki haazaa qaalat huwa min 'indil laahi innal laaha yarzuqu mai yashaaa'u bighairi hisaab )
79. By her acceptance by Allah Almighty is meant she was accepted as a caretaker of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, inspite of being a girl as only boys were engaged in the service of the blessed Mosque.
80. By 'excellent growth is meant that Sayeda Mariam's growth for one day was equal to a year's growth of other children.
81. The caretakers of the Al-Aqsa Masjid were known as AHBAAR and they were twenty seven in number. They were from the children of Hazrat Harun (On whom be peace). Their leader was Hazrat Zakariya (On whom be peace) who was the maternal uncle of Sayeda Mariam (May Allah be pleased with her). Hazrat Imran was the eldest of this group and as such was appointed their Imam or chief. Though it was the desire of everyone of this group to take care of Sayeda Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her), it was Hazrat Zakaria (On whom be peace) who was chosen for this task: He carried out his duty with a great deal of love and devotion.
82. From this discussion few issues emerge:
1. The miracles of saints is an unmistakabletruth because Sayeda Maryam's (May Allah be pleased with her) obtaining unseasoned fruits from an unknown source is her miracle.
2. Some saints are saints from birth as sainthood is not dependent on deeds. Sayeda Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her) was a saint from her childhood.
3. Allah blesses the saints with ILME LADUNNI (Inspired knowledge) and complete wisdom as can be seen from Sayeda Maryam's (May Allah be pleased with her) reply to the question of Hazrat Zakariya (On whom be please) which SUBHANALLAH was inspired.
4. Some pious Servants of Allah have been blessed with heavenly fruit. Sayeda Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her) was receiving these fruits from heaven.
5.Sayeda Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her) was nourished with heavenly fruit, not from her mother's milk nor from any worldly provisions. (Khazainul Irfaan) because her mother had placed her under the care of the Ahbaar at birth, nor is there any proof that a foster mother was appointed to take care of her.
37. So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyya. Every time he entered the Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: “O Maryam! From where have you gotten this” She said, “This is from Allah.” Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit.
Allah states that He has accepted Maryam as a result of her mother’s vow and that He,
(made her grow in a good manner) meaning, made her conduct becoming, her mannerism delightful and He made her well liked among people. He also made her accompany the righteous people, so that she learned righteousness, knowledge and religion.
(And put her under the care of Zakariyya) meaning, Allah made Zakariyya her sponsor. Allah made Zakariyya Maryam’s guardian for her benefit, so that she would learn from his tremendous knowledge and righteous conduct. He was the husband of her maternal aunt, as Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Jarir stated, or her brother-in-law, as mentioned in the Sahih,
(I saw John and `Isa, who are maternal cousins.)
We should state that in general terms, what Ibn Ishaq said is plausible, and in this case, Maryam was under the care of her maternal aunt. The Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah decided that `Amarah, the daughter of Hamzah, be raised by her maternal aunt, the wife of Ja`far bin Abi Talib, saying,
(The maternal aunt is just like the mother.)
Allah then emphasizes Maryam’s honor and virtue at the place of worship she attended,
(Every time he entered the Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance.)
Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi and As-Suddi said, “He would find with her the fruits of the summer during winter, and the fruits of the winter during summer.” When Zakariyya would see this; d
(He said: “O Maryam! From where have you gotten this”) meaning, where did you get these fruits from
(She said, “This is from Allah.” Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit.)
(3:37) Thereupon her Lord graciously accepted Mary and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth and placed her in the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah[35] visited her in the sanctuary,[36] he found her provided with food. He asked her: ‘O Mary, how did this come to you?’ She said: ‘It is from Allah. Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning.’
35. This section refers to that period of Mary’s life when she attained her majority and was admitted to the Temple of Jerusalem, and devoted all her time to remembering God. Zechariah, into whose care she was given, was perhaps the husband of her maternal aunt, and was one of the guardians of the Temple. This Zechariah is not to be confused with the Prophet Zechariah whose assassination is mentioned in the Old Testament.
36. The word mihrab usually refers to that niche in mosques where the leader of the prayer stands. In this instance, however, the term signifies the apartments usually built in synagogues and sanctuaries on a raised platform adjacent to the place of congregational worship, which served as the residence of caretakers, servants and beggars. Mary lived in an apartment of this kind and devoted all her time to worship and prayer.
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