Sayyidatuna Maryam (رضی اللہ عنہا)was the mother of Sayyiduna ‘Isa علیہ السلام . Her father’s name is ‘Imran and mother’s name is Hinah. When Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہاwas in the womb of her mother, her mother vowed that she would donate the child that is going to be born for the service of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Therefore, when Sayyidatuna Maryam (رضی اللہ عنہا)was born, her mother took her to Bayt-ul-Muqaddas.
Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام , who was the maternal uncle of Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہاwas the Imam (chief) of the religious scholars of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas of those times. Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام became her caretaker. He علیہ السلام made a separate chamber on the highest level of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, which was isolated from all other sections and kept Sayyidatuna Maryam (رضی اللہ عنہا)there. Therefore, Sayyidatuna Maryam (رضی اللہ عنہا)began to live there isolated whilst remaining busy in the worship of Allah . Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام would pay daily visits in the morning and evening to check on her wellbeing and arranging the sustenance.
Within a few days, a miraculous marvel (Karamat) took place in the chamber of Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہا. When Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام would visit the chamber, he علیہ السلام would find the fruits of winter season in summer season and the fruits of summer in the winter season. Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام would inquire in amazement, ‘O Maryam, where do you get these fruits from?’ Sayyidatuna Maryam (رضی اللہ عنہا)would reply that these fruits are from Allah and He bestows with immeasurable sustenance to whomsoever He wills.
Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام was blessed with the rank of Prophethood by Allah but he علیہ السلام did not have any offspring and he علیہ السلام had reached the old age. For years, his heart was eager for offspring and many a times he علیہ السلام had supplicated to Allah with humility for a beautiful child but he علیہ السلام had still not yet been blessed with any child. When he علیہ السلام saw the marvel of Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہاthat out of season fruits descend there, at that time, this thought mounted his heart that even though he has become very old, the season to yield the fruit of children has passed away, but Allah who blesses out of season fruits to Sayyidatuna Maryam ( رضی اللہ عنہا) in the chamber, He ( ) is capable to bless him with an out of season fruit in the form of a child. Therefore, he علیہ السلام supplicated in the chamber of Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہاand his supplication was accepted. Allah blessed him with a son in his old age and Allah named this child ‘Yahya’ who was also blessed with the rank of Prophethood. Allah has described this event in the Holy Quran in the following words:
Whenever Zakariyya visited her at her prayer chamber, he found fresh food with her; he said, ‘O Maryam! Where did this come to you from?’ She answered, ‘It is from Allah; indeed Allah gives to whomever He wills, without calculating.’ It is here that Zakariyya prayed to his Lord; he said, ‘My Lord! Give me from Yourself a righteous offspring; indeed You only are the Listener of prayer.’ And the angels called out to him while he was standing, offering prayer at his place of worship, ‘Indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, who will confirm the truthful Word (sign) from Allah, – a leader, always refraining from women, a Prophet from among Our devoted ones.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 3, Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, verse 37-39)
Moral: This event sheds light on several teachings. It is very useful for the Muslims to extract the moral lessons from it.
Miraculous wonders exhibited by Sayyidatuna Maryam
It can be deduced from the abovementioned event that Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہا was bestowed with marvels and with the rank of Wali (friend of Allah) as Divine fruits used to descend for her from Allah in her chamber and the winter fruits would be delivered to her in summer and the summer fruits in winter. This is a wonderful and open Karamat and is a proof of her sainthood.
Place of worship favours supplications
This event proves that the place where the chosen people of Allah worship becomes so sacred that the blessings of Allah descends there and the supplications are accepted there; just like the supplication of Sayyiduna Zakariyya علیہ السلام was accepted in the chamber of Sayyidatuna Maryam رضی اللہ عنہا. Whereas, on many previous occasions, he علیہ السلام had supplicated frequently in Bayt-ulMuqaddas but his supplication was not granted.
Supplicating beside graves
If supplications are accepted in those places where the chosen people of Allah perform their worship for few days; then definitively supplications would be accepted beside the graves of these chosen people of Allah where their whole blessed bodies are present. Thus, Imam Shaafi’i رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has mentioned that whenever he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ would feel difficulty in finding solution of some religious issue, he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ would visit Baghdad and sat near the blessed grave of Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah ( رحمۃ اللہ علیہ ), would supplicate by making the holy grave a Wasilah (intermediary) and his supplications would be granted and his problem would get resolved.
(Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, pp. 230)
(For further reading about such events, read our books ‘Awliya, Rijaal-ul-Hadees and Ruhaani Hikayaat’.)