When Maryam, the mother of Īsa, was suffering from the pangs of labor and her loneliness and desperation got the better of her, she cried out, 'Oh, how I wish I had died before this, or never been known by anyone!' [Surah Maryam; 23]. Remember, this is the lady whom the Quran mentions has been chosen over all other women of humanity. This is the lady whom we are told had perfected her faith! From this, we learn: - at times of difficulty and grief, it is not sinful to have some negative, passing thoughts, but we need to overcome them and not allow them to take root. Also note her 'negative thoughts' didn't blame Allah, but rather yearned for her to not be alive. Even in extreme pain

What I love so much about the Quran is that it doesn’t strip the emotions out of people, but magnifies them. Each and every one of was built with an internal mechanism that we can access our Creator with. Our emotions are a tool, an avenue, to Allah. The raw vulnerable emotions of prophets and the pious are highlighted. Prophet Musa was scared (20:67), Maryam peace be upon her wished she had died (19:23), Prophet Yaqoub was overwhelmed with intense grief (12:84), Prophet Musa’s mother’s heart was in distress (28:10), Prophet Noah felt defeated (54:10), Prophet Muhammad’s heart felt constricted (15:97), Prophet Ayoub was in pain (21:83), Prophet Yunus felt helpless in extreme darkness (21:87

Sometimes you’re reading an emotion mentioned in the Quran, and it’s describing you in that exact moment. I was reviewing my memorization of Quran with my friend on the phone, and I got to the verse describing the mother going through pain after pain while carrying her child, and I paused and laughed telling my friend, 'literally pain', as I was picking up my 7 year old daughter born with special needs and moving the wagon that carried her ventilator and other medical supplies at the same time. Isn’t it amazing that when we are going through our life day in and day out, we will find circumstances in the Quran that talk about us? Sometimes you’re the one recalling all the obstacles

:بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله اما بعد قرآن کریم میں جو حضرت مریم علیہا السلام کا قصہ نقل ہوا ہے اس میں بےشمار خزانے ہیں، بےشمار سبق ہیں۔ حضرت مریم علیہا السلام جانتی تھیں کہ یہ جو حضرت عیسیٰ علیہ السلام کی پیدائش ہے یہ اللہ سبحانہ و تعالیٰ کی طرف سے ہے، قدرت کے عام قوانین سے ہٹ کے ہی صحیح، لیکن اللہ تعالیٰ کے حکم سے ہے، اس کے باوجود ان کے لئے یہ بہت مشکل تھا، لیبر پینز کا اتنا مسئلہ نہیں تھا، اصل مسئلہ ذہنی تناؤ تھا، لوگوں کی باتوں کا ڈر تھا، وہ ایک نیک خاندان سے تھیں اور ان کو لوگوں کی بے شمار تہمتوں کا ڈر تھا۔ وہ سوچ رہی تھیں کہ کیسے سہیں گی لوگوں کی باتیں، بےشک کہ وہ جانتی تھیں یہ اللہ کی طرف سے ہے، لیکن وہ بشر تھیں، جذبات بشریت کا فطری حصہ ہیں، یہاں تک کہ مریم علیہا السلام ک

'Know that victory comes with patience…' – Allah the Helper As people of faith, we almost *expect* miracles to happen without hard work. We look at the story of Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) and wish that the sea would part for us. We read the trials of Maryam (Mary) (peace be upon her) and see that she was given a child as a virgin, and we know that miracles are easy for Allah (swt). We focus on the miracle but forget that they came after much effort. So when things do not go our way and we feel that we have not been helped, we give up. But in the stories of the Qur’an, Allah shows us something amazing. It is when the righteous exhaust all the means does the help of Allah come. When M

Reflections on Surat Maryam The story of Maryam teaches us that the test decreed upon you ('It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed' - 19:21) that you thought you couldn’t handle ('I wish I had died before this, and was a thing long forgotten!' - 19:23) ends up being your biggest blessing ('And Allah sets forth an example for the believers... Mariam, daughter of Imran' (66:12-13) The story of Ibrahim teaches us to reason with people ('Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all?' - 19:42) and care for their state ('I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment...' - 19:45), and if they resort to attacks, to turn away with grace ('Peace be upon you! I w