In Surah Maryam, verse 23, Allah narrates the story of Maryam, peace be upon her, during her labor pains:
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًۭا مَّنسِيًّۭا
This is often translated to:
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, 'Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.'
The words 'نَسْيًۭا' (nasya) and 'مَّنسِيًّۭا' (mansiyya) at the end of the verse, translated to mean ‘in oblivion, forgotten’ both originate from the root ن س ي, meaning 'to forget.' But what is the distinction between these two terms?
'Nasya' signifies something trivial and unworthy, deserving to be forgotten without any remorse, such as a mere stick. Al-Farra' suggested that it refers to the discarded rags of a menstruating woman, which should be disposed of without a second thought. Maryam (peace be upon her) expressed these words due to her deep sense of modesty and the gossip surrounding her condition as an unmarried woman bearing a child. It is normal for a person to experience such sentiments in challenging circumstances, akin to saying, 'I wish the ground would swallow me up.' Her statement did not stem from resentment toward Allah's decree or an inability to bear the trial.
However, 'nasya' can also indicate something that receives little attention but is not completely forgotten.
To emphasize the intensity of Maryam's emotions and convey the true extent of her feelings, Allah followed it with the term 'mansiyya' - forgotten. She not only desired to be forgotten, as even the most esteemed individuals and things are eventually forgotten while still maintaining their significance and worth, but she also yearned to be insignificant and inconspicuous, in addition to being forgotten.
This serves as a lesson for sisters regarding their modesty. The fact that the Qur'an mentions this aspect so strongly suggests that it might be one of the qualities that contributed to Maryam's inclusion among the four women promised Paradise.
4 Comments
Jazaak Allah khair for this Ustadha.
I've always wondered, did she say this due to the intensity of pain? Is there anything in the ayah that signifies the intensity of the pain of childbirth?