Maryam (a.s.) is the only woman who has a chapter in the Qur’an named after her and is renowned for her unwavering devotion to Allah (s.w.t.). Her miraculous story of giving birth to Isa (a.s.) without a father is indeed a timeless source of reflection for women across generations.
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “Mary, the daughter of `Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and Khadija is the best amongst the women (of this nation).” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
So what does her story mean for us, the women of today?
Let’s take a closer look through the lens of a powerful reflection shared by Dr Shaykha Haifaa Younis.
One of the most relatable lessons from Maryam (a.s.) is:
Having strong faith doesn’t mean you won’t struggle. It means you have something to hold on to when things get tough.
Sometimes, we think that becoming more practising, means we’ll no longer feel broken when life tests us. We assume our hearts will toughen up over time and that despair is a sign of weak iman. But that’s not how it works.
Even Maryam (a.s.), the woman chosen and purified by Allah (s.w.t.), reached a point of despair during childbirth; a moment so painful that she wished she had died rather than endure it:
“Then the pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, ‘Alas! I wish I had died before this, and was a thing long forgotten!’” (Surah Maryam 19:23)
This verse reminds us that feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean we’ve failed in our faith. It means we’re human.
And being a believer doesn’t erase our emotions completely.
Look at how Maryam (a.s.) didn’t turn away from Allah (s.w.t.) in her agony nor did she curse her fate. Even in that raw, vulnerable moment, she held on to Allah (s.w.t.) as her only source of relief.
So, to every woman struggling right now, remember this:
Your faith isn’t measured by how invincible you appear. It’s measured by how tightly you cling to Allah (s.w.t.) when you feel like letting go.
Therefore, stay patient on hard days and always practice gratitude during good days. That’s how Maryam (a.s.) lived.
May we draw strength from her story, and may our hearts never forget the One who carries us through it all.