Although I’ve already written about Maryam as our Prophetess, I’d like to expand on her significance by comparing the cosmological role of our Prophet Muhammad to that of our Prophetess Maryam. There are several interesting parallels between Maryam and Muhammad; the first and most obvious is not only that both recieved word from the Archangel Jibril (Gabriel) of their Prophethoods, but that the reactions of these two Prophets to that word are strikingly similiar. When Muhammad is greeted by the Angel, he is terrified until he comes to recognize the entity; the Prophet had, at first, run frantically down the moutain. Likewise, when the Angel approaches Maryam, she cries,
“Indeed, I seek refuge
in the Most Merciful
from you, so leave me
if you fear God!”
until her visitor responds,
“I am only a messenger
of God to bring you news
of a child.” (19:18)
But what is more intriguing is the dialogue that takes place. Maryam proceeds to ask,
“How can I birth a child
when I am a virgin?” (19:20)
while Muhammad, when commanded to “Read!” at the revelation of Surah Iqra, responds, bewildered, “But I cannot read.”
The Prophet was indeed illiterate, and in this exchange his illiteracy plays the same role as Maryam’s virginity. This response, “I cannot read,” is paralleled with Maryam’s, “How can I birth a child when no mortal has touched me?”
Since Islam does not elevate the Maryam’s virginity to the extent that it is certainly elevated in other faiths accepting her as a religious figure, the Islamic approach to Maryam’s virginity is the same as its approach to Muhammad’s illiteracy. In other words, these two states are considered neither particularly virtuous nor are they frowned upon. They are merely the conditions in which these historical figures existed before greeted by the Divine. I am not entirely comfortable in drawing the theory that Muhammad’s illiteracy and Maryam’s virginity are symbolic of spiritual receptiveness to the Word of God, that the absence (of literacy and sexual experience) of each of these “worldy pretenses” made each Prophet the most receptive vessel, unobstructed by human finitude, for the Word of God to be Delivered–for Maryam, God’s Word in childbirth, and through Muhammad, God’s Word in the Qur’an–but it is nonetheless one to be considered.
A second parallel is the cleansing of both Prophets before the creation of the universe and all that exists. A hadith reads, “There is none born among the offspring of humankind that Satan does not touch; a child, therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Maryam and her child.” (Sahih Bukhari) This is an indication that both Maryam and her son are free of sin, like Muhammad who is distinguished by his isma, protection from moral depravity: “Did We not expand your bosom?” (Qur’an 94:1) so that the Messenger of the Qur’an could convey the message without error. Our Prophet’s heart is cleansed during his ascendance through the Heavens, and several hadiths, in which this described concept has been meditated upon by mystics, read that the Prophet existed before the very creation of the first human being, and several hadiths read that “the first thing God created [when Adam was still between water and clay] was my [the Prophet’s] Light.” As the Prophet is distinguished as exceptional compared to all humankind, so is the declaration made for Maryam at her birth,
“When she [the mother of Maryam] had delivered,
she said: “O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered
of a female child!”—and God knew best
what she delivered—
“And no wise is the male
like the female.
I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I commend her
and her offspring to
Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected.” (3:36)
Just as the Qur’an is protected from defect through the protection of the purity of Muhammad from moral depravity, so is Prophet Isa’s protection from Satan invoked in the same protection of his mother.
What are then, the cosmological and mystical implications of both these figures? It is no accident that the Prophetess and the Prophet have inspired the same passionate praise and meditative repose among those who follow them and submit to God. One of the most fundamental attributes of the Prophet is his Light, believed to be a direct reflection of the Light of God, the noor of Muhammad is so close to God that Muhammad is Loved if God is Loved. Likewise Maryam, who occupies the realm of the Womb, is tied closely, almost inextricably, to the realm of the Divine, as made clear in 4:1. Prophet Isa, son of Maryam, is secondary to his mother, as the Qur’an reads he declares,
“I am a servant of God;
God has given me a Book and made me
a Prophet,
and blessed me and enjoined upon me
prayer and charity
and made me dutiful
to my mother
who bore me.” (19:30-32)
There are two things to take away from this: (1) Prophet Isa was made dutiful to his mother, which has interestingly never been interpreted as a Divine Ordination of matriarchy (though Isma’il’s dutifulness to God has been conveniently misread as dutifulness to Ibrahim as a patriarch), and (2) although it is true the conception was Immaculate, it is emphasized over and over in the Qur’an that Isa is the son of Maryam: she, alone, birthed him, harnessing the Divine powers manifested in the realm of the womb and acting singularly (without a man) to perform a miracle, a sign of the Prophets.
And Maryam is most certainly a Prophet. Whether she can be called a Messenger, having carried and delivered the Word of God in the form of a human being, just as Muhammad delivered the word of God as the Qur’an, is a decision I personally haven’t made and will leave up to you, dear readers. One thing is certain: Maryam, and Asiya, and Eve, and the numerous women who inarguably qualify as Prophets demonstrate with their capacities that the distinction between a Prophet and a Messenger is hazy and not so distinct, and more uncertain than widely defined.
I propose that there is an entire league of female Prophets who transcend patriarchal categorizations of Divine Interaction.
the fatal feminist 
I am very comfortable thinking that yes, illiteracy and virginity are symbolic of spiritual receptiveness to the Word of God. But perhaps that’s because of my Christian background, and belief that yes, indeed, absolutely, Maryam carried the Word of God (something I’ve always held close to my heart and haven’t discussed, because it’s not something you do in our community).
I love this post and think it’s incredibly important. Thank you for writing it. I got shivers reading that both Maryam and the Prophet (upon both be peace) were cleansed in preparation to deliver the literal Word of God.
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Thank you for your comment, wood turtle! I really only grapple with the idea that illiteracy and virginity are symbolic of spiritual receptiveness to the Word of God because I associate the identification of these two states as, like all virtuous states, something we should strive to attain; except, unlike the fast during Ramadan and abstaining from worldly appetites, the states of illiteracy and virginity were less temporary in these figures. So, what I have trouble with, is that since the realm of spirituality and the realm of practice are inseparable in Islam, how does one deduce, theoretically, how this should be incorporated in practice?
Of course I don’t mean at all that it is meant to be incorporated into practice, but as the Word of God descended through the Prophetess and the Prophet, so too are we meant to ascend to the Divine Realm through the examples of these figures, by learning from them. They are meant to be both intangible and tangible to us.
So, that is what I am wondering. Is Maryam’s virginity as symbolic of the spiritual receptiveness to the Word of God meant to be interpreted as our faithfulness to One Eternal Love? Is Muhammad’s illiteracy as symbolic of the spiritual receptiveness to the Word of God meant to be interpreted as a reminder that regardless of language and learnedness, the Divine Truth transcends all human constraints of definitive description?
This is mainly what I need to contemplate.
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Yes exactly. We’re taught to emulate the Prophet through the Sunnah — as he was the “best of mankind” so we should follow I’m order to become closer to God. It’s often said that believers should emulate the good qualities of prophets (not all. Because lets face it, they weren’t perfect — and even our Prophet admits to his errors in the Qur’an). So be patient, steadfast, believe in monotheism, etc. But what does this mean when accepting Maryam as a Prophtess, if her vessel and symbolism is virginal?
What does this imply for the definition of the ideal Muslimah? And the definition of purity and the definitions and rules assigned to the bodies of women. That God only speaks to the virginal? It’s not without issues, that’s for sure.
I can’t remember where I heard it, but I recall a lecture where the professor (sheikh? Imam?) noted that Maryam was not a virgin her entire life.
I do love your pondering that Maryam’s virginity is symbolic of One Eternal Love. Creation, nurturing, bravery, strength, and wisdom can be said of her birth experience as well.
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In other words, these two states are considered neither particularly virtuous nor are they frowned upon.
Interesting perspective, never heard it before and quite enlightening overall. However…(the dreaded freaking however…) seems like Maryam’s virginity/chastity was a thing of great importance. If I remember well, in most instances of her being named in the Quran, especially in relation of Jesus AS, the link is made quite clearly that she was chosen and elevated on account of her chastity. Matter of fact, the main thing that makes up Maryam’s greatness as shown int he Quran is her chastity, while in the case of the Prophet Muhammad AS, his character was praised.
So it does seem that Muhamad AS’s illiteracy was a non-disqualifying attribute (attribute nonetheless) as the first step of a process, while Maryam’s chastity was a qualifying attribute as accomplishment.
I do see that there is a mirroring element here, man/woman, unenhanced/unsullied, unaccomplished/practiced (denial/chastity)…
Impressed!
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Wow i find that article to be a huge stretch, trying to find similarities and proofs where there r none. And clearly some inventions and slight untruths to say the least. The whole point that made Maryam AS amazing was that she was a virgin but miraculously was able to conceive. Thats what made her who she was and what made the prophet Insa AS who he was, that his mother was a virgin so he didnt have a father. Dismissing that as unimportant is really not understanding anything about what made them so amazing and a sign for humanity. And obviously Maryam chastity was praised and looked upon as very special and positive in the Koran, thats why it was mentionned.
The Prophet being illiterate and being given the deepest and most amazing book was a miracle in itself. Thats why the Koran makes sure to tell us that He cannot read before anything. IQra was the first word of the Koran. The angel told him Iqra read and he responded i cannot read. Your conclusion that these 2 states were”…not being particularly virteous…” seems rather silly.
“..the first and most obvious is not only that both recieved word from the Archangel Jibril (Gabriel) of their Prophethoods…” Wow!!! Both? Where are you pulling these from? When and where did Maryam AS receive prophethood from the Angel Gabriel AS? Nowhere in the Koran or in Islamic history was said to be a prophetess.
“(1) Prophet Isa was made dutiful to his mother, which has interestingly never been interpreted as a Divine Ordination of matriarchy (though Isma’il’s dutifulness to God has been conveniently misread as dutifulness to Ibrahim as a patriarch),” there is perfect reason for this FATAL FEMINIST, the Koran ask to be dutiful to PARENTS not to mother only or father only, even thought it says that the mother bore for 9 months it says to be dutiful but to parents. People dont see it as a divine ordination to matriarchy because there isnt an demand in the koran for an ordination to matriarchy.
Your essay is riddled with things that are very interesting to say the least, and one could go on and on and dissect it all but it would take too long. As your name and picture above indicate, you dont seem to have a enlightening islam agenda. ISLAM, FEMINISM, MERMAIDS is your motto. Maybe you should just openly advocate feminism and not do it thru the umbrella of Islam.
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Rule 1: Don’t EVER tell me what I should do.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
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I believe in female prophethood, and it’s also interesting that the Bible explicitly refers to some women as prophetesses: Mirjam, the sister of Moses and Debora, who was a judge & political leader.
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Interesting!
Part of the issue with traditional male interpretation on many issues is that unless it is specifically addressed in the QUran, it either does not exist, or cannot be.
If a tree falls in the Bible but doesn’t echo in the Quran, has it fallen? If one sees all 3 holy books are parts of the same Message, and the Quran informs us on topics and events that happened before while asserting itself as a continuation, information present in those holy books should weigh more in our quranic education.
I know however that, due to the fallibility of the current Bible and Torah, that is a complicated process, one that must be undertaken nonetheless.
The non-mention of female prophetesses in the Quran is not definite proof that there were none, especially if the Bible mentions some.
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hi, maybe this is too much to ask (i’m sorry if it is) but can you share your sources? i genuinely do want to believe this its just there’s a lot of religious gaslighting within the muslim community and this is the first i have ever heard of maryam (as) being a prophet. thank you for this piece btw.
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also when i mean “the muslim community”
i meant my own, sorry.
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hi. i’m not really sure how to comment on here but i wanted to ask (and i hope this isn’t too much) if you could share your sources? i really want to believe this but i’m a young muslim and there’s a lot of religious gaslighting within the muslim communities i’ve been in. btw thank you for this article and i hope you have a great day.
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