JESUS (AS) SPOKE WHILE STILL
IN THE CRADLE
 And
she (Maryam) who guarded her chastity. We breathed in her
some of Our Spirit and made her and her son a Sign for all
the worlds. (Surat al-Anbiya: 91)
One of the incidents with which Allah tested the
people of Maryam is the birth of Jesus (as). This birth, which
was an unusual event for people, was a test both for Maryam
and her people. In reality, the way Jesus (as) was born was
a miracle Allah employed to summon people to true faith and
one of the most explicit evidences of the existence of Allah.
Yet, her people failed to grasp it and were suspicious:
This subject is mentioned in the Qur'an as below:
She brought him to her people, carrying him.
They said, "Maryam! You have done an unthinkable thing! Sister
of Harun (Aaron), your father was not an evil man nor was
your mother an unchaste woman!" (Surah Maryam: 27-28)
As explained in the verses above, upon Maryam's
return from the distant place with Jesus (as), her people
did not let her make an explanation. They assumed that Maryam
had done an indecent and shocking deed, and simply slandered
her in an ugly manner. However, those who spread these slanders
about Maryam knew her almost from the day she was born and
were aware of her purity and piety (taqwa), like the other
members of the family of 'Imran.
Surely, these accusations and slanders were a test
for Maryam. It was apparent that a person, so pure and pious,
would not act as alleged. This was only a test for Maryam.
From the time Maryam was born, Allah always helped her and
turned everything she did to good. Maryam, in return, knew
that every incident happens by the Will of Allah and only
Allah could prove the groundless nature of these slanders.
Indeed, Allah provided comfort to Maryam and inspired
her to remain quiet. Allah instructed her not to speak with
her people but to point to Jesus (as), if they ever approached
her and attempted to make accusations. This way, Maryam avoided
any trouble such a discussion was likely to create. The one
who would provide the most accurate answers to the people
was Jesus (as). When Allah gave the good tidings of the birth
of Jesus (as) to Maryam, He also informed her that he would
speak clearly while he was still in his cradle:
He will speak to people in
the cradle, and also when fully grown, and will be one of
the righteous. (Surah Al 'Imran: 46)
Thus Allah made things easier for Maryam and provided
the true explanation to the people through the words of Jesus
(as). With such a miracle, the disbelief of the people surrounding
Maryam simply failed. It is informed in the Qur'an as follows:
She pointed towards him. They said, "How
can a baby in the cradle speak?" He said, "I am the slave
of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet.
He has made me blessed wherever I am and directed me to do
prayer and pay poor-due as long as I live, and to show devotion
to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arrogant. Peace
be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die and the day
I am raised up again alive." (Surah Maryam: 29-33)
No doubt, a baby speaking fluently in his cradle
is a great miracle. The people of Maryam were astonished on
hearing these words of wisdom from a baby in the cradle and
this occasion proved to them that his birth was a miracle.
All these miraculous incidents showed that the baby in the
cradle was a messenger of Allah.
This is the relief Allah provided Maryam because
of the trust she placed in Him. By showing such an astounding
miracle, she responded to the slanders against her. Yet, Allah
informs us that a grievous disaster awaited those who did
not dismiss their bad thoughts about Maryam despite this miracle:
And on account of their disbelief and their
utterance of a monstrous slander against Maryam. (Surat an-Nisa:
156)
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