Quranic Sciences

(Revealed in Mecca)

In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

Introduction to the Sura

Sura Maryam, as arranged in the Book, is the nineteenth Sura of the holy Quran. It contains 98 verses which have been revealed in Mecca.

Similar to other Meccan Suras, the content of this Sura is mostly about matters concerning the Hereafter, the end of the evil-doers, the rewards of the good-doers, and part of the account of the lives of Zakariyya (Zechariah), Mary, Jesus, Yahya (John), Abraham, Ishmael and Idris (Enoch).

It is recorded in Tafsir-i-Al-Mizan that, in the last few verses of Sura Maryam, Allah says that the purpose of revealing this Sura is to give 'glad tidings and warnings', and this aim has been followed in the beautiful form of the story of the prophets' lives.

Allah has mentioned no woman in the Qur'an directly by her proper name except Mary, and the name 'Mary' occurs 34 times in the Qur'an. The only Sura, which has been entitled by the name of a woman in the Qur'an, is this very Sura, Sura Mary.

For the virtue of studying this Sura, it has been cited that whoever continues reciting this Sura (whenever he can), he will not die save that Allah will suffice him in life, wealth and children. (Majma'-ul-Bayan)

There is no doubt, of course, that the one will make himself free from want from others by means of practicing the contents of this Sura.

Apostle Zechariah's prayer for an issue - Allah's granting him a son, though Zechariah was old and his wife was barren and very old - Yahya (John) commissioned as an Apostle of Allah in his childhood itself.

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Maryam" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"