Have full trust in Allah
The story of Maryam
Allah rarely uses people’s names in the Quran, and Maryam is one of the only women to be mentioned explicitly by name. Her story is mentioned in detail in both Surah Maryam and Surah Ale ‘Imran, and is well-known.
She was from a very pious and educated family, and her father was the Chief Rabbi at the time. When her mother fell pregnant, she vowed to dedicate her baby (which she thought would be a boy) to serve in the house of Allah. At the time only boys were able to serve, but when the baby was born a girl, an exception was made to allow her to live in the temple too.
When she was a teenager, probably around 19 years old, Angel Jibril came to tell her that Allah had selected her to carry His Messenger. She left her city to have the baby, and came back with baby ‘Isa.
Imagine being in Maryam’s shoes
Imagine how it must have felt for her to face her community when she came back. A young girl from a pious and respected family, unmarried and showing up suddenly with a baby. It had all the appearance of something shameful, and people started casting all sorts of vicious accusations at her. What a terrifying task for her to carry on her shoulders.
فَأَتَتْ بِهِۦ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُۥ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْـًۭٔا فَرِيًّۭا
She went back to her people carrying the child, and they said, ‘Mary! You have done something terrible! [19:27]
Following Allah’s instructions
Before she went back, Allah had told her:
ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلْبَشَرِ أَحَدًۭا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ صَوْمًۭا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّۭا
Say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation, and I will not talk to anyone today.”’ [19:26]
Vows of silence were a part of siyam and a form of ibada in the shariah of Prophet Musa, although we don’t have this in Islam now. So in those days they were a common thing, and people would have been familiar with it.
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ من كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّۭا
So, she pointed towards him (the baby). They said, “How shall we speak to someone who is still a child in the cradle? [19:29]
When people started accusing her, Maryam said nothing and just pointed to the baby. She had no idea what would happen, she simply followed Allah’s instructions with full trust in Him.
Trust in Allah
This is a very relevant lesson for us, as we are often afraid of facing our reality and our community, and this can stop us from doing the right thing.
If you know something is right, have full trust in Allah and just do it. He will look after you. Maryam could never have imagined that her newborn baby would start speaking and defending her, but Allah can facilitate things for you in ways you will never expect.
In the name of your Lord
We can also see this in the revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, when Jibril came to him and told him to recite, and he replied that he didn’t know how.
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Read! In the name of your Lord who created: [96:1]
The ayah that was revealed to him emphasised that although he couldn’t read, by the name of his Lord, he would become a master of the educated and would educate humanity. This ayah is a reminder to us that our achievements are not based on our efforts or our university degrees, status, or connections, but by the will of Allah. When you trust Him, He will deliver you from any difficulty.
The story of Maryam is a reminder to have deep tawakkul of Allah, and turn to him fully whenever we are in a difficult situation.
I am as My servant thinks of Me
As the famous Hadith Qudsi says, ‘I am as my servant thinks of me.’
If you believe that Allah will deliver you from your difficulty, He will. But if you have shaky trust and aren’t sure, He won’t.
We trust in Allah that He will deliver our ummah from the atrocities we are facing, and give us relief and victory. Ameen.
Based on the Ramadan Reflection Night 16 by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
Maryam and the courage of trust
By Samia Ahmed
On the sixteenth night of Ramadan, Shaykh Haytham’s reminder took us to Surah Maryam and to one of the most remarkable women mentioned in the Qur’an.
Maryam did not emerge from obscurity. She came from a household known for righteousness. Her family was a family of devotion and service to Allah. Allah Almighty even named an entire chapter Surah Aal ‘Imran after her family, and another chapter Surah Maryam after her.
She was known among her people for purity, modesty and worship.
Yet Allah chose her for a test that would shake the very foundations of her life.
Allah says:
“And mention in the Book Maryam, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.” (Surah Maryam 19:16)
It was there that Jibreel عليه السلام came to her with the announcement that she would carry a child. Not an ordinary child, but ‘Isa عليه السلام, a messenger of Allah.
Allah says:
“He said, I am only the messenger of your Lord to grant you a pure boy.” (Surah Maryam 19:19)
Imagine the weight of that moment.
A young woman known for her purity.
Living in a community that knew her reputation.
Now carrying a child without a husband.
This was not only a physical burden. It was a social burden. A reputational burden. A psychological burden.
She withdrew from the city.
But eventually she had to return.
Allah describes the moment:
“Then she came to her people carrying him.” (Surah Maryam 19:27)
Pause at that image.
Maryam walking into her community, holding a newborn child. People who knew her piety. People who expected the impossible from her. And now they saw something they could not explain.
The accusations came immediately.
“O Maryam, you have certainly done a terrible thing.” (Surah Maryam 19:27)
They reminded her of her lineage.
“O sister of Harun, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.” (Surah Maryam 19:28)
This was not simply questioning. It was accusation.
If we place ourselves in her position, we can almost feel the weight she carried. Thoughts racing. Emotions rising. The urge to defend herself. The instinct to explain.
But Allah had already given her a command.
“If you see any human being, say: Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful a fast, so I will not speak today to any human being.” (Surah Maryam 19:26)
A vow of silence.
At the moment when she most needed to defend herself, she was instructed not to speak.
How do you face people when you know you are upon the truth, yet you know opposition will come?
Maryam did something extraordinary.
She remained silent.
No defence.
No explanation.
No argument.
She simply pointed toward the child.
“So, she pointed to him.” (Surah Maryam 19:29)
At that moment the impossible happened.
Allah made the baby speak.
“He said, Indeed I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.” (Surah Maryam 19:30)
The defence of Maryam came from where no human could have imagined.
And this is the profound lesson.
Sometimes Allah asks us to trust Him in ways that do not immediately make sense.
Maryam did not know how the situation would resolve. She only knew the command of Allah.
And she followed it with full trust.
Allah says:
“And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him.” (Surah at-Talaq 65:3)
Trust in Allah, tawakkul, is not easy. Sometimes it is harder than the test itself. Because the heart wants control. The mind wants immediate answers.
But Maryam teaches us something powerful.
Faith gives stability when the world questions you.
Taqwa gives courage when the situation feels overwhelming.
Trust in Allah allows you to remain firm even when outcomes are unseen.
Her silence was not weakness. It was strength rooted in conviction.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever seeks to be patient, Allah will grant him patience. No one is given a gift better and more expansive than patience.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Maryam’s patience transformed a moment of humiliation into a moment of divine vindication.
Her story also reminds us that tests can shake our sense of stability. They can feel as though they challenge our very existence.
But when a person is attached to Allah, the unexpected doors open.
What Maryam faced could have destroyed her reputation. Yet Allah turned the situation into a sign for humanity.
Allah says:
“And We made the son of Maryam and his mother a sign.” (Surah al-Mu’minun 23:50)
The key lesson is trust.
Not partial trust.
Not conditional trust.
Full trust.
Trust when the path is unclear.
Trust when the outcome is hidden.
Trust when the command feels difficult.
Because the One who commands is the One who knows.
Maryam stood firm because she trusted Allah completely.
And that is the courage faith produces.
May Allah grant us hearts that trust Him even when circumstances confuse us.
May He grant us the patience and the strength to remain firm upon His command.
Ameen.