1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

130 Questions

Can you please explain the incident involving Mariya al-Qibtiya. Did it have a connection with the revelation of any Quranic verses?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Mariah al-Qibtiyyah was one of the wives of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his Holy Progeny). She was the only wife who became pregnant from him after Khadijah (as). She was the mother of Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet (pbuh) who was born in Madina.
 
The Prophet used to love his wife Mariah because she was a very pious believer.
 
According to many Sunni books narrating from Aisha, that Aisha used to feel jealous from Mariah al-Qibtiyyah.
 
Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri in his well known book al-Mustadrak narrated from Aisha that she said that "I felt jealous of Mariah when she got a son from the Prophet (pbuh) and I told the Prophet (pbuh) that this child does not look like you." (vol 4, pages 41, 42)
 
Many other Sunni scholars have narrated the story of the jealously of Aisha and her allegation on Lady Mariah regarding the son of the Prophet (pbuh):
 
·        Sahih Muslim (pages 1069, 1070)
·        Musnad al-Bazzar (vol 2, page 237)
·        Musannaf Abi Asim (vol 615, hadith nos. 3129, 3130)
·        Ma’rifat al-Sahaba by Ibn Mandah (page 972)
·        Hilyat al-Awliya by Abi Na'eem al-Asfahani (vol 3, pages 177, 178)
·        Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat (vol 4, pages 89, 90)
·        Al-Haythami in Majma al-Zawa'id (vol 9, page 161)
 
All these Sunni books and many other books narrated that Aisha out of the jealousy against Mariah put allegations on her.
 
No doubt you find in many Sunni books when they mention the verse of the 'Ifk' which is the dangerous lie, they claim that Aisha was the accused wife, but the narration which they mention has many objections even among many Sunni scholars which means that the narration claiming that Aisha was the accused is not authentic at all.
 
Maraih was the real victim of this allegation but Allah (swt) removed that allegation from her. Jibrael came down and told the Prophet (SAWA), "Ya aba Ibrahim" (Oh father of Ibrahim). Because Aisha claimed that the child Ibrahim does not look like the Prophet (SAWA) and she told her people to say the same but Jibrael came and told the prophet "Oh father of Ibrahim" which refuted the allegation against Mariah.
Wassalam.
 
Can you please explain the incident involving Mariya al-Qibtiya. Did it have a connection with the revelation of any Quranic verses?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

The story of Seyidah Māriyah bint Shamʿūn al-Qibtiyah مارية القبطية or Maria the Copt, is indeed a very sad story. 

She was a maid that belonged to the Chief of Alexander in Egypt who gave her to the Prophet (s.a.w.) along with many other gifts. She converted to Islam, and the Prophet (s.a.w.) married her, and loved her very much. It is also mentioned that she was beautiful.

She was the only wife, after Seyidah Khadijah (r.a.) who had a child from the Prophet (s.a.w.), by the name of Ibrahim, who passed away while still an infant (1 year and 10 months old). 

Seyidah Māriyah went through many difficulties during her marriage, facing a lot of pressure from the other wives. She was noble, polite, committed to Islam, loyal to the Prophet's message, gave birth to the Prophet's child, and was also beautiful.

None of these qualities resonated with some of the other wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.). 

One of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.), 'Aishah hated Māriyah and made that very clear. 'Aishah had said herself that she has never been jealous of anyone else as much as her jealousy towards Māriyah.

Unfortunately, Māriyah was accused of the most wicked of things, by some of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.), saying that Ibrahim was not his, but rather someone else. This is why it has been said that the verses related to the event of al-Ifk (al-Nur, 11, al-Hujurat, 6) descended in the Quran.

There has also been so much negative propaganda against her, because of her devotion to the beloved Prophet (s.a.w.). This was spread by the Hypocrites and unfortunately some of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.).

An example for this is downsizing her noble status, like saying she was the Prophet's concubine, and not his "wife", and so on.

I would highly recommend that you read the various (Sunni) historical sources that mention these things. It is our incumbant shar'i and moral duty to defend the honour of the noble wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.), and correct our information about them and not be misguided.

Alhamdulillah, some Sunni Muslims are realising the truth and are defending Seyidah Māriyah, and trying to refute the accusations and misconceptions surrounding her. 

She passed away in the year 16 AH, and was buried in Jannatul-Baqi', in Medinah al-Munawarrah. May Allah bless her and be pleased with her.
Can you please enlighten me regarding the history of Ayat-e-Kareema (surah 21, verse 87) and any authentic source from Ahl-e-Bayt that confirms its benefits?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

It is narrated by Shaikh Al-Saqouq in his book Al-Khisaal that Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq said: I wonder from a person who is in distress, how he does not recite LAA ELAAHA ELLA ANTA SUBHAHAANAK INNI KUNTO MINALDHAALIMEEN, as I heard Allah saying after it: Then We responded to him and saved him from distress and this is how We save the believers.

This means that reciting this verse لا إله إلا أتت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمينremoves distress.

Wassalam.
What books and scriptures are referred to in verse 184 of Surah Aal-e-Imran?
Amina Inloes

Qur'an 3:184: But if they reject you, so indeed were rejected before you messengers who came with clear arguments (al-bayyinat) and scriptures (al-zubur) and the illuminating book (al-kitab al-munir).

---

Bayyinat is said to refer to the signs accompanying or miracles performed by the ancient prophets. It could also refer to their logical arguments.

"Scriptures and the illuminating book" is said to refer to the scriptures and/or religious laws and ordinances transmitted by the ancient prophets. For instance, Tafsir al-Mizan gives as examples the scriptures of Noah and Abraham, and the Torah and Injil. Some exegetes have specific views about which scriptures may be referred to by which phrase and others simply take it as an overarching phrase to refer to ancient scriptures. 

("Zubur" can refer to any scriptures not just the Psalms.)

This interpretation may be due to the fact that it is related that section of the Qur'an was revealed when some Jews came and questioned the Prophet. 

Maybe in the phrase "the illuminating book", there is a hint that all the revelation came from a single divine source, rather than the different scriptures being like books written by different people.