Maryam and son and their Purity
A Profound Truth Overlooked
“And the Angels said: ‘O Mary, God has selected you and cleansed you, and He has selected you over the women of the worlds.’” (3:42)
This is not just an honorific statement—it is an unparalleled declaration. Maryam was not merely chosen; she was purified in a way no other woman ever was.
To understand the depth of this, we must first unravel a truth that is often overlooked in the Qur’an—one that fundamentally changes the way we view Isa (Jesus) and Adam.
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Isa and Adam:
The Real Meaning of Their Comparison
“Surely Isa’s example with The God is as the example of Adam. He created him from dust, then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” (3:59)
This ayah is often misunderstood. Many assume that because Isa and Adam are mentioned together, they must be identical in nature.
But this is not what the verse is saying.
The only comparison being made is that both were created from dust.
This does not mean Isa and Adam were identical in character, purity, or divine selection.
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The Fundamental Difference
Between Isa and Adam
Unlike Isa, Adam had a hidden inclination towards evil—something that Isa never possessed.
“Then Satan whispered to them to expose what was hidden of their wickedness…” (7:20)
“So they both ate from it, and their wickedness became apparent to them…” (20:121)
These verses reveal something crucial: Adam had the capacity for disobedience and weakness. Isa did not.
Why? Because Isa and his mother Maryam were protected from birth.
“And I have named her Maryam, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Shaitan.” (3:36-37)
“So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance…” (3:37)
Maryam and Isa were placed under divine protection from Satan’s influence—a privilege not even given to Adam.
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The Test of Lust and the Absence of It in Maryam
A careful reading of Adam’s story reveals something fascinating:
The concept of the opposite sex is only introduced after the test of the tree begins.
This implies that lust and sexual desire are part of the trial of human existence, which Shaitan can use as a weapon—or, in the case of marriage, it can become a blessing.
“So he misled them with deception; and when they tasted the tree, their wickedness became apparent to them, and they rushed to cover themselves with the leaves of the paradise…” (7:22)
Adam only became aware of his bodily desires after he fell into sin.
But Isa and Maryam were protected from this entire dimension of human weakness.
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Maryam’s Absolute Purity:
More Than Just Physical Virginity
Because Maryam was protected from Shaitan, she was not just a virgin physically—she was a virgin mentally.
She was so completely pure that she never even experienced the thought of desire.
This is why, when she is told she will bear a son, her response is unlike that of any other woman:
“She said: ‘How can I have a son when no human being has been with me, nor have I desired such?’” (19:20)
Her words go beyond the physical act—she is declaring that she has never even conceived of such a desire. This is unprecedented. Even the most devout individuals experience attraction or fleeting thoughts. But Maryam was cleansed at a level beyond human comprehension.
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The Depth of Her Selection
“She was chosen and cleansed…” (3:42)
Maryam was not just any woman.
She was the only woman in human history who was untouched not just in body, but in mind and soul.
She was the only woman who could give birth to a man like Isa—who himself was protected from birth, incapable of lust, immune to corruption, and free from the weaknesses of Adam.
“Subhan’Allah.”
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Final Thoughts: The Rarity of Maryam’s Status
Maryam was:
• A virgin physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• The only woman to be entirely cleansed of all earthly desires.
• The mother of the only man born without the weaknesses of Adam.
Her purity was not just about her chastity—it was about her entire psyche being free from the very concept of desire.
This is why she was not just “chosen.”
She was the most purified woman to ever exist.
A truth that, once understood, leaves one in awe of her unique status in the sight of Allah.