Surah Āl-i ‘Imrān is one of the great Madinan surahs in the Qur’an. It holds special importance because it addresses multiple aspects of faith, law, and the stories of prophets and righteous individuals. Within this surah, the story of the family of ‘Imrān occupies a prominent place, as it provides lessons on faith, reliance on Allah, and divine care. In this story, the role of the woman of ‘Imrān highlights exemplary women in human history, who attained the honor of being chosen and whose lineage was purified.
Who is the Woman of ‘Imrān (Mother of Mary)?
The woman of ‘Imrān is the mother of Mary (Maryam) and the grandmother of Prophet Jesus (‘Isa). The Qur’an does not explicitly mention her name, but Tafsir and Seerah books identify her as Hanna bint Faqudh. She was a pious, devout woman from the lineage of prophets, and also the sister of the wife of Prophet Zakariya (Elisabeth).
Her story is narrated in Surah Āl-i ‘Imrān, serving as a great example of reliance on Allah and sincere faith. She was initially barren and advanced in age, yet she did not lose hope in Allah’s mercy and power. She longed for a child and intended to dedicate her offspring to serve the sacred sanctuary.
The Qur’an records her humble prayer to Allah:
“When the wife of ‘Imrān said: ‘My Lord, I have dedicated to You what is in my womb; accept it from me. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’” (Āl-i ‘Imrān: 35)
Allah responded to her sincere prayer by granting her Mary, who became a great blessing and divine gift.
When she gave birth, she said:
“And when she delivered her, she said: ‘My Lord, I have delivered a female.’ And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered. ‘And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her and her descendants in You from Satan, the accursed.’” (Āl-i ‘Imrān: 36)
This statement reflects her natural human expectation, as she had hoped for a male child to serve in the sanctuary. However, Allah had ordained for Mary an even greater role than her mother had anticipated. In this moment, the woman of ‘Imrān exemplifies submission to Allah’s will, immediately praying for Mary and her descendants to be protected from Satan.
The woman of ‘Imrān serves as a model for righteous women who raise their children in piety and virtue. This upbringing reflected in Mary, who became a sign of Allah’s power in chastity, purity, and piety, and who was chosen above all women. Thus, the mention of the woman of ‘Imrān in the Qur’an is not merely a historical account, but a profound lesson in faith, prayer, submission to Allah, and righteous child-rearing.
