A Deeper Look at Surah Imran - Part 1

 

Bismillah Ar Rehman Ar Raheem

Birth, Gender, and Wanting the Best for our Children

“He is the One Who shapes you in the wombs as He likes…” (3:6)

Allah reminds us of our absolute helplessness, and of how we cannot choose which colors, features, and appearance we will be born with. He is who determines whether we will have a son or daughter. Deriving lessons from this, we learn that it is permissible to have desires or preferences of a son or daughter, but expressing dismay upon the birth of one over the other (rejoicing over the birth of a son while dismay over the birth of a daughter) is ungratefulness. It is Allah who decides who to give children to, and of what gender. It is worth mentioning here that only one of the Umm-ul-Momineen, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ and the most pious of the women, had children; Khadija. 

“...O my Lord, grant me from Your own (power) a goodly progeny. Verily, You are the One who listens to the prayer.” (3:38)

If we or anyone we know is suffering from infertility, it is a trial upon them from Allah to test their patience and actions in response to it. If there is medical treatment available, we must avail it. Do not ignore the doors Allah opens for you. On the same side, know that no matter how advanced science gets, it is only by the will of Allah that we may be blessed with children.

Moreover, since gender is assigned by Allah’s infinite wisdom and decree, the fitnah of transgenderism is nothing but a farce. Furthermore, the reality of only two genders point to the fact that men and women are there to complement each other. They are distinct in their own selves, made of different fibers, and there to strengthen each other. 

“So, her Lord accepted her, a good acceptance, and made her grow, a good growth…” (3:37)

Maryam's mother, when she found out about her pregnancy, vowed to devote her child to the worship of Allah. She was expecting the birth of a son, but when a daughter was born she wondered how she could fulfill her vow—Maryam means the one who worships. Allah accepted this intention of hers by making Maryam a mother of a prophet. We learn from this that a mother's intentions for her child during the pregnancy has an effect on them. That the mother's spirituality starts affecting the child as soon as the soul is blown into them. Like the wife of Imran and mother of Maryam, when we have offsprings, we should wish for them to be devoted servants of Allah, who become good followers of the Prophet ﷺ. We worry so much about provision and the future, we must not ignore our own and our childrens’ hereafter. 

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Three supplications are answered without doubt. The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of the parent for his son." (Riyad as-Salihin 980)

Learning and Connecting with the Quran, and Seeking Sacred Knowledge

“He has revealed to you the Book with the truth, confirming what has been before it, and has sent down the Torah and the Injīl. Earlier to give guidance to mankind, and has sent down the Furqān (the Criterion of right and wrong). Surely, those who have rejected the verses of Allah, for them there is severe punishment. Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.” (3:3-4)

The Quran confirms all the past scriptures sent before it—consoling the Jews and Christians, and inviting them to Islam—and mentions that it is the last and final message sent by Allah. It is through its light that we will know the distinction between right and wrong, permissible and impermissible.   

Attaching ourselves to sacred knowledge is very important. It befits us that we learn this Book, when we know we will be judged on its basis. If we have so little knowledge of it, how will we succeed? How will we become aware of right and wrong? Allah wishes for us to be of those well grounded in knowledge, of those who anchor themselves to the Quran, because this anchoring will never allow us to go astray. 

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim…” (Sunan Ibn Majah 224)

Those who have a disease in their hearts have issues with the mutashabihat (the ambiguous verses). They go about questioning them, seeking to know their meanings. While those who are well grounded in Islamic knowledge firmly believe that the entire Quran is from Allah, and so we believe and submit even if we do not understand some parts. This doesn’t mean that if there’s something we don’t understand, we let it be, rather this specifically alludes to the ambiguous verses. For other verses, we should research and rely on “the people of remembrance” if we do not know. Concurrently, those blessed with the knowledge of the deen have a greater responsibility to convey the message in the best of manner.