Who is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an?

The Holy Qur'an is full of lessons and wisdom for humanity. Alongside stories of past peoples, acts of worship, punishment, and other matters, the Qur'an also addresses issues related to women, providing examples for Muslim women to follow.

There are many verses in the Qur'an concerning women. However, the names of women are generally not mentioned. The only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an is Maryam, the daughter of Imran, the mother of Isa (peace be upon him). Allah says in Surah At-Tahrim:

"And [the example of] Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient."

Allah described Maryam in this way in the Qur'an to serve as an example for the believers. The name of Maryam bint Imran, who preserved her honor, is mentioned 34 times in the Qur'an, and there is also a surah named after her, Maryam, which consists of 98 verses. So, why is Maryam the only woman whose name is mentioned in the Qur'an?

1. Firstly, Allah chose Maryam from among all women to give birth to Isa (peace be upon him), one of the five greatest prophets, and purified her from all sin. Allah says in Surah Aal Imran, verse 42:

   "[And mention] when the angels said, 'O Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.'"

2. Secondly, Maryam was pure both before and after the birth of Isa (peace be upon him). Allah says in Surah At-Tahrim, verse 12:

   "And [the example of] Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient."

   Maryam attained this high status by remaining pure throughout her life. Whoever obeys Allah, Allah will elevate their rank.

3. Thirdly, Maryam and her son Isa (peace be upon him) are clear signs of Allah's power. Allah says in Surah Al-Mu'minun, verse 50:

   "And We made the son of Maryam and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level areas and flowing water."

   In the tafsir of this verse, Ibn Kathir says: "This is clear evidence that Allah is capable of whatever He wills. Allah created Adam (peace be upon him) without father or mother, Hawwa from a man without a woman, Isa (peace be upon him) without a father, and the rest of humanity from both man and woman."

4. Fourthly, Maryam is the best of women in this world and in Paradise. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

   "The best women of the world are four: Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh."

   In another hadith:

   "The best women in Paradise are Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiya bint Muzahim, the wife of Pharaoh."

5. Fifthly, Maryam and her son Isa (peace be upon him) were protected from the touch of Shaytan. When a child is born, Shaytan touches him, but Maryam prayed for protection for her offspring. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

   "Every child is touched by Shaytan when he is born, except Isa (peace be upon him) and his mother."

6. Sixthly, Allah supported Maryam with miracles. When Zakariya (peace be upon him) entered her chamber in winter, he found summer fruits. The Qur'an says:

   "Whenever Zakariya entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, 'O Maryam, from where is this [coming] to you?' She said, 'It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.'"

   For these and other reasons, Allah named a surah after Maryam. The fact that Isa (peace be upon him) is called 'Isa, son of Maryam' in the Qur'an is itself a blessing for Maryam. From her story, we learn about patience, purity, obedience, and responsibility.

Every woman should take the righteous women mentioned in the Qur'an and hadith as examples in seeking Allah's pleasure and Paradise. How did they live? How did they protect their honor? A woman's greatest wealth is her dignity. Therefore, even today, we should present the lives of these righteous women as role models for our daughters. May Allah's peace be upon Maryam and may she remain an example for all women until the Day of Judgment!

Medet QURSAKOV,

Specialist, Sharia and Fatwa Department, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

"Iman" magazine, No. 8, 2023