The story of Mary, peace be upon her | Episode (16) | Mary shakes the palm tree while she is in childbirth

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:04 The story of Maryam, daughter of ‘Imran.

0:08 Peace be upon her.

0:10 Maryam shakes the date palm while she is in the throes of childbirth.

0:16 Usually, a woman immediately after childbirth is in her weakest physical state.

0:27 Even carrying her newborn may be difficult for her.

0:31 She is in need of care during this period.

0:35 Until she recovers her strength.

0:38 And the people who support a woman most during this critical time are,

0:43 Her mother and her sisters.

0:46 This is why it has been the custom in some societies

0:49 That a woman, immediately after childbirth,

0:52 Spends her postpartum period at her mother’s home so she can assist her with what she is going through,

0:58 And teach her from her life experience,

1:02 How to care for the newborn.

1:05 As for the case of Maryam, peace be upon her,

1:09 She lacked all of what we have mentioned.

1:12 In fact, the situation was far more difficult than that.

1:15 She was suffering psychologically from the prospect of facing her people with her newborn.

1:21 She was not thinking now of who would serve her or help her with the pains of childbirth and the postpartum period,

1:28 But rather, she was thinking of how to face her people and what she would say to them.

1:34 Thus, the first remedy for the psychological state of Maryam, peace be upon her,

1:38 Was to remove sadness from her soul by looking at the blessings around her.

1:43 As Allah the Almighty said in His Book:

1:47 “Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee,” (19:24)

1:52 “Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee,” (19:24)

1:55 And the presence of water around her was a great blessing.

1:59 Then He said to her:

2:01 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee.” (19:25)

2:07 He asked her to shake the date palm,

2:10 The very tree she had been leaning against just a moment before during her labor,

2:15 Due to the strength of its trunk, its solidity, and its firmness in the ground.

2:20 He asks her to shake it.

2:23 How can Maryam, peace be upon her, shake the trunk of a date palm?

2:27 A date palm whose trunk cannot be moved even by a strong, powerful man.

2:31 Furthermore, she is in a postpartum state,

2:34 Meaning she is in the most severe state of weakness a woman can experience.

2:39 Add to that,

2:41 That dates do not usually fall just by shaking the tree,

2:45 Rather, a farmer must climb up and pick them directly from the tree.

2:51 Yet, despite all this, He says to her:

2:54 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee.” (19:25)

3:01 Al-Shinqiti, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

3:04 Some scholars derived from the words of Allah the Almighty in this noble verse,

3:09 "And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree,"

3:13 That striving and taking the means to obtain provision

3:18 Is a matter commanded by the Sharia,

3:21 And that it does not contradict reliance (tawakkul) upon Allah the Almighty.

3:25 This is a matter known as a necessity of the religion,

3:29 That taking the means to obtain benefits and ward off harms in this world

3:35 Is a matter commanded by the Sharia,

3:37 And it does not contradict reliance upon Allah in any way.

3:41 Because the accountable person engages with the means in compliance with the command of their Lord,

3:46 While knowing and being certain that nothing happens except what Allah wills to happen.

3:52 So, they are reliant upon Allah,

3:54 Knowing that nothing will befall them except what Allah has decreed for them of good or evil.

4:01 And if Allah had willed for the effect of the means to be separated from their outcomes, they would have been separated.

4:07 Among the clearest proofs of this is the saying of Allah the Almighty:

4:12 “We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,” (21:69)

4:17 The verse.

4:19 The nature of burning in fire is a single concept that cannot be divided into different meanings.

4:25 Yet, it burned the firewood,

4:28 Turning it into ashes with its heat,

4:31 At the same time that it was "coolness and peace" for Ibrahim.

4:36 This is definitive proof that the actual effect

4:41 Is only by the will of the Creator of the heavens and the earth,

4:45 And that He causes whatever outcomes He wills through whatever means He wills,

4:51 And that nothing has any effect except by His will, the Almighty.

4:57 Among the clearest proofs of this

5:00 Is that He may make a thing a means for something else,

5:04 Even though it is contrary to it.

5:07 Like His making the striking of the dead man of the Children of Israel with a part of a slaughtered cow a means for his life.

5:14 Striking him with a dead piece of a dead cow is contrary to his life,

5:20 Since life is not gained by striking with a dead thing.

5:24 This clarifies that He, the Almighty, causes whatever outcomes He wills

5:30 Through whatever means He wills,

5:33 And no effect occurs at all

5:36 Except by His will, the Almighty.

5:39 Among what clarifies that engaging with the means does not contradict reliance upon Allah

5:45 Is the saying of Allah the Almighty about Ya‘qub:

5:48 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67)

5:56 He commanded them in this statement to engage with the means,

6:00 And He caused that by commanding it,

6:03 Because he feared for them that people might strike them with the evil eye,

6:07 Since they were eleven men, sons of one man,

6:12 And they were people of beauty, perfection, and physical stature.

6:16 So their entering through one gate was a cause for them to be struck by the evil eye.

6:22 Thus, he commanded them to disperse and enter through separate gates,

6:27 Engaging with the means for safety from being struck by the evil eye,

6:31 As more than one of the scholars of the salaf have said.

6:35 And despite this taking of means, Allah said about him:

6:39 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67)

6:51 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67)

7:00 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67)

7:11 So look at how he combined taking the means in his saying,

7:15 "Do not enter from one gate," and reliance upon Allah in his saying,

7:21 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67)

7:26 This is a known matter that is not hidden except from one whose insight Allah has blinded.

7:33 Allah the Almighty is capable of making the dates fall for her without shaking the trunk,

7:40 But He commanded her to take the means of making them fall by shaking the trunk.

7:45 Some have said regarding this:

7:48 Do you not see that Allah said to Maryam,

7:52 "And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop upon you fresh, ripe dates,"

7:56 And had He willed for her to gather them without shaking it,

8:00 She would have gathered them, but everything has a cause.

8:04 This means, my dear sister,

8:07 That sitting and lamenting our state and situation without taking the means

8:13 Is contrary to the Sharia.

8:15 It is not enough for us to sit and talk about the deviation of girls today,

8:20 And the efforts of the people of corruption in that,

8:23 Rather, we must work with the legitimate means that resist such deviations,

8:30 At the forefront of which is calling to Allah,

8:33 And spreading the truth with which Allah destroys falsehood.

8:37 Likewise, the injustice occurring against women in some societies

8:41 Due to Jahili (pre-Islamic) customs and traditions

8:45 Cannot be changed by weeping and silence,

8:49 But it is changed by denouncing it,

8:51 And clarifying the truth that Allah the Almighty has legislated for women in such issues

8:57 In which they are wronged,

8:59 Such as preventing them from inheritance in some societies,

9:03 And the male relatives seizing their wealth,

9:07 And some guardians consuming their dowries,

9:10 And forcing them to marry someone they do not want,

9:13 And other forms of injustice

9:15 Stemming from Jahili customs that contradict the Sharia.

9:20 Also, my dear sister,

9:22 Marital problems are not solved without taking the legitimate means for a solution,

9:28 The most important of which is changing oneself,

9:31 According to His saying:

9:33 “For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.” (13:11)

9:40 Then consulting specialists early before the problem escalates.

9:47 And the girl who has not yet married,

9:50 And wishes to marry,

9:52 She also needs to take the legitimate means

9:56 To attain what she wishes,

9:58 Among which is supplication (du‘a),

10:00 Which is at the forefront.

10:02 It is not among the legitimate means to display one's beauty (tabarruj),

10:05 Or to get to know young men through social media,

10:10 Nor is mixed-gender work.

10:12 For what is with Allah is not attained by disobeying Allah.

10:16 And know, my dear sister,

10:18 That one of the greatest means that helps you in your goals in life

10:23 Is the strength of your connection and relationship with Allah the Almighty,

10:28 In times of ease and hardship.

10:31 This relationship between you and Allah the Almighty

10:35 Is manifested in your obedience to Allah,

10:38 And your drawing near to Him through various types of worship.

10:42 And contemplate the state of Maryam, peace be upon her,

10:45 How she was before her pregnancy.

10:48 She had prepared for herself a special place for her worship and drawing near to Allah,

10:54 And she was frequent in prayer and intimate conversation with Allah the Almighty.

10:59 So when her Lord tested her with pregnancy,

11:02 He did not leave her alone in this trial,

11:06 But rather, He helped her through it in every respect,

11:10 As passed by you in a previous episode,

11:13 And as we will mention in a coming episode, if Allah wills.

11:18 This relationship with Allah,

11:21 Its effects are manifested for you in situations where material means are cut off

11:27 Regarding the matter you are going through,

11:30 Like what happened to the Companions of the Cave,

11:33 Who were trapped in the cave,

11:36 And could not move the rock from its place,

11:40 Even though they were three men.

11:43 So they resorted to seeking nearness to Allah through the most hopeful deed they had, which they thought they had performed with sincerity.

11:50 When they did that, Allah relieved them.

11:54 Indeed, your steadfastness, my dear sister, upon the truth,

11:58 In a time of trials that surround people today from every side,

12:03 Requires taking the legitimate means,

12:06 Such as the abundance of supplications narrated from the Prophet, peace be upon him, regarding the turning of hearts.

12:13 For on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said:

12:16 The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to frequently say:

12:21 "O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion."

12:26 He said: We said, "O Messenger of Allah, we believe in you and in what you have brought,

12:33 So do you fear for us?"

12:35 He said: "Yes, for the hearts are between two fingers of the fingers of Allah the Almighty; He turns them."

12:44 Narrated by Ahmad.

12:46 This is one of the means.

12:49 Among them also is righteous companionship,

12:52 According to the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him:

12:55 "A man is upon the religion of his friend,

12:58 So let one of you look at whom he befriends."

13:01 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

13:03 Among them is staying away from places of trial and not approaching them,

13:08 For you do not know how they will affect your heart.

13:12 Among the most dangerous places of trial

13:15 Are fields of mixing with men,

13:18 Such as mixed universities,

13:20 And mixed workplaces.

13:23 Do not let those who beautify mixing for you deceive you,

13:26 Under the pretext of calling to Allah and learning religious knowledge,

13:31 For this is one of the ways Iblis enters upon the righteous.

13:35 Among the places of trial

13:37 Is exposing oneself to doubts under the pretext of refuting them,

13:41 Before one's feet are firmly planted with deep knowledge and correct creed.

13:46 These are means, do not be heedless of them, my dear sister,

13:51 For you are commanded to take them,

13:54 Just as Maryam was commanded to shake the palm tree to eat.

13:58 It is not conceivable in our religion

14:00 That taking the means is required in seeking provision,

14:04 And neglected in seeking guidance and steadfastness upon it.

14:09 I ask Allah to keep us firm upon the truth until the day we meet Him.

14:14 We will continue in a coming meeting, if Allah wills.

14:19 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The story of Mary, peace be upon her | Episode (16) | Mary shakes the palm tree while she is in childbirth

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