وَإنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإنِّي أعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Wainnī sammaytuhā maryama wainnī u‘īdhuhā bika wadhurriyatahā minash-shaytānir-rajīm.
I have named her Maryam and I seek Your protection for her and her progeny from Shaytān, the outcast.
(Sūrat Āli Imrān, No 3, Āyat 36).
When Hannah the mother of Lady Maryam ‘alayhas-salām gave birth, she named her daughter Maryam. The name means a servant, or worshipper, in the language of that place. This choice of name shows the love for God that Lady Hannah had. She had a strong desire that her child should be a true worshipper of God. Although she had been expecting a boy, giving birth to a girl did not make a difference to her intention that her child should be dedicated to God.
Lady Hannah is concerned that her child, and the children born from her, should be good servants of God. A believer thinks about the future. The concern is not only that the children should be virtuous, but also that one’s progeny should be a virtuous progeny. The Prophets ‘alayhimus-salām were all concerned about their progeny. When Ibrāhīm ‘alayhis-salām is told he would be an Imam and a leader of the people he asks Allah: And my descendants? (Q 2:124). After raising the foundations of the Ka‘bah he and Prophet Ismā‘īl supplicate to Allah ‘azza wajall: Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You (Q 2:128). When seeing the miracle of food from heaven for Lady Maryam, Prophet Zakariyyā (a) calls out to Allah: My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication (Q 3:38). Supplications of believers mentioned in the Quran also reveal this concern. Allah says about them: And those who say, Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous (Q 25:74).
Lady Hannah asks for protection for her child and her progeny from Shaytān who always tries to lead human beings astray. That is her first prayer for her child. She knows that it is only through God’s help that her child and progeny can be righteous. Satan is an open enemy of the human being. In many places in the Quran, he promises to lead the human being astray. To fight against the whisperings of Satan is the constant struggle of a believer. He uses different tactics to lead people astray. He allows them to justify their deeds (or lack of), he gives them excuses, inclines them towards laziness and comfort, puts doubts in their hearts, . . . and generally uses many ways to turn people away from God. Only God can help a person be strong against his tactics. That is why believers often seek refuge in Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā from the Shaytān. Lady Hannah was a very spiritual woman. Her conversation with Allah and her concern for her offspring’s protection and purity reveal her strong faith and desire to leave worshippers of God on earth after her.
Virtuous progenies will be reunited in the Hereafter. The Quran talks about families being together in Heaven. Allah says: Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], ‘Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home’ (Q 13:22-23). He also says: We shall unite the believers with those descendants of theirs who followed them in their faith and shall not deny them any part of the reward for their good deeds (Q 52:21).
Let this verse remind us of the need to pray and be concerned about our children and progeny, beyond this world. There are many dangers along the way and the possibilities of being led astray are numerous. It is only Allah (swt) who can protect from that.
Sources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Āghā Muhsin Qarā’atī, Tafsīr Nūr.