Intermediate
Women's Rulings
Surah: Al-Maidah (75)
Maryam the Truthful — Not a Prophet but a Siddiqah
وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأۡكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ
— المائدة الآية 75
Quranic context: Maryam 16-26 / Ali Imran 42-47 / Al-Anbiya 91 / At-Tahrim 12
Election and purification: "O Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds." She was chosen above the women of the worlds. Ibn Kathir says: "in her time" or absolutely — and she is the most mentioned woman in the Quran by rank.
Her Quranic title: "And his mother was a woman of truth" — the truthful one who affirms truth completely. She is not a prophet according to the majority of scholars, yet she attained the station of truthfulness (siddiqiyyah), the highest rank below prophethood.
Trial and steadfastness: When she conceived Isa without a husband while a virgin — she was commanded to silence and gesture: "I have vowed to the Most Merciful a fast, so I will not speak today to any human." She stood firm before her accusers and pointed to her son — and the answer came from his mouth.
Lesson:
Election and purification: "O Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds." She was chosen above the women of the worlds. Ibn Kathir says: "in her time" or absolutely — and she is the most mentioned woman in the Quran by rank.
Her Quranic title: "And his mother was a woman of truth" — the truthful one who affirms truth completely. She is not a prophet according to the majority of scholars, yet she attained the station of truthfulness (siddiqiyyah), the highest rank below prophethood.
Trial and steadfastness: When she conceived Isa without a husband while a virgin — she was commanded to silence and gesture: "I have vowed to the Most Merciful a fast, so I will not speak today to any human." She stood firm before her accusers and pointed to her son — and the answer came from his mouth.
Lesson:
- The station of siddiqah is attained through worship and affirmation — not by miracles or lineage
- Silence is sometimes more eloquent than speech — she left the argument to Allah
- "She believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures" — comprehensive belief is the basis of siddiqiyyah
Source: Ibn Kathir (3/132); Al-Tabari (10/442); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
What does "siddiqah" mean and why is it the highest rank below prophethood in the Quranic scale of ranks?
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