A mother’s pledge

إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُعِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْمِنِّي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ  

[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran said, “My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”

(Surah Ale Imran: 35)

One of the most profound lessons that comes forth from this ayah, is the love and desire that the wife of Imran had for the Deen of Allah.

So much so, that she pledged her unborn child to the service of the Deen.

Like any expecting mother, the child that she was carrying in her womb was so beloved and precious to her – yet she was willing to give it up in the Way of Allah.

She did’t want to keep this child for herself or expect anything from it. Rather, she wanted to set it free. Free from the shackles of this Dunya, and into the service of the Deen.

The work of the Deen excels only when there is an element of sacrifice involved. And our history is full of women who had big visions and made even bigger sacrifices for the Deen.

The mother of Musa put her child in a basket and trusted Allah.

Haajar, the wife of Ibrahim (as) was left alone in a barren valley with a baby, yet she too trusted Allah.

Khadijah (ra) spent her wealth and supported the mission of the Prophet (saws) at a time when the believers were ostracized and persecuted. 

And here we have the inspirational example of the wife of Imran. 

Another point that comes forth from this ayah, is that Allah never wastes the reward of a good deed done with sincerity.

Sometimes we may do a good deed in such seclusion, that there is no one else around to witness it.

Here, we see the wife of Imran speaking to Allah and dedicating her child to Him.

And Allah heard her and accepted her deed. 

You see, our goal should never be to do things just to be praised and appreciated by others. Because once we start showing off our deeds, it will have no value near Allah.

True sincerity is when you do a good deed desiring only Allah’s Pleasure and Approval. 

The wife of Imran had so much sincerity that Allah honored her; so much so that her dua, her pledge and her private conversation with Allah has been preserved in the Qur’an for all eternity. 

And she also went on to give birth to one of the greatest women in our history: Maryam (as).

May Allah be pleased with them all. 

So, what aspirations do you have for your children? Do you want them to excel only in this Dunya? Or do you also want them to serve the Deen of Allah as well?

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