Here is the section in Surat Maryam when Lady Mariam, may Allah be pleased with her, went into labor.
| 16. |
And mention in the Book (the Qur’ân, O Muhammad SAW , the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. |
| 17. |
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrael (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. |
| 18. |
She said: “Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh.” |
| 19. |
(The angel) said: “I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.” |
| 20. |
She said: “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?” |
| 21. |
He said: “So (it will be), your Lord said: ‘That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).’ “ |
| 22. |
So she conceived him[], and she withdrew with him to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem valley about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem). |
| 23. |
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: “Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!” |
| 24. |
Then [the babe ‘Iesa (Jesus) or Jibrael (Gabriel)] cried unto her from below her, saying: “Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; |
| 25. |
“And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you.” |
| 26. |
“So eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: ‘Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allâh) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.’” |
| 27. |
Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: “O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariya (an unheard mighty thing). |
| 28. |
“O sister (i.e. the like) of Hârûn (Aaron) [not the brother of Mûsa (Moses), but he was another pious man at the time of Maryam (Mary)]! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman.” |
| 29. |
Then she pointed to him. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?[]“ |
| 30. |
“He [’Iesa (Jesus)] said: Verily! I am a slave of Allâh, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;[]“ |
| 31. |
“And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salât (prayer), and Zakât, as long as I live.” |
| 32. |
“And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. |
| 33. |
“And Salâm (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!” |
| 34. |
Such is ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). (it is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). |
It is amazing subhanAllah to imagine these scenes in my mind. It must of been so tough and emotional for her to be shunned by everyone and going through the pain of childbirth on her own. All she had was Allah. And he made things easy on her by guiding her to give birth under a date tree and next to a stream. I’m trying to imagine myself giving birth under a tree, eating dates while listening to the sound of the water running in the stream, and drinking it’s cool refreshing water. When i told my OB that i didn’t want an IV, that i was bringing dates and water - she looked up at me with big incredulous eyes. She said, well if everything is going fine we can let you do that - in this strange tone of voice. Come on, i already did that in my previous 2 labors, nothing new here. That’s why i hate seeing doctors - they are so rigid. My midwife is much more understanding. It was funny though. If there’s one thing i cannot stand while in labor, as if things weren’t painful enough, is a big needle in my arm. I pray i won’t need an IV the third time around too. May Allah make it easy for me as He made it easy for Mariam, may Allah be pleased with her.