Isa and His Mother a Sign to the Worlds

S 21:91 And the one who guarded her private part and we blew into her from our spirit and we made her and her son a sign to the ‘alamin.

Other passages state that Isa was made a sign to people.

S 19:21 He said: Thus said your lord: It is easy for me. And that we make him a sign for people and a mercy from us. And it was a decided matter.

As Isa is still alive, we may conclude that he is STILL a sign to the worlds. Regarding Maryam we read:

S 5:75 The Messiah the son of Maryam is nothing but a messenger. The messengers passed away before him and his mother is truthful. The two of them used to eat food. See how we make the signs clear to them. Then see how deluded they are!

The text does not actually say 'was'. We may conclude that she is alive and therefore still a sign to the worlds. Especially when we look at another verse.

S 23:50 And we made the son of Maryam and his mother a sign and we sheltered them to a rabwah of calm and a spring.

A rabwah is:

- A hight more than usual

- A hill or rocky peak.

- A hill or rocky peak.

- Mass of piled up earth

- Mass of piled up earth

- A large area of high flat land

- A large area of high flat land

- The crest of a hill or of rising ground

- The crest of a hill or of rising ground

- An area of the country where there are a lot of mountains

- An area of the country where there are a lot of mountains

- small hill; highland Translation and Meaning of ربوة

From an Answering Islam Blog article:

The Quranic injunctions at 33:35 and 24:33 apply to both men and women; thus Muslim women are normally expected to marry, and to remarry in case of widowhood or divorce. An exception to this condition is found in the special status of the widows of the Prophet… who were prohibited from marrying after his death…

Another exception is the Blessed Virgin, who was designated never to marry, to remain together with her son, as a ‘sign for [all] peoples’. (21:91)…

The last of the two hadiths emphasise the importance of choosing a path of moderation, in spite of the fact that it may be difficult for the fervent believer who wants to abandon him or herself to total worship, ignoring marriage and other worldly attachments. But Mary, the universal symbol of female purity and piety, was permitted to do what was forbidden to others. (Schleifer, Mary The Blessed Virgin of Islam [Fons Vitae; ISBN: 1887752021; July 1, 1998], pp. 65-69)

That’s’ not all. The Quran alludes to the popular belief held by many Christians at the time of Muhammad that Mary was assumed into heaven not long after the ascension of her majestic Son:

And [as We exalted Moses, so, too,] We made the son of Mary and his mother a symbol [of Our grace], and provided for both an abode in A LOFTY PLACE of lasting restfulness and unsullied springs (wamaAAeenin). S. 23:50 Muhammad Asad

Note the various ways the following English versions of the Quran render this verse:

And We made the son of Mary and his mother a symbol, and provided them with an abode in a lofty place of lasting restfulness and a fresh spring. Sayyid Qutb

And We made the son of Mary and his mother a portent, and We gave them refuge on a height, a place of flocks and watersprings. M. M. Pickthall

And We made the son of Maryam and his mother a sign; and We sheltered the twain on a height: a quiet abode and running water. Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We made the son of Maryam (Mary) and his mother a sign, and gave them shelter on a height, having a place of rest and running springs. Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign; and We gave them both shelter on high, a place of security and springs. Hamid S. Aziz

And we appointed the Son of Mary, and His mother for a sign; and we prepared an abode for both in a lofty spot, quiet, and watered with springs. Rodwell

And we made the son of Mary and his mother a sign; and we lodged them both on a high place, furnished with security and a spring. Palmer

and We made Mary’s son, and his mother, to be a sign, and gave them refuge upon a height, where was a hollow and a spring: Arberry (SOURCE http://islamawakened.com/quran/23/50/default.htm)

Despite the Quran’s repeated assertion of being a perspicuous book, which provides a thoroughly detailed explanation for all of its verses,

Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers. S. 6:114 Pickthall

A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; A Qur’an in Arabic for people who know. S. 41:3 Hilali-Khan

This text is anything but clear, which explains why we find the Muslims contradicting one another regarding its precise meaning. The expositors are not clear where or what this lofty place happens to be.

The reason why the Muslims couldn’t figure where this lofty height was located is because they assumed that the Quran must have been referring to an earthly location. However, if we forego this assumption and take this as a reference to Allah having elevated Mary and her Son to a place in heaven then everything makes perfect sense.

After all, the Quran uses the very same word for spring elsewhere in respect to the heavenly garden where the believers will be drinking from a pure, gushing spring:

For them there is a known provision, Fruits. And they will be honoured In the Gardens of delight, On couches facing one another; A cup from a gushing spring (maAAeenin) is brought round for them, White, delicious to the drinkers, Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby. S. 37:41-47 Pickthall

Those are they who will be brought nigh In gardens of delight; A multitude of those of old On lined couches, Reclining therein face to face. There wait on them immortal youths With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring (maAAeenin) Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness, And fruit that they prefer And flesh of fowls that they desire. S. 56:11-21 Pickthall

And it further speaks of Allah taking Jesus to himself, to dwell alongside him above the seven heavens:

When God said, ‘Jesus, I will take thee TO ME and will raise thee TO ME and I will purify thee of those who believe not. I will set thy followers above the unbelievers till the Resurrection Day. Then unto Me shall you return, and I will decide between you, as to what you were at variance on. S. 3:55 Arberry

But Allah took him up UNTO HIMSELF. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. S. 4:158 Pickthall

It therefore seems reasonably certain that this is another case of Muhammad adopting certain doctrines and traditions held by various Christian groups at that time and making it a part of his own theology. In this case, Muhammad took over the belief that Mary had been assumed into heaven to dwell in the presence of her Son, whom the inspired Scriptures teach is seated at the right hand of God as King of kings and Lord of lords (cf. Mark 14:61-62; Acts 2:33-36; 7:55-56; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Revelation 12:1-2, 4-5, 10; 17:14; 19:16). The Quran on Mary’s Heavenly Ascension – Answering Islam Blog

Both are still alive, both are still a sign to the worlds.