Transliteration:( Falammaa wada'at haa qaalat Rabbi innee wada'tuhaaa unsaa wallaahu a'lamu bimaa wada'at wa laisaz zakaru kalunsaa wa innee sammaituhaa Maryama wa innee u'eezuhaa bika wa zurriyyatahaa minash Shaitaanir Rajeem )
"So when she gave birth to her, she said: 'O my Lord, I have given birth to a female' [75]. Allah knew best what she gave birth to. And the male (which she had demanded) is not like this female [76], and I have named her Mariam [77]. And I seek refuge with You for her and her children, from Shaitaan, the rejected one [78]."
Hannah's statement reflected disappointment, not ingratitude. She was saddened only because she thought her vow of dedicating a male child for religious service could not be fulfilled. Hence, Allah clarifies: "Allah knew best what she gave birth to."
Though she expected a son, this daughter—Sayyidah Mariam (AS)—was far superior.
She would become the mother of Hazrat Isa (AS), the Sign of Allah.
At that moment, Mariam (AS) was the most honoured woman in the world.
Later, the four greatest women in Islam became:
Sayyidah Khadijah (RA)
Sayyidah Aisha (RA)
Sayyidah Fatimah (RA)
Sayyidah Mariam (AS)
This proves that some women are superior to many men, even though general responsibility was given to men in the verse: “Men are in charge over women” (S4:34).
Sayyidah Mariam (AS) is the only woman named in the Qur’an, and her name means devoted servant, fitting for someone raised to serve in Bayt al-Muqaddas.
This also shows that mothers can name their children, and that good, meaningful names should be chosen.
Hannah prayed for Mariam and her future offspring to be protected from Shaitaan.
Allah accepted this supplication by protecting both Mariam (AS) and Isa (AS) from Satan’s influence—neither committed sin.
This also reflects Hannah's miraculous insight, as she instinctively knew her daughter would become a mother, though she never asked directly for Mariam’s lifespan.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 36 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 36 which provides the complete commentary from verse 35 through 36.
(3:36) But when she gave birth to a female child, she said: ‘O Lord! I have given birth to a female’ – and Allah knew full well what she had given birth to – ‘and a female is not the same as a male.[34] I have named her Mary and commit her and her offspring to You for protection from Satan, the accursed.’
34. Since a boy is free from some of the physical shortcomings and social disabilities associated with a girl, the mother of Mary thought that had the child been a boy he would have been more able to achieve the purpose for which she had consecrated the child.
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