Skip to content
Assabile
English

Virtues and benefits of Surah Maryam

Surah 19 98 verses Meccan

Surah Maryam was among the earliest revealed and the earliest learnt by the Companions, and it is one of the Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Gospel. Ja’far ibn Abi Talib recited its opening to the Negus, who wept until his beard was wet, as did his bishops, and said: “This and what Moses brought come from the same niche.” Allah’s mercy pervades it.

by Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais Read Surah Maryam All recitations

Its virtues at a glance

  • Among the earliest learnt by the Companions

    It is among the surahs revealed early and among the first that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, learnt and memorised.

  • One of the Mathani

    It is one of the Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Gospel, according to the hadith of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa’: “… and in place of the Gospel, the Mathani.”

  • Recited to the Negus, who wept

    During the emigration to Abyssinia, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib recited the opening of Surah Maryam to the Negus; the Negus wept until his beard was wet, his bishops wept too, and he said: “This and what Moses brought come from the same niche.”

    Good (hasan)Ahmad (Al-Musnad, 1/201-203)

  • The surah of mercy

    The name “Ar-Rahman” (the Most Merciful) occurs in it sixteen times and the word “mercy” four times; one of its objectives is to show the vastness of Allah’s mercy to His servants, from its opening: “A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariyya”.

Hadiths on its virtues

Arabic text, translation, reference and authenticity grade of each hadith.

فقال له النجاشي: فاقرأه علي. فقرأ عليه صدرًا من كهيعص قالت: فبكى والله النجاشي حتى أخضل لحيته، وبكت أساقفته حتى أخضلوا مصاحفهم حين سمعوا ما تلي عليهم، ثم قال النجاشي: إن هذا والله والذي جاء به موسى ليخرج من مشكاة واحدة.

The Negus said to him: “Recite it to me.” So he recited to him the beginning of “Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Sad”. Umm Salamah said: “By Allah, the Negus wept until his beard was wet, and his bishops wept until their books were wet, when they heard what was recited to them. Then the Negus said: ‘By Allah, this and what Moses brought come from the same niche.’”

Saying of Umm Salamah Ahmad (Al-Musnad, 1/201-203) Good (hasan) good chain; Ibn Ishaq states in it that he heard it directly

What the surah is about

  • The story of Zakariyya, whose prayer was answered with the gift of Yahya
  • The story of Mary, the birth of Jesus and the word of truth about him
  • An episode from the story of Ibrahim with his father
  • Mention of Moses, Aaron, Ishmael and Idris, peace be upon them
  • The reward of the God-fearing, the punishment of the disbelievers and the door of repentance open to sinners
  • Refuting the idolaters’ doubts about the Qur’an, the resurrection and Allah’s oneness, and denying that Allah has a son
  • Scenes from the Day of Resurrection
  • The vastness of Allah’s mercy and the recurrence of His name Ar-Rahman

Main purpose: To refute the belief of the idolaters and the Christians who ascribe a son to Allah, and to show the vastness of His mercy to His servants.

About Surah Maryam

Maryam is the 19th surah in the order of the Qur’an and the 44th in the order of revelation, after Fatir and before Taha, in the fourth year of the mission. Meccan by consensus, according to Al-Qurtubi, it has ninety-eight verses. Ibn Abbas also called it “Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Sad”. Mary is the only woman explicitly named in the Qur’an, and Ja’far ibn Abi Talib recited the opening of this surah to the Negus during the emigration to Abyssinia.

Tafsir of Surah Maryam Listen to Maryam by other reciters

Detailed study in Arabic

The full Arabic text: introduction, virtues, themes, and a study of the chain and authenticity of each hadith.

  1. التعريف بسورة مريم
  2. فضائل سورة مريم
  3. مقاصد سورة مريم
  4. واشتملت -إضافة إلى هذه المقاصد الأساسية- المقاصد التالية
  5. من أهمِّ موضوعات هذه السورةِ
  6. تلخيص سورة مريم
  7. الأحاديث الواردة في الفضل ودرجتها

Virtues of other surahs

All 114 surahs
English
Friday, October 23, 2026 12 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

About Privacy