were total 27 in numbers. They were from the descendants of Sayyiduna Haroon عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and were appointed at serving the Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا was the daughter of Sayyiduna ‘Imran رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ who was a prominent scholar among those scholars. Moreover, her family was also an extremely illustrious and learned family in Bani Israel. That’s why all those scholars showed a keen interest in adopting Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘I am most deserving of it because her aunt (mother’s sister) is in my house.’

After arguments and discussions with each other, they all agreed to draw lots to come to a decision. Therefore, they drew lots through the pens they used to write Taurah (تورات شریف) with. It was mutually agreed that everyone should place his pen in water. The one whose pen starts flowing in the opposite direction of the flow of water, he will be deserving of the guardianship. Everyone placed their pens in water. Sayyiduna Zakariyya’s pen started flowing in the opposite direction of the water. So this is how Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا came under his guardianship. (Tafseer Kabeer, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 44, vol. 3, pp. 219; Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 1, pp. 473)

Upbringing of Sayyidatuna Maryam and heavenly fruits

Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا kept growing very fast compared to the other children. Allah Almighty blessed her with immense dignity. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would get unseasonal fruits that would come from the Heaven. Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا was not breastfed by any woman. When Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would go to Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, then he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would find unseasonal fruits there. Once, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام questioned Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, ‘Where do you get these fruits from?’ Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا replied, ‘It is from Allah Almighty.’ Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا spoke these words at the time when she was still being brought up in the cradle. When Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام saw this, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام thought to himself that the One Who is providing Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا with unseasonal fruits and dry fruits without any apparent means, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will bless my wife with a new health and bless me with a son in this old age after my hopes for offspring have died. With this