THE LIFE OF BIBI MARYAM
SCENE 1 - PRIEST SCENE
NARRATOR: During the time just before Bibi Maryam was born, the situation was like this. The Jews of that time were stubborn. They believed in material things. Some Jews believed in magic. Some traded in gold, however they all loved money more than anything else. They were the so-called followers of Prophet Musa and the Tauraat. However, they frequent diverted from Musa's teaching. They diverted from the Tauraat. For this reason Allah SWT, wanted to wake them from their heedlessness, and was to send a Messiah. The practicing Jews believed that there will be a Messiah who will save them from the sufferings of this world.
Bibi Hanna was the widowed wife of Prophet Imran. Bibi Hanna at this point was pregnant and the messiah was expected from her. She lived with her sister, Elisabeth who was the wife of Prophet Zachariah in a small town outside Jerusalem called Galillee.
The prediction of the birth of the messiah terrified King Herod, a Jewish king, appointed by the Romans who are ruling Jerusalem. This is the year 16 B.C. The Jews were anxiously waiting for the birth of their saviour! There are loads of Jews in the streets of Jerusalem. They have lit their torches there is a lot of commotion. The priests from the temple are looking down at all these people.
[J: Jeskar]
[M1: Man 1]
[M2: Man 2]
J: [standing on top of a flight of stairs] What is all this commotion?! Be quiet!
M1: Our messiah is coming! He is coming! Tonight! He is coming! This humiliation of the Jews will end tonight! [all the people roar in agreement and raise their torches!] He will free the Jews from this poverty and misfortunes!
J: For years the priests from the other temple and myself have been waiting for the advent of your messiah. We have been praying day and night to live to see this event. And tonight we will pray on your behalf hoping to meet our saviour.
M2: what about this baby who is to be born tonight?
J: There is no birth of any messiah tonight. Besides, none of the signs have occurred. We, the priests of the temple of Solomon will let you know when they do occur. We will know before the others!
[All the people disperse!]
[SCENE CHANGE – Remove black material from chair and props – background stays same]
NARRATOR: In the meantime, the King Herodes is very worried and concerned about this messiah being born. He is talking to his men.
[On the same set – 2 men]
[K: King]
[S: Servant]
S: Master upon your request a large number of guards have been deployed in the city as well as in Galilee. We have also placed some in front of Zachariah's house
K: This is enough! Watch the priest, watch Zacharia very well and surveil all the entrances. Limit the people's motion and interrogate every stranger. Not one word must be uttered in this city without our men hearing it. Go yourself to Galilee and lead our men positioned at Zachariah's house. I DO NOT WANT THIS CHILD TO SEE DAYLIGHT!
Why are you still here...Go Now!
[All go except Servant]
(King talks to himself)
K: Herodes, Herodes they want to oust you from the throne. No, I will not allow that...Never!
NARRATOR: In the meantime, in the town of Gallilee, Bibi Maryam is born to Bibi Hannah. The news has spread that a girl is born. In those days, a birth of a girl in any Jewish home was a disgrace. In this case, it was a little worse as everyone was expecting a messiah and a girl was born. Being a prophet, Zacharia knew and appreciated that this birth of Maryam was no ordinary birth.
In the palace, King Herodes is still pacing until one his people comes to give him the news.
S1: Master....good news, the new born 'messiah' is a girl.
K: Are you sure?
S1: Yes, yes!! The messiah who was to be born tonight is born a girl!
[King Nods and smiles and walks towards the 2 people]
S: Has the messiah been born?
K: [looking down as is upset] Yes.. yes..He is born. Inform the extremists and the troublemakers that the messiah they were all waiting for is only a girl [A roar of laughter amongst the three people]
I'm happy, I'm happy....Do you know why? Believe me I will say the truth. I too was worried by the birth of the Messiah, who was to seize the throne of the Jews from me. My worries were baseless. I never thought...I never imagined that my promised successor would be a woman! (King laughs)
[SCENE CHANGE – TAKE PROPS OFF – BACKGROUND STAYS THE SAME]
SCENE 2 - MARYAM IS BORN
NARRATOR: [ARABIC & ENGLISH] "When a woman of Imran said, My Lord! Surely I vow to Thee what is in my womb, to be devoted (to thy service); accept therefore from me, surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing." (3:35)
Even though, the king and some of the priests were mocking the birth of Bibi maryam, Bibi Hannah was overJoyed. Bibi Hannah had kept made a vow that her child would serve the temple and Allah. This was clear from the ayat that was Just recited. By this time, everybody had left Gallilee and left the family of Zachariah alone. In the next scene, Bibi Hannah prays to Allah.
[Hannah walks from within the crowd carrying Maryam onto the stage raises her and prays to the Lord].
[H: Hanna]
[J: Jescar (priest)]
H: God! Glory is to you for all the blessings you bestowed on me. The child I vowed to u was born a girl and you know that my heart is full of love towards her. But I will fulfil my vow. All had abandoned us in the city-they left us alone. I do not know if the temples' priests will accept her or not.
And I named her Maryam, your servant...that your Prophet (Imran's) prophecy may come true. And this girl will give birth to the messiah.
[Jeskar and the other priest walk onto the stage]
NARRATOR: Bibi Hanna places Bibi Maryam on the steps of the temple. However, she is met with the priests who are, needless to say, not very happy.
J: What does he who profanes the sanctity of the temple, expect from the common people? Look at this scandal...she dropped her daughter here. O wife of Imran what are you doing?
H: I am fulfilling my vow to god...and I named this baby Maryam
J: Maryam?? You mean a servant of the temple
H: I entrust her to the temple. God, be the witness on me that I have fulfilled my vow to you.
J: The vow is unacceptable. Women are not allowed in the temple. Don't you know that?
H: God... He is the one who accepts her
J: If we do not allow this... the baby cannot enter the temple
H: If God wishes to, He will allow it.
(Zachariah enters)
J: Zachariah, look at what's happening. She is your wife's sister; tell her to go back home and may she thank god that we will forgive her for the respect of Imran.
Z: Hannah, God received your vow and accepted her.
H: He accepted her? God! Preserve her and her offspring from the shaitan.
NARRATOR: [ARABIC & ENGLISH] "So when she brought forth she said 'My Lord, Surely I have brought forth a female and Allah knows best what she brought forth and the male is not as a female and I have named It Maryam, and I command her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accused Satan..." (3:36)
Z: Hold your daughter and embrace her, until she meets the age of her service.
(Zachariah takes the baby and hands it over to Hannah)
NARRATOR: "...So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and made her grow up a good growing" (3:36)
H: O merciful! I knew you would.
(Hannah leaves the temple with Maryam)
[MUNAJAT]
[PROJECTION - 6 YEARS LATER]
[SCENE CHANGE – LOTS' POND – BACKGROUND STILL THE SAME]
SCENE 3
NARRATOR: It is now 6 years after the birth of Bibi Maryam. It is said that she was growing day by day in wisdom with others. She became perfect in prayers and in fasting. She became more perfect than others in worship. There is still resistance to allowing a woman in the temple. Priests and prophet Zachariah are talking about allowing Maryam to stay at the temple. The time had now arrived when Bibi Maryam was to enter the temple and serve the temple, as per the vow of her mother, Bibi Hanna.
[Hi: Hilel]
[J: Jescar]
[Z: Zachariah]
[N: Nathan]
[P1: Good priest]
Hi: I think you recall that vowing children to serve in the temple is normal, it had been reoccurring year after year.
J: What question is this? But my respectful sir, This time the baby is a girl and the entry of women into the temple is forbidden. It is haraam, haraam..Haraam
Hi: And Zachariah, [turning to Zachariah] YOU often reminded us about separating females from males.
Z: It is possible for this problem to be solved, by building a separate hut for Maryam. Away from the rest of the priests
J: And the temple servants. Woe onto us, a female in Solomon's temple?
Z: Where is the problem? All men and women are equal. Therefore do not forget that this girl is Maryam.
Hi: Are the males and females equal? Since when Zachariah?
J: Are you equalising between the man who implements the Jewish law and the woman who is created to serve him?
P1: Listen to the words of God's prophet (Zachariah) and obey. Listen to Zachariah, He explains the Torah for you and without his directions, you will go astray.
NARRATOR: The priests of the temple of Solomon were all against Zachariah being the guardian of Bibi Maryam. They were all offering themselves to be her guardian. Prophet Zachariah did not want this as he did not want the priests to declare enmity towards Bibi Maryam. The question arises.. Why did these priests want to be Bibi Maryam's guardian, despite openly declaring their enmity for her? There can only be one answer. And that is that they recognised how much honour there is in being her guardian. This honour, in return would provide plenty of benefits and opportunities in the future. In the end the decision was taken by drawing the lots.. Let us see what happens..
SCENE 4 - ZACHARIAH'S REASONS AS TO WHY HE SHOULD CARE FOR MARYAM
[P1: Priest (Good man)]
[H: Hilel]
[Z: Zachariah]
[J: Jescar]
P1: Bear a little for its better that you don't support her.
Z: Am I not the one who supported Maryam?
P1: Zachariah, you know very well Maryam's situation and that it's your friends and relatives right to discuss the issue of Maryam's support.
Z: There are four reasons that require me to support her. First of all, she was raised in my house. Second, she likes to be with me. And third, her mother entrusted her to me. Fourth...
Hi: (Hilel interferes)... Yes, yes, yes, And fourth, God didn't grant you an offspring.
Z: Never...Fourth, I know the value of this precious pearl more than anyone else. I wish that her father, Imran was alive to take this responsibility.
Hi: First of all...it was her mother who vowed her to the temple, right? And second, this intimacy that you're talking about is quickly forgotten by children
Z: Mr Hilel, I insist on standing on my right.
J: Do not dispute like that. Do you believe that Maryam is under the protection of the temples God?
Z: Yes, that is right
P1: I have heard the man's opinions, and according to the temples law, to settle disputes, the fair solution is to draw the lots.
(Priests, Zachariah & Nathan all get together to draw the lots.)
J: We can now begin the rituals.
(Each person present hands over their pencils on a plate.)
(P1 hands over his Torah)
P1: Throw the pencils in the water....And Maryam's supporter will be the owner of the last pencil to sink.
NARRATOR: (3:44) Pencils are all thrown into the water....Everyone waits watching eagerly. Zachariah's pencil is the only one left and he collects it from the water. Zachariah talks to one of the priests.
P1: God wanted YOU to support Maryam.
Hi: Wait a minute gentlemen, I say that we draw the lots again
P1: The lot was right and everyone witnessed it....lets go.
(Everyone starts walking away)
Hi: I say that we draw the lots again gentlemen.
NARRATOR: It was decided that Zachariah was to be Bibi Maryam's guardian. His people started building the house for Bibi Maryam in the temple.
[MUNAJAT]
[SCENE CHANGE – Zachariah's house]
SCENE 5 - SEPARATION OF MARYAM AND HANNA
NARRATOR: The time had come for Bibi Maryam to part with her mother and go and stay within the grounds of the temple, to serve God. It is extremely difficult for a mother to leave a child and for a child to leave a mother. Bibi Maryam and Bibi Hanna knew that it was going to be difficult. However, they both knew that it was a sacrifice they both had to make. In the following scene, both Bibi Maryam and bibi Hannah are supplicating to Allah.
[M: Maryam]
[H: Hanna]
[Z: Zachariah]
[Elisabeth - silent]
[Maryam is in one corner of the stage, Bibi Hannah is on the other with Elisabeth and Zachariah]
M: O God, I'm your servant Maryam. You know that I'm an orphan and I am leaving my mother to be close to you and serve you. O God, I am your servant, give me strength, so I can bear leaving my mother. And relieve my mother so that she can bear leaving me.
[MUNAJAT]
NARRATOR: At home, Hanna at the same time is also having thoughts of being separated from her daughter. Zachariah is also present in the room.
H: I fear that Maryam may leave me. I will not forget how hard the days that followed her birth were. I didn't think I would face tougher and harder days.
(Talking to Zachariah) As long as you're by our side I will not feel worried about it. I know we should not visit her and that I should get used to it little by little for anything other than this does not agree with my sincere vow to Allah. I'm confident that she carries a divine promise and I should not attach myself to her. This is because her destiny would be determined there at the temple and not by my side. But there is not escape from our separation. I often try not to think about her.
(Hanna starts crying) But suddenly, these hard moments stand before me. Zachariah...I'm....Just a mother after all.
Z: Elisabeth, Bring Maryam
(Elisabeth goes to bring Maryam)
A: Maryam...Say farewell to your mother.
(Hanna and Maryam hug)
[MUNAJAT]
[Zachariah, Aaisha & Maryam leave the room together....Maryam turns back to see her mother for the last time].
H: Maryam....Maryam...(Hanna is crying) Go in God's protection sweetheart...Go in Gods protection.
EPISODE 2
SCENE 6
[BACKGROUND SCENE OF BIBI MARYAM'S HOUSE]
NARRATOR: Just after Bibi Maryam moved to the temple, Bibi Hanna fell ill and passed away. Bibi Maryam at this time was only 6 ½ years old and was extremely sorrowful. As she was growing up, Maryam worshipped Allah in her isolation. Her face blazed with light, her pure heart travelled through the stars and the skies. Her heart was bright and her soul was pure. She became well known for being virtuous and generous. She was able to pray for the sick who would then get cured. She would give her food away to the hungry and she herself would fast to an extent that she would sometimes faint.
[Z: Zachariah]
[L1: Lady 1]
[M: Maryam]
L1: Maryam, are you Saint Maryam...please tell me, are you Saint Maryam?
M: Yes, I'm Maryam.
L1: I've put up with the hardship of travelling for many days to come and see you. Maryam, have mercy on me. I have no hope in this life but you so don't let me down. My little child is sick, and Doctor's failed to heal him. I offered a sacrifice for his sake but he didn't heal, and my child is about to die. I wish you would give me a share of bread to heal him. Please Maryam....Please help me!
(Lady is in tears...Maryam gives bread...lady kisses her hand)
M: I'll pray for your child [And she gives her some bread] Surely God will cure him.
[L1 leaves..]
[MUNAJAT]
[Maryam walks slowly, goes back stage, then walks back on stage she cannot walk properly and faints.]
NARRATOR: Bibi Maryam used to pray for others and give bread to others to make sure that they were fed. On this instance, bibi Maryam had become weak and goes to her house and faints. A light shines through the window onto Maryam and she opens her eyes. Maryam blinks as she cannot believe what she sees. The light is extremely bright and on the table there is a bowl of fruit. She smiles with disbelief. Maryam feels the fruit to see if they're real. Prophet Zachariah comes to visit her shortly afterwards.
M: My god, you are virtuous and you don't love except virtuous people. You are merciful to all your creatures that you love. I glorify you day and night to become virtuous. And if you don't embrace me with your grace, my existence will be meaningless. God let me have sympathy towards your servants.
(Zachariah then enters Maryam's room)
Z: Salaam
M: Salaam
Z: Maryam, Grapes at this time of the year? Who brought all this to you Maryam? how can this fruit and food be meant for you?
M: This? (She shows the grapes)
Z: (Nods) Yes, how can this be meant for you?
M: It comes from God, For God provides for anyone he wishes without any reckoning
[Zachariah leaves the room. He sits pondering.]
Z: Provides without any reckoning...without any reckoning...without any reckoning!! He has power over everything.
[Zachariah is crying]
[MUNAJAT]
[SCENE CHANGE TO TEMPLE SCENE/OUTDOOR SCENE]
[Umme dawood – 'Ya man wahab..']
NARRATOR: Prophet Zachariah and Elisabeth always wanted to have children. The ladies of Jerusalem taunted Elisabeth, saying that Zachariah was only close to Bibi Maryam because of the fact that he did not have any children himself. Prophet Zachariah was concerned that after him, his cousins may take over his spiritual position and ruin the religion. This is one of the reasons that he wished he had a child of his own. The conversation that Prophet Zachariah had with Bibi Maryam in the previous scene encouraged Prophet Zachariah that it is never too late. In this scene, Prophet Zachariah is supplicating to Allah:
Z: [Talking to Allah] Why didn't I understand this before? And why didn't u teach me this except in my age-old and via Maryam. I wonder why I didn't ask for your mercy before now. My Lord, how often did I hide my wounds and overlooked their sharp tongues. I'm becoming inpatient and can't bear this anymore. Grant me a miracle that would appease my heart.
Provides without any reckoning...Provides without any reckoning. The one who showers countless blessings. My God, bless me as you blessed Imran....a goodly offspring. Why didn't I pray for that before, O Lord! O Lord! Forgive me Lord, Forgive me Lord.
NARRATOR: [Qur'an 3:38] 'O my Rabb! Bestow upon me from yourself a goodly offspring. Without any doubt, you are the hearer of the du'a. After praying to Allah, Prophet Zachariah disappears for a whole night. The next day, Prophet Zachariah goes to the temple and closes the door behind him. In the next scene we will see what happens to Zachariah inside the temple.
SCENE 7 - YAHYA'S MIRACLE
NARRATOR: Zachariah prays to God.
Z: My Lord, my cousins concern me a lot. But you provide for anyone without any reckoning....without any reckoning. So grant me someone who may inherit from me, and inherit from Yakub's house make him someone who we can approve of.
(The angels answered him)
Angel: Oh Zachariah...We bring you news about a boy whose name will be Yahya. We have not given this name to anyone before. A boy who will confirm word from God will soon be sent down.
(Zachariah sits down)
Z: My Lord, how will I have a boy while I have reached such extreme old age and my wife is barren?
Angel: It is the will of Allah and his command. And Allah has power over all things. He the glorified has power over the laws of creation. He has power over the sky and the earth. He created our father, Adam from earth, Just as he created you before while you were still nothing.
This is news of a boy who will be a great leader to his people and someone approved of. We have not made before him, anyone his equal and make him a Prophet.
(Zachariah raises his hands)
Z: My Lord, Grant me a sign!
Angel: Your sign will be that you will not speak to any people for three nights in a row.
NARRATOR: Prophet Zachariah lost his speech for 3 days and in the meantime found out that Aaisha was expecting his baby, Yahya. This was truly a miracle and a gift from Allah.
[MUNAJAT / QUR'AN – TO SPLIT THE 2 SCENES]
SCENE 8 - BIBI MARYAN, A WOMAN OF VIRTUOSNESS, PURITY AND PIETY
[SCENE CHANGE TO BIBI MARYAM'S HOUSE]
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, Bibi Maryam, in Jerusalem, gets a command from the angel to go the temple and pray alongside all the rest of the priests. Bearing in mind, that ladies are not allowed to go anywhere near the temple, Bibi Maryam goes to the actual temple. All the priests are busy in prayer, until one of them sees Maryam and alerts everyone else. Every one is astonished and shocked at the fact that bibi Maryam has dared enter the temple. There were a lot of arguments amongst the priests, following this event. In the next scene, prophet Zachariah and Bibi Maryam are talking about what happened in the temple. ]
Z: They hit you? I don't believe it. Didn't I tell you not to go to Jerusalem? Women are forbidden to even look at it. Why Maryam why? Aren't you aware of the law of the temple?
M: I did not this for myself uncle, yet I was ordered to do so.
Z: Ordered!..By whom
M: A call.. A call that was telling me God has selected you. And He called me by my name. He said..
Angel: Maryam! Maryam! This is a message from thy lord! Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you above all women to carry out his great command! Maryam! Be obedient to your lord, praying with others, and bow along side those who so bow down.
[Zachariah sits down next to Maryam]
Z: Did He call you by your name?
M: He said Maryam
Z: He said Maryam? What else did He say?
M: He said: "God has selected you for a great matter" The call asked me to fall down on my knees and bow alongside those who bow. This is what I was ordered by
Z: O Lord!
M: I had no other choice grandfather. It was something divine.
Z: But the temple's priests are far from worshipping God. Then how do you pray with them then?
[Maryam stands up]
M: When I went into Jerusalem and stood behind the priests to pray, a veil was dropped in front of my eyes and I saw rows of angels and the luminous who were awaiting my arrival to bring the rights. They were extremely beautiful and they all came to receive me and they gathered around me and suddenly.. A pleasant scent filled around me. And from the right side of Jerusalem came marvellous glow and through this glow a voice went out and spelled my name and the names of three other women. And one of these names that the angels were proud of, was a name of a lady. I trembled when I heard it. And suddenly my being was full of love for her. I drank of this love until I was quenched.
Grandfather, for my sake, think about it. The angels and the 3 women informed me about the hardship I will be facing. Then we stood along with the rest of the angels in front of Jerusalem to pray
Z: Four women, you are the chosen women of the universe.
M: And that woman?
Z: Know, Maryam, that she is the leader of the women of the universe. She is the daughter of the seal of the prophets. You four women are the ones that the heavens and its people be proud of, for you are the origin of virtuousness, pureness and piety.
[Maryam smiles]
Yes, know this Maryam!
[MUNAJAT – Maryam to abida he..]
SCENE 9 - BIBI MARYAM'S PREGNANCY AND NABI ISSA'S BIRTH
[AJ: Angel Jibrael]
[M: Maryam]
[Z: Zachariah]
[J: Jescar]
NARRATOR: Bibi Maryam is in her room. Angel Jibrael comes into her room and bibi Maryam is surprised and quite frightened to see someone in her room.
M: [moving backwards] I take refuge with the mercy - giving from you, unless you are pious.
AJ: Don't be afraid of me Maryam, for I am Jibrael. I am your Lord's messenger to bestow a pure child upon you.
M: O God! How shall I have a boy when no human being has ever touched me?
AJ: (Qur'an ayat?) Thus your Lord has said. It is simple for me to do. God does what he wishes, his command for anything is to say be and it is. God brings you news of a boy whose name is Issa, the son of Maryam, who is well regarded in this world and in the hereafter.
[Angel walks off]
[Bibi Maryam paces up and down]
NARRATOR: Prophet Zacharia comes to collect Bibi Maryam. They are going to Gallillee to be with Elisabeth the wife of Zacharia. During the conversation, Prophet Zacharia notices that there is something strange. Bibi Maryam is not feeling at ease as she knows about the fact that she is to have a baby; however, she does not know how to tell prophet Zacharia about this.
Z: Why are you late? We don't have enough time we must leave the temple at once. Prepare your things.
(He gives her a scarf; she takes it, sits down and puts the scarf in a bag. Maryam cries a sign of pain)
What happened to you Maryam, are you sick?
[Maryam turns her head and looks towards him]
M: Where will we go?
Z: We will go now to Galillee. You must stay beside your aunt for some time.
M: I don't want her to suffer more because of me. She feels embarrassed because I'm...
Z: Because you are what Maryam? Why are we to be embarrassed? Say what happened?
[Maryam is crying]
Z: Why are you crying? You break my heart. Stop crying my dear daughter; you're not a shame stock for us. We are proud of you...hurry up, we must leave.
[Maryam stands up with her bag and is leaving the room with Zachariah. Maryam stops and turns round to Zachariah]
M: I...
Z: Do you have anything to say? Speak out!
[Maryam looks down and they leave the room]
[MUNAJAT]
NARRATOR: Bibi Maryam leaves without saying anything. She goes with Prophet Zacharia. As she was walking, a couple of women see her and mention to each other that she is not walking normally, and that the way she is walking is as if a pregnant mother would be. Bibi Maryam, however decides that she cannot go and see Elisabeth in her state. She felt very embarrassed. She decided to sleep in a field for the night all alone. The next morning, Elisabeth and Zachariah find out that Maryam didn't come home and were extremely worried. Zachariah and the other people in the town try to search for her but to no avail. Bibi Maryam had disappeared for days. Zachariah prays to his Lord to protect Maryam however far she may be.
The people of the town people also found out and started gossiping. All these people turn against Zachariah. Gossip spreads that Maryam may be pregnant because she left in the middle of the night and is embarrassed that she may have committed a sin to fall pregnant.
[Maryam comes on stage]
In the meantime, Bibi Maryam is in the fields and decides to go to a faraway place in order to have this baby.
[Maryam in the field, talking to her Lord and crying in pain]
M: O Lord, How can I return to the children of Israel with this child? What excuse will I give them when they ask me where did I get him from, how did you conceive him? No one will have mercy on me, they will accuse me.
(Maryam stands up)
I must go to a far place where no one finds me.
[MUNAJAT]
NARRATOR: Bibi Maryam gives birth to Prophet Issa. When she is giving birth, prophet Zacharia gets a feeling the Messiah is born. He gets very excited and informs Elisabeth of this. It was very hard for Bibi Maryam as she was all alone. She was in extreme pain. In the next scene Bibi Maryam is leaning against the tree and is holding the baby in her hand. A voice is heard from above.
[Scene set within crowd by one of the pillars with a date tree on it
Scene on stage – temple scene? / nothing?]
Voice: Maryam... Maryam... O lady Maryam. Blessed be the word of God to you. What are you suffering from? Hunger? Thirst? Look beneath your feet. Your Lord has placed a brook at your feet. You see how your Lord has not forgotten you Maryam? Now drink from it until you quench your thirst.
[Maryam drinks]
O Maryam...are you still sad? Shake the trunk of the date palm towards you so it will drop some fresh dates [dates fall]. You see, the Lord had it loaded with bunches of ripe date.
[Maryam looks up to the see the tree full of dates]
Eat Maryam and be delighted, for you have to feed the Messiah. Eat more for there is a long way ahead of you. You have to go back to Jerusalem
M: Jerusalem? With this child? But how? No one would believe me, they will accuse me. But if this is the will of God, I am always obedient to him.
Voice: When you return to the city, you shall not speak to anyone of them. And when you see one of them, say that "I have vowed to the Merciful a fasting". It is your child that shall speak to them God willing.
NARRATOR: People of the town have gathered as they have heard that Bibi Maryam is coming back to Jerusalem. Bibi Maryam arrives into the town of Jerusalem holding Prophet Issa in her hands and stops in front of the priests.
J: Maryam is back, but she is not alone this time. Is this child yours?
[Maryam nods her head]
[People are accusing her of being guilty and a hypocrite to have this child. She stays quiet. Zachariah walks through the crowd and stops near Maryam.]
Z: What had happened? Where have you been Maryam?
J: Maryam, daughter of Imran, your father was no evil man, nor was your mother a loose woman. What shame did you bring us?
Z: [To Jeskar] Shame on you! Are you accusing the purest woman?
[Maryam has tears from her eye]
[To Maryam] Maryam, speak up, defend yourself. Say something Maryam, say something....
J: (shouting) Maryam...speak up, talk...break up your fasting! Who told you to fast? Can't you defend yourself? What is this scandal?
[Maryam looks at the baby]
J: What should this mean? To whom are you pointing?
[Maryam looks at the baby again]
J: (laughing) Do we ask him?
[Maryam nods her head Yes]
J: Are you mocking us Maryam? What is this new game? How can we talk to a child still in the cradle?
[Jescar faces the crowd]
J: She wants us to talk to this child. Maryam, do you think we are insane?
[Jescar walks towards the child]
J: Dear child, who are you? Identify yourself to this crowd so that everyone would know.
NARRATOR: And the child spoke while in his mother's lap and said:
[people are shocked – all staring at the baby and Bibi Maryam and walk closer to them]
Voice: Arabic in Qur'an. [ARABIC 19:30-33]
"It is I, the messiah the servant of God. He has given me the book and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I may be and ordered me to pray (salat) and to pay the (zakat) as long as I am alive and be dutiful to my mother. He has not made me insolent and disobedient. And peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I shall die and the day I shall be raised alive."
(All those against Zachariah and his family are being pushed behind, and all the good people stay around Maryam and sit down crying in happiness. Maryam is smiling. She is presented with gifts by the 3 wise men)
L: And thus we made Maryam and her son a prodigy for the realm.