There are stories of miracle fertilization in the Qur’an. We should not forget about them when we put our trust into Allah and we should be patient.
The story of Mariam (alayhas Salam):
When the wife of Imran said: “‘O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb [my child] to be dedicated to Your services, so accept this [my vow] from me. Verily, All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.’ Then when she delivered her she said: ‘O my Lord! I have delivered a female child’ – and Allah knew better what she delivered – ‘And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam and I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.'” [Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:35-36]
The wife of Imran and mother of Mary, out of her devotion to God vowed to dedicate the child in her womb to the sacred service of God and asked God to accept her vow. Her hopes were in a male child who will be brought up to service the places of worship and be dedicated to serve God.
“And mention in the Book, Maryam [i.e. mention, O Mohammed, in the Quran the story of Mary], when she withdrew from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen from them; then We sent to her our angel (Jibrael, or Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in full human form. She said: ‘I seek refuge with The Most Beneficent [God] from you, if you do fear Him.’ (The angel) said: ‘I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’ She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?’ He (the angel) said: ‘So (it will be), your Lord said: ‘That is easy for Me: And to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (from God)’, and it is a matter (already) decreed (by God).'” [Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19:16-21]
The story of Prophet Ibraheem (‘alaihis salam):
“And his wife [Sarah] was standing (there) and she laughed: But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac and after him, of Jacob. She said “Alas for me! Shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here, is an old man? That indeed would be a wonderful thing!” They said: “Dost thou wonder at Allah’s decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O ye people of the house! For He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of Glory!””[Qur’an, Surah Hud, 11:71-73]
“…And they (angels) gave him (Ibrahim) glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge. But his wife came forward clamoring, she smote her forehead and said: “A barren old woman!” They said “Even so has thy Lord spoken and He is full of wisdom and knowledge.””[Qur’an, Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:28-30]
The Noble Qur’an tells us that Sarah (radhyAllahu ‘anha) was old and barren when Allah blessed her with a child. Exegesis place her age at about ninety and Ibrahim (‘alaihis salam) was over 100 years old. It was several years before this that Sarah gave her hand maiden.
Hagar (radhyAllahu ‘anha), to Ibrahim (‘alaihis salam) in marriage so that he may have children.
Zakariya (‘alaihis salam) and his wife Ishba:
“There did Zakariya pray to his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer! While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: “Allah doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet,- of the (goodly) company of the righteous.” He said: “O my Lord! How shall I have son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?” “Thus,” was the answer, “Doth Allah accomplish what He willeth.”” [Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:38-40]
“(This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His servant Zakariya. Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret, Praying: “O my Lord! Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee.” [Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19:2-4]
“And (remember) Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: “O my Lord! Leave me not without offspring, though thou art the best of inheritors.” So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya: We cured his wife’s (Barrenness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works; they used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:89-90]
Asya never conceived a child. It is said that her marriage was one of sacrifice she made for the safety of her people because the marriage was never consummated, for Allah had stricken Pharaoh with impotence. Here is a childless woman, who is set forth as an example for all believers. She nurtured a Prophet from infancy even though he was not her own, and she was a martyr.
“And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: “O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong”” [Qur’an, Surah At-Tahrim, 66:11]
