Adulthood:

"Behold! the angels said, 'O Mary! Allah has chosen thee, and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of the world'.

'O Mary! be obedient to thy Lord, and surrender thyself, and submit with those who submit'." 3: 42 - 43

Comm. # 412 by Bashir Ahmad:

"In this verse (42) the word 'chosen' has been used twice. In the first place it has been used in regard to Mary without reference to any other person, signifying her exalted position absolutely; while in the second place it has been used to express her high position in relation to other women of her time."

Footnote to verse 42:
1. It was Allah by whom Mary was chosen.
2. Then it was by Him that she was purified.
3. She was a woman of the world (mortal).
4. She was chosen above all women (not divine)
5. Mary was a WOMAN and not a girl.

Luke 1: 28

'And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.'

Mariam:

The infant handed over by her mother to Allah's guardianship, whom He accepted and placed in the Temple under the charge of His servant Zachariah.

Her Purpose:

To fulfill her mother's 'V O W'.

How?

By producing a righteous son.

Meeting of Mary and Ruhanna

Mary's humanity:

Connecting to where we paused, was not Mary fully appraised of her background and her purpose in life?

She was under strict divine protection but she was nevertheless a human. That she had will and choice of her own she could have opted one way or the other. Her spirituality was at its highest but she was a mortal.

Revelation "A" (Election) 3:42

( i ) She was chosen. ( ii ) Above all women.

Revelation "B" (Instruction) 3:43

( iii ) Be devout in obedience to thy Lord
( iv ) surrender thyself
( v ) submit with those who submit

Revelation "C" (Information) 3:45

( vi ) Thou wilt be the mother of Allah's Kalimat
( vii ) His name will be Al-Masih, (Title) Esa (first name)
( viii ) Illustrious in this world and in the hereafter
( ix ) Wa min 'al-mukar-rabin'.(of those nearest to God)
( x ) Wa min 'al-salih-heen'.(of the righteous)

Ruhanna's Presence:

( xi ) He is seen by Mary
( xii ) He was known from birth by Mary
( xiii ) He affirmed his spiritual identity to her
( xiv ) He made known to her his purpose
( xv ) His was the twin half of their dual destiny

Allah's decree:

( xvi ) Mary was foretold by the angels that the decree was in process - 'kun fa yakoon'. (3: 47)
( xvii ) Ruhanna is saying 'amran maqdiyya' ('it is a matter already decreed.') 19:21

Mary and Ruhanna

Mary's Purpose:

To have a righteous son (to fulfill her mother's vow)

Ruhannah's Purpose:

To give Mary a righteous son (to fulfill God's promise)

Mary Response:

'And Mary said, Behold the hand-maid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' Luke 1: 38

The Result (to her)

'And her who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into 'HER' our Ruh, and We made her and her son a Sign for all peoples.' Qur'an 21: 91

The Agency (a ' him')

'And Mary, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into 'HIM' Our Ruh, wa saddaquat bi Kalimat -i - Rabb bi ha, wa Kutubihi, wa kaanat minal Quaniteen.' Qur'an 66: 12

Remarks:

The presence of Mary and Ruhanna was simply a meeting. They went their separate ways after.

Mary's Precaution & Confirmation:

"And Mary said: 'Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. If that thou sayest is true, let it be unto me according to thy word.'

John answered: 'Go to the house of my mother Elizabeth, which is thy kinswoman, and hasten with her to the place that I have appointed'

And he departed from her, and when she had filled the pitcher she went away trembling and sat down in her seat, saying naught to her companions. Mary arose in those days and went with haste into the hill country and entered into the house of Zechariah and saluted Elizabeth, her kinswoman. And Elizabeth said: 'Blessed art thou among women! And whence is this that the mother of my Lord should come to me?' When therefore Mary knew that the messenger spake no deceit, she said: 'Let me rejoice as our mother Hannah rejoiced in the birth of her son Samuel. And Mary abode with Elizabeth about three days and afterwards went with her to Beth-Nimrah across Jordan, even as John had appointed."'

The Nazarene Gospel (p.8)