We are told in Surah Ali Imran that Allah chose Adam, Noah, the houses of Abraham and Imran to uphold His religion. The houses of Abraham include his children Ishmael and Isaac. The house of Imran includes Mary, Imran's daughter and Jesus, her son. Imran was a descendant of David, he was a pious man who married a pious woman, Hannah.

Hannah could not have a baby but after seeing a bird and her chicks, she prayed to Allah vowing that if she was to have a son, she would raise him in service to Allah and live in Bait-ul-Maqdis. When she gave birth to a girl, she was confused - worried that her vow now could not come true.

Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ’Imrân above all people ˹of their time˺.3:33

They are descendants of one another. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.3:34

˹Remember˺ when the wife of ’Imrân said, “My Lord! I dedicate what is in my womb entirely to Your service, so accept it from me. You ˹alone˺ are truly the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”3:35

When she delivered, she said, “My Lord! I have given birth to a girl,”—and Allah fully knew what she had delivered—“and the male is not like the female. I have named her Mary, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Satan, the accursed.”3:36

So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing—entrusting her to the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He exclaimed, “O Mary! Where did this come from?” She replied, “It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”3:37

Hannah honoured her vow and gave Mary to those in the mosque. Zakariya was chosen by Allah as her guardian and it said that he built an area for her to live in the mosque in privacy. She did her duties, looking after the mosque and praying to Allah constantly.

Zakariyah was the prophet sent at that time to these people. He married either Mary's sister Ashya (according to the majority opinion) or Mary's mother's sister. Allah made Zakariyah Maryam's guardian for her benefit, so that she would learn from his tremendous knowledge and righteous conduct.

Allah made Maryam grow in good manner; her conduct and mannerism and He made her well liked among people. He also made her accompany the righteous people, so that she learned righteousness, knowledge and religion.

So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing—entrusting her to the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He exclaimed, “O Mary! Where did this come from?” She replied, “It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”3:37