Allah states that He only sent Prophets and Messengers from among men and not
from among women, as this Ayah clearly states. Allah did not reveal religious
and legislative laws to any woman from among the daughters of Adam. This is the
belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan, `Ali bin Isma`il
Al-Ash`ari mentioned that it is the view of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah, that there
were no female Prophets, but there were truthful believers from among women.
Allah mentions the most honorable of the truthful female believers, Maryam, the
daughter of `Imran, when He said,
[مَّا الْمَسِيحُ
ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ
صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ الطَّعَامَ]
(The Messiah ['Isa], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many
were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a Siddiqah
[truthful believer]. They both used to eat food.) [5:75] Therefore, the best
description Allah gave her is Siddiqah. Had she been a Prophet, Allah would have
mentioned this fact when He was praising her qualities and honor. Therefore,
Mary was a truthful believer according to the words of the Qur'an.