MAQĀM MAḤMŪD (مـقـام محمود). “A glorious station,” or place in heaven, said to be reserved for Muḥammad. It is mentioned in the XVIIth chapter of the Qurʾān, verse 81: “It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a glorious station.”
Religious Muslims always pray that God will grant the Maḥmūd to their Prophet, when they hear the Aẕān recited. [[AZAN].]
MAQĀMU IBRAHĪM (مقام ابرهيم). “The place or station of Abraham.” Mentioned twice in the Qurʾān.
[Sūrah iii. 91]: “In it (Makkah) are evident signs, even the place of Abraham.”
[Sūrah ii. 119]: “Take ye the station of Abraham for a place of prayer.”
It is a place at Makkah within the Masjid boundary, supposed to have the impression of the foot-marks of Abraham. Burckhardt says this is a small building, supported by six pillars about eight feet high, four of which are surrounded from the top to bottom by a fine iron railing, while they leave the space behind the two hind pillars open. Within the railing is a frame about five feet square, terminating in a pyramidal top, and said to contain the sacred stone upon which Abraham stood when he built the Kaʿbah.
MAQSŪRAH (مقصورة). A closet or place of retirement. A place set apart in mosques, enclosed with curtains, where devout men recite their supererogatory prayers, and perform ẕikr. [[ZIKR].]
MĀRIYATU ʾL-QIBT̤ĪYAH (مارية القبطية). [[MARY THE COPT].]
MARRIAGE. The celebration of the marriage contract is called nikāḥ (نكاح). The festive rejoicings ʿurs (عرس); Persian shādī. Marriage is enjoined upon every Muslim, and celibacy is frequently condemned by Muḥammad. It is related in the Traditions that Muḥammad said: “When the servant of God marries, he perfects half of his religion;” and that “on one occasion Muḥammad asked a man if he was married, and being answered in the negative, he said, ‘Art thou sound and healthy?’ Upon the man replying that he was, Muḥammad said, ‘Then thou art one of the brothers of the devil.’ ” (Mishkāt, book xiii. ch. i.) Consequently in Islām, even the ascetic orders are rather married than single.
It is related that one of the Companions, named ʿUs̤mān ibn Maz̤ʿūn, wished to lead a life of celibacy, but Muḥammad forbade him.