Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 38–45

3. Aal-i-Imraan · The Family of Imraan

Madinan200 verses

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

3:38Thereat Zechariah supplicated his Lord. He said, ‘My Lord! Grant me a good offspring from You! Indeed You hear all supplications.’

فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

3:39Then, as he stood praying in the sanctuary the angels called out to him: ‘Allah gives you the good news of John, as a confirmer of a Word of Allah, eminent and chaste, a prophet, and one of the righteous.’1

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ

3:40He said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son while old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?’ Said He, ‘So it is that Allah does whatever He wishes.’2

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًۭا ۗ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًۭا وَسَبِّحْ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَٰرِ

3:41He said, ‘My Lord, grant me a sign.’ Said He, ‘Your sign is that you will not speak to people for three days except in gestures. Remember Your Lord much, and glorify Him morning and evening.’3

وَإِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

3:42And when the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah has chosen you and purified you, and He has chosen you above the world’s women.4

يَٰمَرْيَمُ ٱقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَٱسْجُدِى وَٱرْكَعِى مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ

3:43O Mary, be obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down with those who bow [in worship].’

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ

3:44These accounts are from the Unseen, which We reveal to you, and you were not with them when they were casting lots [to see] which of them would take charge of Mary’s care, nor were you with them when they were contending.

إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًۭا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

3:45When the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah gives you the good news of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, distinguished in the world and the Hereafter and one of those brought near [to Allah].

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 38

1.The chain of Ayats is connected to the absolute power of Allah. Here, the Prophet (s.a.) has laid in evidence, the facts of history to the Christian delegation and proved that Isa (a.s.) is not the son of Allah but only an effect of the Power of Allah. When Zakaria (a.s.) found unseasonal fruits near Maryam (a.s.) he prayed: O Allah! If You can create unseasonal fruits You can also grant an offspring in old age. When Allah gave him the good news of Yahya, Zakaria (a.s.) wanting more details asked: How is it possible? Allah said: This is a miracle of Our Power and has no concern with material causes. So that Christians realise that One Who can grant offspring to Zakaria in old age, can also grant a son to Maryam (a.s.) without a husband.

Verse 42

2.These sentences describe Maryam’s (a.s.) excellence that it is a special distinction of Maryam (a.s.) to have a child without a spouse and it has no concern with sonship of Allah, besides all women are not honoured by this, and this is nature’s arrangement that after giving honour and respect there is also demand for thanks, worship and obedience so that Islam does not become a religion of loving the kindered. It should remain a religion of obedience and worship.

Verse 44

3.This sentence is the best argument for unseen knowledge of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and its condition is also mentioned that Allah Himself has the knowledge of unseen and the Prophet is bestowed this from Allah.

Verse 45

4.Conversation of Angels with Maryam (a.s.) is not surprising and whatever is with regard to His Apostles the same can be for people other than Prophets and that is why revelation was sent to Moosa’s (a.s.) mother and Angels conversed with Saiyada (s.a.) and called her Muhaddatha (One with whom the angles converse).

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    According to some commentators it denotes Isa as Yahya (a.s.) has testified him and according to some it denotes the Book of Allah and divine law. Sayyid - Rich commentary provided it is not hypocritical. According to the saying of the Prophet (s.a.) a hypocrite cannot be called Sayyid. (Tafseer Bahrul Muhit, Ibne Hayyan Andulusi) Husoor - one who refrains from sins or one who remains aloof from women. MinaL A’lameen - It indicates that the whole genealogy is of righteous people.

  2. 2

    Aaqir Aqeem - barren woman.

  3. 3

    It is the expression that one is unable to speak for three days. Maafil Zameer will be expressed only through gesture and signs. Ashee - From noon to sunset. Abkaar - dawn to noon.

  4. 4

    The first distinction was in spite of it being a girl she has to serve the Baitul Muqaddas. And the second distinction was to become a mother without having husband. Taharat - Pure from feminine attributes of menses etc.

  5. Benefit

    It should he clear that Zakariya (a.s.) had prayed seeing the continuous sustenance and Yahya (a.s.) was six months elder to Isa (a.s.) and he was the testifter of those before him.