After Allah, the Exalted, mentioned the story of Zakariyya, and that He
blessed him with a righteous, purified and blessed child even in his old age
while his wife was barren, He then mentions the story of Maryam. Allah informs
of His granting her a child named `Isa without a father being involved (in her
pregnancy). Between these two stories there is an appropriate and similar
relationship. Due to their closeness in meaning, Allah mentioned them here
together, as well as in Surahs Al `Imran and Al-Anbiya'. Allah has mentioned
these stories to show His servants His ability, the might of His authority and
that He has power over all things. Allah says,
[وَاذْكُرْ فِى
الْكِتَـبِ مَرْيَمَ]
(And mention in the Book, Maryam,) She was Maryam bint `Imran from the family
lineage of Dawud. She was from a good and wholesome family of the Children of
Israel. Allah mentioned the story of her mother's pregnancy with her in Surah Al
`Imran, and that she (Maryam's mother) dedicated her freely for the service of
Allah. This meant that she dedicated the child (Maryam) to the service of the
Masjid of the Sacred House (in Jerusalem). Thus, they (Zakariyya, Maryam's
mother and Maryam) were similar in that aspect.
[فَتَقَبَّلَهَا
رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا]
(So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in
a good manner.)[3:37] Thus, Maryam was raised among the Children of Israel in an
honorable way. She was one of the female worshippers, well-known for her
remarkable acts of worship, devotion and perseverance. She lived under the care
of her brother-in-law, Zakariyya, who was a Prophet of the Children of Israel at
that time. He was a great man among them, whom they would refer to in their
religious matters. Zakariyya saw astonishing miracles occur from her that amazed
him.
[كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ
عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يمَرْيَمُ أَنَّى
لَكِ هَـذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ إنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ
بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ]
(Every time Zakaiyya entered the Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied
with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this'' She said,
"This is from Allah.'' Verily, Allah provides to whom He wills, without limit.)
[3:37] It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during the
summer and summer fruit during the winter. This has already been explained in
Surah Al `Imran. Then, when Allah wanted to grant her His servant and Messenger,
`Isa, one of the five Great Messengers.
[انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ
أَهْلِهَا مَكَاناً شَرْقِياً]
(she withdrew in seclusion from her family to place facing east.) [19:16]
This means that she withdrew from them and secluded herself from them. She went
to the eastern side of the Sacred Masjid (in Jerusalem). It is reported from Ibn
`Abbas that he said, "Verily, I am the most knowledgeable of Allah's creation of
why the Christians took the east as the direction of devotional worship. They
did because of Allah's statement,
[انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ
أَهْلِهَا مَكَاناً شَرْقِياً]
(When she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east.)
Therefore, they took the birthplace of `Isa as their direction of worship.''
Concerning Allah's statement,
[فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن
دُونِهِم حِجَاباً]
(She placed a screen before them;) This means that she hid herself from them
and concealed herself. Then, Allah sent Jibril to her.
[فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا
بَشَراً سَوِيّاً]
(and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.) [19:17]
This means that he came to her in the form of a perfect and complete man.
Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ibn Jurayj, Wahb bin Munabbih and As-Suddi all
commented on Allah's statement,
[فَأَرْسَلْنَآ
إِلَيْهَآ رُوحَنَا]
(then We sent to her Our Ruh,) "It means Jibril.''
[قَالَتْ إِنِّى
أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَـنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيّاً ]
(She said: "Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do
fear Allah.'') This means that when the angel (Jibril) appeared to her in the
form of a man, while she was in a place secluded by herself with a partition
between her and her people, she was afraid of him and thought that he wanted to
rape her. Therefore, she said,
[إِنِّى أَعُوذُ
بِالرَّحْمَـنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيّاً]
(Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do fear
Allah.) She meant, "If you fear Allah,'' as a means of reminding him of Allah.
This is what is legislated in defense against (evil), so that it may be repulsed
with ease. Therefore, the first thing she did was try to make him fear Allah,
the Mighty and Sublime. Ibn Jarir reported from `Asim that Abu Wa'il said when
mentioning the story of Maryam, "She knew that the pious person would refrain
(from committing evil) when she said,
[إِنِّى أَعُوذُ
بِالرَّحْمَـنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيّاًقَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَاْ رَسُولُ
رَبِّكِ]
("Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do fear
Allah.'' He said: "I am only a messenger from your Lord...'') This means that
the angel said to her in response, and in order to remove the fear that she felt
within herself, "I am not what you think, but I am the messenger of your Lord.''
By this he meant, "Allah has sent me to you.'' It is said that when she
mentioned the (Name of the) Most Beneficent (Ar-Rahman), Jibril fell apart and
returned to his true form (as an angel). He responded, (إِنَّمَآ أَنَاْ رَسُولُ
رَبِّكِ لِيَهَب لَكِ غُلَـمًا زَكِيًّا) `I am only a messenger from your Lord,
to provide to you the gift of a righteous son.'
[قَالَتْ أَنَّى
يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـمٌ]
(She said: "How can I have a son...'') This means that Maryam was amazed at
this. She said, "How can I have a son'' She said this to mean, "In what way
would a son be born to me when I do not have a husband and I do not commit any
wicked acts (i.e. fornication)'' For this reason she said,
[وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى
بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيّاً]
(when no man has touched me, nor am I Baghiyya) The Baghiyy is a female
fornicator. For this reason, a Hadith has been reported prohibiting the money
earned from Baghiyy.
[قَالَ كَذَلِكَ
قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ]
(He said: "Thus said your Lord: `That is easy for Me (Allah)...'') This means
that the angel said to her in response to her question, "Verily, Allah has said
that a boy will be born from you even though you do not have a husband and you
have not committed any lewdness. Verily, He is Most Able to do whatever He
wills.'' Due to this, he (Jibril) conveyed Allah's Words,
[وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ
ءَايَةً لِّلْنَّاسِ]
(And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind) This means a proof and a
sign for mankind of the power of their Maker and Creator, Who diversified them
in their creation. He created their father, Adam, without a male (father) or
female (mother). Then, He created Hawwa' (Adam's spouse) from a male (father)
without a female (mother). Then, He created the rest of their progeny from male
and female, except `Isa. He caused `Isa to be born from a female without a male.
Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation (of the human being), which
proves the perfection of His power and the magnificence of His authority. There
is no god worthy of worship except Him and there is no true Lord other than Him.
Concerning Allah's statement,
[وَرَحْمَةً
مِّنَّا]
(and a mercy from Us,) This means, "We will make this boy a mercy from Allah
and a Prophet from among the Prophets. He will call to the worship of Allah and
monotheistic belief in Him. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said in another Ayah,
[إِذْ قَالَتِ
الْمَلَـئِكَةُ يمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ
الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَمِنَ
الْمُقَرَّبِينَ - وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِى الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلاً وَمِنَ
الصَّـلِحِينَ ]
((Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you the good
news of a Word from Him, his name will be Al-Masih, `Isa, the son of Maryam,
held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who
are near to Allah. And he will speak to the people, in the cradle and in
manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.) [3:45-46] This means that he will
call to the worship of his Lord in his cradle and while and adult. Concerning
His statement,
[وَكَانَ أَمْراً
مَّقْضِيّاً]
(and it is a matter (already) decreed (by Allah).) This is the completion of
Jibril's dialogue with Maryam. He informed her that this matter was preordained
by Allah's power and will. Muhammad bin Ishaq said,
[وَكَانَ أَمْراً
مَّقْضِيّاً]
(and it is a matter (already) decreed (by Allah).) "This means that Allah
determined to do this, so there is no avoiding it.''
[فَحَمَلَتْهُ
فَانْتَبَذَتْ بِهِ مَكَاناً قَصِيّاً - فَأَجَآءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ
النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْياً مَّنسِيّاً
]
(22. So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.) (23.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date palm. She said:
"Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of
sight!'')
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