Mary — Verse 2

Which was revealed in Makkah Muhammad bin Ishaq recorded a Hadith of Umm Salamah in his Sirah, and Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded from Ibn Mas`ud, the story of the Hijrah (migration) to Ethiopia from Makkah. The narration mentions that Ja`far bin Abi Talib recited the first part of this Surah to An-Najashi and his companions. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Story of Zakariyya and His Supplication for a Son The discussion about the separate letters has already preceded at the beginning ofSurat Al-Baqarah. Concerning Allah's statement, ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ (A reminder of the mercy of your Lord) This means that this is a reminder of Allah's mercy upon His servant Zakariyya. Yahya bin Ya`mar recited it, (ذَكَّرَ رَحْمَةَ رَبكَ عبدَه زكريا) "He has reminded of your Lord's mercy to His servant Zakariyya." The word Zakariyya in the Ayah has been recited with elongation and also shortened. Both recitations are well-known. He was a great Prophet from the Prophets of the Children of Israel. In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded that the Prophet said about Zakariyya that He was a carpenter who used to eat from what he earned with his own hand through carpentry. Concerning Allah's statement, إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَآءً خَفِيّاً (When he called his Lord with a call in secret.) He only made his supplication secretly because it is more beloved to Allah. This is similar to what Qatadah said concerning this Ayah, إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَآءً خَفِيّاً (When he called out his Lord with a call in secret. ) "Verily, Allah knows the pious heart and he hears the hidden voice." قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّى (He said: "My Lord! Indeed my bones have grown feeble...") meaning, "I have become weak and feeble in strength." وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْباً (and gray hair has Ashta`al on my head,) means the gray hair has burned into the black hair. The intent is to inform of weakness and old age, and its external and internal traces. Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّاً (and I have never been unblessed in my invocation to You, O my Lord!) This means, "I have not experienced from You except that You would respond to my supplication and that You would never refuse me in whatever I ask of You." Concerning His statement, وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِىَ مِن وَرَآئِى (And verily, I fear Mawali after me,) Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said, "In saying the word Mawali, he (Zakariyya) meant his succeeding relatives." The reason for his fear was that he was afraid that the generation that would succeed him would be a wicked generation. Thus, he asked Allah for a son who would be a Prophet after him, who would guide them with his prophethood and that which was revealed to him. In response to this I would like to point out that he was not afraid of them inheriting his wealth. For a Prophet is too great in status, and too lofty in esteem to become remorseful over his wealth in this fashion. A Prophet would not disdain to leave his wealth to his successive relatives, and thus ask to have a son who would receive his inheritance instead of them. This is one angle of argument. The second argument is that Allah did not mention that he (Zakariyya) was wealthy. On the contrary, he was a carpenter who ate from the earnings of his own hand. This type of person usually does not have a mass of wealth. Amassing wealth is not something normal for Prophets, for verily, they are the most abstentious in matters of this worldly life. The third argument is that it is confirmed in the Two Sahihs, in more than one narration, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا نُورَثُ، مَا تَرَكْنَا فَهُوَ صَدَقَة» (We (the Prophets) do not leave behind inheritance (of wealth). Whatever we leave behind, then it is charity.) In a narration recorded by At-Tirmidhi with an authentic chain of narrations, he said, «نَحْنُ مَعْشَرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَث» (We, Prophets do not leave behind inheritance (of wealth).) Therefore, the meaning in these Hadiths restricts the meaning of Zakariyya's statement, فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ وَلِيّاًيَرِثُنِى (So give me from yourself an heir. Who shall inherit me,) inheritance of prophethood. For this reason Allah said, وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ (and inherit (also) the posterity of Ya`qub.) This is similar to Allah's statement, وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـنُ دَاوُودَ (And Sulayman inherited from Dawud.)27:16 This means that he inherited prophethood from him. If this had meant wealth, he would not have been singled with it among his other brothers. There also would have been no important benefit in mentioning it if it was referring to wealth. It is already well-known and established in all of the previous laws and divinely revealed creeds, that the son inherits the wealth of his father. Therefore, if this was not referring to a specific type of inheritance, then Allah would not have mentioned it. All of this is supported and affirmed by what is in the authentic Hadith: «نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ، مَا تَرَكْنَا فَهُوَ صَدَقَة» (We Prophets do not leave behind any inheritance (of wealth). Whatever we leave behind, then it is charity.) Mujahid said concerning his statement, يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ (Who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Ya'qub.) 19:6 "His inheritance was knowledge, and Zakariyya was one of the descendants of Ya`qub." Hushaym said, "Isma'il bin Abi Khalid informed us that Abu Salih commented about the Ayah: يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ (who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Ya`qub.) "He would be a Prophet like his forefathers were Prophets." Allah's statement, وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيّاً (and make him, my Lord, one with whom You are well-pleased!) means "Make him pleasing to You (Allah) and your creation. Love him and make him beloved to your creatures, in both his religion and his character."

This is a mention of your Lord’s mercy to His servant ‘abdahu a direct object of rahma ‘mercy’ Zachariah an explication of it the direct object

The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah. Here you have the largesse of the Lord's mercy toward His servant. You have the utmost gentle- ness, perfection, and generosity that He shows through His loving kindness-a mercy that doubt does not reach, a gentleness that thought does not touch. This mercy is bestowed because of the divine bounty and lordly solicitude, not because of worship and the acquisitions of servanthood. As much as the servant strives in disobedience, God conceals it with His covering. As much as he strives for disgrace, He pours down His blessings upon him. This is why that pir of the Tariqah said, “I reached the point where I do not count God's blessings upon me when I have so many acts of disobedience. I do not know for what I should thank Him: for the beauty of that to which He eases me or the ugliness of what He conceals.” It has been reported that the followed verse was recited before the Messenger: “Say, 'O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves, despair not of God's mercy. Surely God forgives the sins altogether'” [39:53]. The Messenger said, “Indeed He does, and He does not care.” Then he said three times, “May God curse those who make people flee,” that is, those who make people despair of God's mercy. It is told that in former times a renunciant worshiped in a monastery for one hundred years, but then caprice overcame him and he acted with disobedience. He regretted that, and he wanted to go back to his devotions in the niche of worship. When he stepped into the niche, Satan came and said to him, “Are you not ashamed that you did something like that and you now come before the Majestic Presence of the Real?” He wanted to make him despair of the Real, so that his despair would add to his sins. In that state he heard a call, “My servant, you have Me, and I have you. Say to this meddler, 'What do you have?'”

The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah. Here you have the largesse of the Lord's mercy toward His servant. You have the utmost gentle- ness, perfection, and generosity that He shows through His loving kindness-a mercy that doubt does not reach, a gentleness that thought does not touch. This mercy is bestowed because of the divine bounty and lordly solicitude, not because of worship and the acquisitions of servanthood. As much as the servant strives in disobedience, God conceals it with His covering. As much as he strives for disgrace, He pours down His blessings upon him. This is why that pir of the Tariqah said, “I reached the point where I do not count God's blessings upon me when I have so many acts of disobedience. I do not know for what I should thank Him: for the beauty of that to which He eases me or the ugliness of what He conceals.” It has been reported that the followed verse was recited before the Messenger: “Say, 'O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves, despair not of God's mercy. Surely God forgives the sins altogether'” [39:53]. The Messenger said, “Indeed He does, and He does not care.” Then he said three times, “May God curse those who make people flee,” that is, those who make people despair of God's mercy. It is told that in former times a renunciant worshiped in a monastery for one hundred years, but then caprice overcame him and he acted with disobedience. He regretted that, and he wanted to go back to his devotions in the niche of worship. When he stepped into the niche, Satan came and said to him, “Are you not ashamed that you did something like that and you now come before the Majestic Presence of the Real?” He wanted to make him despair of the Real, so that his despair would add to his sins. In that state he heard a call, “My servant, you have Me, and I have you. Say to this meddler, 'What do you have?'”

The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah. Here you have the largesse of the Lord's mercy toward His servant. You have the utmost gentle- ness, perfection, and generosity that He shows through His loving kindness-a mercy that doubt does not reach, a gentleness that thought does not touch. This mercy is bestowed because of the divine bounty and lordly solicitude, not because of worship and the acquisitions of servanthood. As much as the servant strives in disobedience, God conceals it with His covering. As much as he strives for disgrace, He pours down His blessings upon him. This is why that pir of the Tariqah said, “I reached the point where I do not count God's blessings upon me when I have so many acts of disobedience. I do not know for what I should thank Him: for the beauty of that to which He eases me or the ugliness of what He conceals.” It has been reported that the followed verse was recited before the Messenger: “Say, 'O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves, despair not of God's mercy. Surely God forgives the sins altogether'” [39:53]. The Messenger said, “Indeed He does, and He does not care.” Then he said three times, “May God curse those who make people flee,” that is, those who make people despair of God's mercy. It is told that in former times a renunciant worshiped in a monastery for one hundred years, but then caprice overcame him and he acted with disobedience. He regretted that, and he wanted to go back to his devotions in the niche of worship. When he stepped into the niche, Satan came and said to him, “Are you not ashamed that you did something like that and you now come before the Majestic Presence of the Real?” He wanted to make him despair of the Real, so that his despair would add to his sins. In that state he heard a call, “My servant, you have Me, and I have you. Say to this meddler, 'What do you have?'”

The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah. Here you have the largesse of the Lord's mercy toward His servant. You have the utmost gentle- ness, perfection, and generosity that He shows through His loving kindness-a mercy that doubt does not reach, a gentleness that thought does not touch. This mercy is bestowed because of the divine bounty and lordly solicitude, not because of worship and the acquisitions of servanthood. As much as the servant strives in disobedience, God conceals it with His covering. As much as he strives for disgrace, He pours down His blessings upon him. This is why that pir of the Tariqah said, “I reached the point where I do not count God's blessings upon me when I have so many acts of disobedience. I do not know for what I should thank Him: for the beauty of that to which He eases me or the ugliness of what He conceals.” It has been reported that the followed verse was recited before the Messenger: “Say, 'O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves, despair not of God's mercy. Surely God forgives the sins altogether'” [39:53]. The Messenger said, “Indeed He does, and He does not care.” Then he said three times, “May God curse those who make people flee,” that is, those who make people despair of God's mercy. It is told that in former times a renunciant worshiped in a monastery for one hundred years, but then caprice overcame him and he acted with disobedience. He regretted that, and he wanted to go back to his devotions in the niche of worship. When he stepped into the niche, Satan came and said to him, “Are you not ashamed that you did something like that and you now come before the Majestic Presence of the Real?” He wanted to make him despair of the Real, so that his despair would add to his sins. In that state he heard a call, “My servant, you have Me, and I have you. Say to this meddler, 'What do you have?'”

The mention of thy Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah.Here you have the largesse of the Lord's mercy toward His servant. You have the utmost gentle- ness, perfection, and generosity that He shows through His loving kindness-a mercy that doubt does not reach, a gentleness that thought does not touch. This mercy is bestowed because of the divine bounty and lordly solicitude, not because of worship and the acquisitions of servanthood.As much as the servant strives in disobedience, God conceals it with His covering. As much as he strives for disgrace, He pours down His blessings upon him. This is why that pir of the Tariqah said, �I reached the point where I do not count God's blessings upon me when I have so many acts of disobedience. I do not know for what I should thank Him: for the beauty of that to which He eases me or the ugliness of what He conceals.�It has been reported that the followed verse was recited before the Messenger: �Say, 'O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves, despair not of God's mercy. Surely God forgives the sins altogether'� [39:53]. The Messenger said, �Indeed He does, and He does not care.� Then he said three times, �May God curse those who make people flee,� that is, those who make people despair of God's mercy.It is told that in former times a renunciant worshiped in a monastery for one hundred years, but then caprice overcame him and he acted with disobedience. He regretted that, and he wanted to go back to his devotions in the niche of worship. When he stepped into the niche, Satan came and said to him, �Are you not ashamed that you did something like that and you now come before the Majestic Presence of the Real?� He wanted to make him despair of the Real, so that his despair would add to his sins. In that state he heard a call, �My servant, you have Me, and I have you. Say to this meddler, 'What do you have?'�

هذا ذِكْر رحمة ربك عبده زكريا، سنقصه عليك، فإن في ذلك عبرة للمعتبرين.

قوله "ذكر رحمت ربك" أي هذا ذكر رحمة الله بعبده زكريا وقرأ يحيى بن يعمر "ذكر رحمت ربك عبده زكريا" وزكريا يمد ويقصر قراءتان مشهورتان. وكان نبيا عظيما من أنبياء بني إسرائيل وفي صحيح البخاري أنه كان نجارا يأكل من عمل يده في النجارة.

وقوله - تعالى - : ( ذِكْرُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّآ ) خبر لمبتدأ محذوف . أى : المتلو عليك ذكر رحمة ربك عبده زكريا .ولفظ ( ذِكْرُ ) مصدر مضاف لمفعوله . ولفظ ( رَحْمَةِ ) مصدر مضاف لفاعله وهو ربك ، و ( عَبْدَهُ ) مفعول به للمصدر الذى هو رحمة .و ( زَكَرِيَّآ ) هو واحد من أنبياء الله الكرام ، وينتهى نسبه إلى يعقوب بن إسحاق بن إبراهيم - عليه السلام - .والمعنى : هذا الذى نذكره لك يا محمد ، هو جانب من قصة عبدنا زكريا ، وطرف من مظاهر الرحمة التى اختصصناه بها ، ومنحناه إياها .

اختلف أهل العربية في الرافع للذكر، والناصب للعبد، فقال بعض نحويي البصرة في معنى ذلك كأنه قال: مما نقصّ عليك ذكر رحمة ربك عبده، وانتصب العبد بالرحمة كما تقول: ذكر ضرب زيد عمرا. وقال بعض نحويي الكوفة: رفعت الذكر بكهيعص، وإن شئت أضمرت هذا ذكر رحمة ربك، قال: والمعنى ذكر ربك عبده برحمته تقديم وتأخير.قال أبو جعفر: والقول الذي هو الصواب عندي في ذلك أن يقال: الذكر مرفوع بمضمر محذوف، وهو هذا كما فعل ذلك في غيرها من السور، وذلك كقول الله: بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وكقوله: سُورَةٌ أَنْـزَلْنَاهَا ونحو ذلك. والعبد منصوب بالرحمة، وزكريا في موضع نصب، لأنه بيان عن العبد، فتأويل الكلام: هذا ذكر رحمة ربك عبده زكريا.

( ذكر ) رفع بالمضمر ، أي : هذا الذي نتلوه عليك ذكر ( رحمة ربك ) [ وفيه تقديم وتأخير ] معناه : ذكر ربك ( عبده زكريا ) برحمته .

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا (2) افتتاح كلام ، فيتعيّن أن { ذِكْرُ } خبر مبتدأ محذوف ، مثلُه شائع الحذف في أمثال هذا من العناوين . والتقدير : هذا ذكر رحمة ربّك عبده . وهو بمعنى : اذكر . ويجوز أن يكون { ذِكْرُ } أصله مفعولاً مطلقاً نائباً عن عامله بمعنى الأمر ، أي اذكر ذكراً ، ثمّ حول عن النصب إلى الرفع للدلالة على الثبات كما حُول في قوله { الحمد لله } وقد تقدم في [ سورة الفاتحة : 2 ]. ويرجحه عطف { واذكر في الكتاب مريم } [ مريم : 16 ] ونظائرِه .وقد جاء نظم هذا الكلام على طريقة بديعة من الإيجاز والعدوللِ عن الأسلوب المتعارف في الإخبار ، وأصل الكلام : ذكر عبدنا زكرياء إذ نادى ربّه فقال : رب الخ . . . فرحمة ربّك ، فكان في تقديم الخبر بأن الله رحمه اهتمام بهذه المنقبة له ، والإنباء بأن الله يرحم من التجأ إليه ، مع ما في إضافة { ربّ إلى ضمير النبيء وإلى ضمير زكرياء من التنويه بهما .وافتتحت قصة مريم وعيسى بما يتصل بها من شؤون آل بيت مريم وكافلها لأنّ في تلك الأحوال كلها تذكيراً برحمة الله تعالى وكرامته لأوليائه .وزكرياء نبي من أنبياء بني إسرائيل ، وهو زكرياء الثاني زوج خالة مريم ، وليس له كتاب في أسفار التوراة . وأما الذي له كتاب فهو زكرياء بن برخيا الذي كان موجوداً في القرن السادس قبل المسيح . وقد مضت ترجمة زكرياء الثاني في سورة آل عمران ومضت قصّة دعائه هنالك .

تفسير الآيتين 2و 3 :ـأي: هذا { ذِكْرُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا ْ} سنقصه عليك، ونفصله تفصيلا يعرف به حالة نبيه زكريا، وآثاره الصالحة، ومناقبه الجميلة، فإن في قصها عبرة للمعتبرين، وأسوة للمقتدين، ولأن في تفصيل رحمته لأوليائه، وبأي: سبب حصلت لهم، مما يدعو إلى محبة الله تعالى، والإكثار من ذكره ومعرفته، والسبب الموصل إليه. وذلك أن الله تعالى اجتبى واصطفى زكريا عليه السلام لرسالته، وخصه بوحيه، فقام بذلك قيام أمثاله من المرسلين، ودعا العباد إلى ربه، وعلمهم ما علمه الله، ونصح لهم في حياته وبعد مماته، كإخوانه من المرسلين ومن اتبعهم، فلما رأى من نفسه الضعف، وخاف أن يموت، ولم يكن أحد ينوب منابه في دعوة الخلق إلى ربهم والنصح لهم، شكا إلى ربه ضعفه الظاهر والباطن، وناداه نداء خفيا، ليكون أكمل وأفضل وأتم إخلاصا.

قوله تعالى : ذكر رحمة ربك عبده زكريافيه :الأولى : قوله تعالى : ذكر رحمة ربك في رفع ذكر ثلاثة أقوال ؛ قال الفراء : هو مرفوع ب كهيعص ؛ قال الزجاج : هذا محال ؛ لأن كهيعص ليس هو مما أنبأنا الله - عز وجل - به عن زكريا ، وقد خبر الله تعالى عنه وعن ما بشر به ، وليس كهيعص من قصته . وقال الأخفش : التقدير ؛ فيما يقص عليكم ذكر رحمة ربك . والقول الثالث : أن المعنى هذا الذي يتلوه عليكم ذكر رحمة ربك . وقيل : ذكر رحمة ربك رفع بإضمار مبتدأ ؛ أي هذا ذكر رحمة ربك ؛ وقرأ الحسن ( ذكر رحمة ربك ) أي هذا المتلو من القرآن ذكر رحمة ربك . وقرئ ( ذكر ) على الأمر .ورحمة تكتب ويوقف عليها بالهاء ، وكذلك كل ما كان مثلها ، لا اختلاف فيها بين النحويين ، واعتلوا في ذلك أن هذه الهاء لتأنيث الأسماء فرقا بينها وبين الأفعال .الثانية : قوله تعالى : عبده قال الأخفش : هو منصوب ب ( رحمة ) . زكريا بدل منه ، كما تقول : هذا ذكر ضرب زيد عمرا ؛ فعمرا منصوب بالضرب ؛ كما أن عبده منصوب بالرحمة . وقيل : هو على التقديم والتأخير ؛ معناه : ذكر ربك عبده زكريا برحمة ؛ ف ( عبده ) منصوب بالذكر ؛ ذكره الزجاج والفراء . وقرأ بعضهم ( عبده زكريا ) بالرفع ؛ وهي قراءة أبي العالية . وقرأ يحيى بن يعمر ( ذكر ) بالنصب على معنى : هذا القرآن ذكر رحمة عبده زكريا . وتقدمت اللغات والقراءة في زكريا في ( آل عمران ) .

Zachariah, or Zakariyyah, who was the chief administrator of the Haykal (Solomon’s temple) was married to Mary’s mother’s sister. Maryam was only five years old when her father, Imran, died. After his death, Zachariah was appointed in his place as the leader of the priests. At that time, Mary, in fulfillment of the pledge made by her mother, was placed in the service of the Haykal. As Zachariah was a close relative of hers and also the chief of the Haykal, he was given the responsibility of bringing her up. Zachariah silently prayed to God and the prayer was granted in an astonishing and wonderful manner. This shows what real prayer is. True prayer is a spontaneous expression of the firm belief that all powers vest in God. Man receives every single thing only on His giving it to him, and no one can own a thing if He does not confer it on him. True prayer needs to be directed solely towards the one and only God. That is why true prayer gushes forth when one is alone—when there is nobody present except God and oneself.

Commentary In the Holy Qur'an Surah Maryam has been placed immediately after Surah Al-Kahf, presumably because there appears some kind of similarity between the two Surahs. While the former deals with some unusual anecdotes, the latter also covers a number of extraordinary events. كهيعص are letters known in Arabic as; حُرُوفِ مُقَطَّعَۃ whose meanings, like are known only to Allah Ta` ala and people should not even attempt to probe their meanings.

(A mention of the mercy of your Lord) He says: this a mention of your Lord (unto His servant Zachariah) His mercy unto him was by giving him a son.