019 Maryam

This is a reminder of the mercy of your Lord to His slave Zachariah,

When he called upon his Lord in private.

He said, “My Lord, my bones have grown feeble, and gray hair has spread across my head,[2] yet never have I been disappointed in my prayer to You, my Lord.

Translation notes: [2] Lit., "ignited." The spread of white hair across the head is likened to igniting of fire in the bush.

And I fear my kinsmen after me,[3] and my wife is barren; so grant me from Yourself an heir,

Translation notes: [3] i.e., my successors.

who will inherit [prophethood] from me and from the house of Jacob, and make him, O Lord, well pleasing to You.”

[Allah said], “O Zachariah, We give you the glad tidings of a son, whose name will be John – a name that We have not given to anyone before.”

He said, “My Lord, how can I have a son when my wife is barren, and I have reached an extremely old age?”

[The angel] said, “Thus it will be; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me; I did create you before when you were nothing.’”

Zachariah said, “My Lord, give me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not be able to speak to people for three nights,[4] despite being sound.”

Translation notes: [4] i.e., without being ill.

Thereupon he came out to his people from the sanctuary and signaled to them to glorify Allah morning and evening.

[Allah said], “O John, hold the Scripture with all your strength.” And We gave him wisdom when he was still a child,

as We made him compassionate and righteous, and he was fearing Allah,

and dutiful to his parents, and he was not an oppressor or disobedient.

Peace be on him the day he was born, the day he will die, and the day he will be raised up to life again!

And mention in the Book [the story of] Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place towards the east.

She screened herself from them, then We sent to her Our Spirit [Gabriel] and he appeared before her in the form of a perfect human being.

She said, “I seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you; [do not approach me] if you fear Allah.”

He said, “I am only a messenger from your Lord to grant you a righteous son.”

She said, “How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor have I ever been unchaste?”

He said, “Thus it will be; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me; We make him a sign for people and a mercy from Us. This matter has already been decreed.’”

So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place.[5]

Translation notes: [5] i.e., Bethlehem, around 6 miles (10 km) to the south of Jerusalem.

The pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, would that I had died before this and had been completely forgotten!”

Then he[6] called her from beneath her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided a stream beneath you.

Translation notes: [6] i.e., the archangel Gabriel or the baby.

Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards yourself; fresh ripe dates will drop upon you.

Eat and drink, and be glad. And if you see any human being, say, ‘I have vowed silence[7] to the Most Compassionate, so I will not talk to any human being today.’”

Translation notes: [7] Sawm: literally means to abstain or fast from food, speech, etc.

Then she came to her people carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have committed something monstrous!

O sister of Aaron,[8] your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”

Translation notes: [8] Aaron was a pious man at the time of Mary, or she was from the descendants of Aaron, Moses’ brother.

Thereupon she pointed to him. They said, “How can we talk to someone who is still a baby in the cradle?”

Jesus said, “I am a slave of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I am alive,

and has made me dutiful to my mother, and has not made me an oppressor or disobedient.

Peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I will die and the day I will be resurrected.”

Such was Jesus, son of Mary – a word of truth about which they are in doubt.

It is not befitting for Allah to beget a son. Glory be to Him[9]! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.

Translation notes: [9] i.e., far exalted is He above any such need.

[Jesus said], “Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path.”

But the factions differed among themselves[10] [about him]. So woe to the disbelievers from the scene of a momentous Day!

Translation notes: [10] Some believed that Jesus was God or the son of God, whereas those who truly followed him considered him only as Allah's messenger.

How sharp they will hear and see on the Day they come to Us! But today the wrongdoers are clearly misguided.

Warn them of the Day of Remorse when all matters will be decided, but they are heedless and they do not believe.

It is We Who will inherit the earth and all those who are on it, and to Us they will be returned.

And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. He was indeed a man of truth and a prophet.

When he said to his father, “O my dear father, why do you worship something that neither hears nor sees nor benefits you in any way?

O my dear father, there has come to me some knowledge that has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to a straight path.

O my dear father, do not worship Satan. Indeed, Satan is rebellious against the Most Compassionate.

O my dear father, I truly fear that a punishment from the Most Compassionate may afflict you and that you may become a companion of Satan [in Hell].”

He said, “Are you turning away from my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you. Keep away from me for a long time!”

Abraham said, “Peace be on you[11]. I will seek my Lord’s forgiveness for you. Indeed, He is Most Gracious to me.

Translation notes: [11] i.e., You are secure from me, so I will not harm you in the least.

I will distance myself from you and from all that you supplicate besides Allah, and I will supplicate my Lord; perhaps my supplication to my Lord will not go unanswered.”

When he distanced himself from them and what they worshiped besides Allah, We granted him Isaac and Jacob and made each one of them a prophet.

We bestowed upon them of Our mercy and blessed them with a highly-esteemed reputation[12].

Translation notes: [12] As part of the prayer, Muslims invoke Allah’s blessings upon Muhammad (ﷺ) and his family and Abraham (ﷺ) and his family, on a daily basis.

And mention in the Book [the story of] Moses. He was indeed a chosen one and was a messenger and a prophet[13].

Translation notes: [13] A messenger (rasūl) is one who was sent by Allah to reform society with a new law, such as Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, etc. A prophet (nabī) is one who is charged by Allah to reform society following the law of the messenger before him, such as Jacob, Isaac, Solomon, etc. Prophets are more numerous than messengers.

We called him from the right side of Mount Tūr [in Sinai] and We brought him near by conversing with him in private.

And We granted him, by Our mercy, his brother Aaron, as a prophet.

And mention in the Book [the story of] Ishmael. He was true to his promise and was a messenger and a prophet.

He used to command his people to pray and give zakah, and his Lord was well pleased with him.

And mention in the Book [the story of] Idrīs[14]. He was a man of truth and a prophet.

Translation notes: [14] i.e., Prophet Enoch (عليه السلام).

And We raised him to a high status[15].

Translation notes: [15] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) met Prophet Idrīs (ﷺ) in the fourth heaven.

These are the prophets whom Allah has favored from among the descendants of Adam, and from those whom We carried with Noah [in the Ark], and from the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and from those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the verses of the Most Compassionate were recited to them, they fell down in prostration, weeping.

But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and pursued their desires; so they will meet their doom[16],

Translation notes: [16] i.e., a valley in Hell or the consequence of their evil deeds.

except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds – it is they who will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in the least.

Gardens of Eternity which the Most Compassionate has promised His slaves who have not seen them. His promise will surely be fulfilled.

They will not hear therein any idle talk, except greetings of peace, and they will have their provision morning and evening[17].

Translation notes: [17] Whenever they wish in a successive manner, not that there will be days and nights, rather they will know the elapse of time through lights and illuminations.

Such is the Paradise which We will give as an inheritance to those of Our slaves who feared Allah.

[Gabriel said][18], “We do not descend except with the command of your Lord. To Him belongs all that is before us, all that is behind us, and all that is in between. Your Lord is never forgetful.

Translation notes: [18] In reply to the Prophet’s wish that Gabriel would visit him more frequently.

Lord of the heavens and earth and all that is between them. So worship Him and be constant in worshiping Him. Do you know anyone equal to Him?”

Man says, “Once I am dead, will I be raised to life again?”

Does man not remember that We created him beforehand when he was nothing?

By your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils, then We will surely bring them all around Hell on their knees[19].

Translation notes: [19] i.e., out of terror they will be on their knees or dragged unwillingly while on their knees.

Then We will surely drag out of every group those who were most rebellious against the Most Compassionate.

For indeed We know best those who are most deserving to burn therein.

There is none among you except that he will pass over it[20]; a decree from your Lord that must be fulfilled.

Translation notes: [20] Referring to the bridge of As-Sirāt, which is placed over Hell. Everyone will pass on it. The believers will cross it easily, each according to their faith, whereas the disbelievers and the hypocrites will fall into the Fire from the bridge.

Then We will save those who fear Allah and will leave the wrongdoers in it on their knees.

When Our verses are recited to them in all their clarity, the disbelievers say to the believers, “Which of the two parties is better in terms of dwellings and superior in social gatherings?”[21]

Translation notes: [21] In regard to the life of this world.

How many generations We have destroyed before them who were superior in terms of wealth and outward appearance!

Say, “Whoever is following misguidance, the Most Compassionate will give him respite, until they see what they were warned of – be it the punishment [in this world] or the Hour – only then will they realize who is in a worse abode and who has a smaller following.”

Allah increases in guidance those who are guided, and the righteous deeds of lasting merit are better with your Lord in reward and better in return.

Have you seen the one[22] who rejects Our verses and says, “I will surely be given wealth and children [if I am resurrected]?”

Translation notes: [22] Al-‘Ās ibn Wāi’l, a staunch enemy of Islam in Makkah, not only disbelieved in resurrection; rather, he expected that he would be given wealth and children if resurrected.

Has he obtained knowledge of the unseen, or has he taken a pledge with the Most Compassionate?

Never! We will write down what he says and will prolong his punishment extensively.

We will inherit what he boasts of[23], and he will come to Us all alone.

Translation notes: [23] He is falsely aspiring for wealth and children in the Hereafter, not only Allah will not give him anything in the Hereafter; rather, He will seize what he owned in the worldly life at the time of his death.

They have taken gods other than Allah, in order that they may protect them [from punishment].

Never! They will deny their worship and will become their enemies.

Do you not see that We sent devils against the disbelievers constantly inciting them to sin?

So do not be in haste about them; We are surely counting down their days[24].

Translation notes: [24] i.e., their breaths or evil deeds.

The Day when We will gather the righteous before the Most Compassionate as honored guests,

and We will drive the wicked to Hell like a thirsty herd.

None will have the power to intercede except those who have taken permission from the Most Compassionate[25].

Translation notes: [25] Through firmly believing in Him and worshiping Him alone.

They say, “The Most Compassionate has begotten a son.”

You have made a monstrous statement,

at which the heavens are about to be torn apart, the earth split asunder, and the mountains tumble down.

because they have ascribed to the Most Compassionate a son.

It is not appropriate for the Most Compassionate to beget a son.

There is none in the heavens and earth except that he will come to the Most Compassionate in full submission.

He has counted them and numbered them precisely.

Each one of them will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone.

Those who believe and do righteous deeds, the Most Compassionate will endear them [to His creation][26].

Translation notes: [26] And He will love them as well.

We have made this [Qur’an] easy in your language so that you may give thereby glad tidings to the righteous and warn people who are contentious.

How many generations We have destroyed before them! Do you sense a single one of them or even hear from them a whisper?