Surah Al Imran ayat 39 Tafsir Quran 3:39

﴿فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 39]

3:39 So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous."

And the angels namely Gabriel called to him standing in the sanctuary in the temple at worship that anna means bi-anna; a variant reading has inna implying a direct speech statement ‘God gives you good tidings read yubashshiruka or yubshiruka of John who shall confirm a Word being from God namely Jesus that he is God’s Spirit; he is referred to as God’s ‘Word’ because he was created through the word kun ‘Be’; a lord with a following and one chaste forbidden from women and a prophet of the righteous’ it is said that he never sinned and never so intended.

His prayer was met with quite an unexpected and most favourable divine response. The angels addressed him while he was at his devotions, performing his prayer in the Temple. O Zakariya, they said, Here we relate to you a divine edict. Allah intimates to you the announcement of a happy event; the arrival of a male child to be called Yahya (John). His birth shall verify that a word from Allah is all that it takes for anything material or immaterial to be and to have a place in the realm of fact. He will be a son who shall be great and illustrious, spiritually attached to Allah and a virtuous Prophet whose deeds are imprinted with wisdom and piety

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own.
By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair.
His wife was an old women who was barren.
Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret, رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ( O my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka, ) from You, ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( A good offspring ) meaning, a righteous offspring, إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَآءِ ( You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation. ) Allah said, فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى الْمِحْرَابِ ( Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, ) meaning, the angels spoke to him directly while he was secluded, standing in prayer at his place of worship.
Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Zakariyya, أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَـى ( Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, ) of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya.
Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya ( literally, `he lives' ) because Allah filled his life with faith. Allah said next, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) means, "Believing in `Isa, son of Maryam." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Allah's statement, وَسَيِّدًا ( And Sayyidan ) means, a wise man.
Ibn `Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, "The noble, wise and pious man." Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih.
`Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety.
`Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man.
Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah. Allah's statement, وَحَصُورًا ( And Hasuran ) does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations.
This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them, for Zakariyya said in his supplication for the benefit of Yahya, هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( Grant me from You, a good offspring ), meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement, وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( A Prophet, from among the righteous ) delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be born.
This good news was even better than the news of Yahya's birth.
In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa, إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَـعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ( Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers. ) 28:7 When Zakariyya heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age.
He said, قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ ( "O my Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old, and my wife is barren" (He ) said...) meaning the angel said, كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ( "Thus Allah does what He wills." ) meaning, this is Allah's matter, He is so Mighty that nothing escapes His power, nor is anything beyond His ability. قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً ( He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me" ) meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come, قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا ( (Allah ) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals.") meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute.
In another Ayah, Allah said, ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً ( For three nights, though having no bodily defect. ) 19:10 Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition, وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ ( And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him ) in the afternoon and in the morning.
) We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam ( chapter 19 ), Allah willing.

(3:39) As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: 'Allah gives you good tidings of John (Yahya), *38 who shall confirm a command of Allah , *39 shall be outstanding among men, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.'

So the angels called him while he meaning

*38).
In the Bible his name is mentioned as John the Baptist.
For information about him see Matthew 3, 9 and 14: Mark 1 and 6; Luke 1 and 3.

*39).
The 'command from Allah' signifies Jesus ( peace be on him ).
His birth took place as the result of an extraordinary command from God and in an unusual manner, hence he is designated as 'the command' or 'word' from Allah.

 

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own.
By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair.
His wife was an old women who was barren.
Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret, رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ( O my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka, ) from You, ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( A good offspring ) meaning, a righteous offspring, إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَآءِ ( You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation. ) Allah said, فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى الْمِحْرَابِ ( Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, ) meaning, the angels spoke to him directly while he was secluded, standing in prayer at his place of worship.
Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Zakariyya, أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَـى ( Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, ) of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya.
Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya ( literally, `he lives' ) because Allah filled his life with faith. Allah said next, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) means, "Believing in `Isa, son of Maryam." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Allah's statement, وَسَيِّدًا ( And Sayyidan ) means, a wise man.
Ibn `Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, "The noble, wise and pious man." Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih.
`Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety.
`Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man.
Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah. Allah's statement, وَحَصُورًا ( And Hasuran ) does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations.
This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them, for Zakariyya said in his supplication for the benefit of Yahya, هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( Grant me from You, a good offspring ), meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement, وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( A Prophet, from among the righteous ) delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be born.
This good news was even better than the news of Yahya's birth.
In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa, إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَـعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ( Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers. ) 28:7 When Zakariyya heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age.
He said, قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ ( "O my Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old, and my wife is barren" (He ) said...) meaning the angel said, كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ( "Thus Allah does what He wills." ) meaning, this is Allah's matter, He is so Mighty that nothing escapes His power, nor is anything beyond His ability. قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً ( He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me" ) meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come, قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا ( (Allah ) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals.") meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute.
In another Ayah, Allah said, ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً ( For three nights, though having no bodily defect. ) 19:10 Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition, وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ ( And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him ) in the afternoon and in the morning.
) We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam ( chapter 19 ), Allah willing.

( And the angels ) i.e. the Angel Gabriel ( called to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary ) in the mosque: ( Allah giveth thee glad tidings of John ) a son whose name is John, ( (who cometh ) to confirm a Word from Allah) Jesus son of Mary that he will be a word from Allah, created without a father, ( lordly ) who is clement when wronged, ( chaste ) has no desire for women, ( a Prophet of the righteous ) among the messengers.

Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a private room), (saying): "Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya (John), confirming (believing in) the Word from Allah [i.e. the creation of 'Iesa (Jesus), the Word from Allah ("Be!" - and he was!)], noble, keeping away from sexual relations with women, a Prophet, from among the righteous."

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