Surah Al Imran ayat 44 Tafsir Quran 3:44

﴿ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَامَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 44]

3:44 That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.

That which has been mentioned of the matter of Zachariah and Mary is of the tidings of the Unseen of the news of what was unknown to you. We reveal it to you O Muhammad (s) for you were not with them when they were casting quills in the water drawing their lots so that it be manifested to them which of them should have charge of which of them should bring up Mary; nor were you with them when they were disputing about the custodianship of Mary such that you might have known it and related it; but truly you know it only through revelation.

This narrative which we relate to you, O Muhammad, represents some of the true events you did not know nor did you comprehend by sight. You were not present at their meeting when they cast lots using their quills and arrows to see which of them would be the foster father to Maryam. Nor were you present when they quarrelled about the point in question

The Virtue of Maryam Over the Women of Her Time Allah states that the angels spoke to Maryam by His command and told her that He chose her because of her service to Him, because of her modesty, honor, innocence, and conviction.
Allah also chose her because of her virtue over the women of the world.
At-Tirmidhi recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say,
«خَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَخَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِد»
( The best woman (in her time ) was Maryam, daughter of `Imran, and the best woman ( of the Prophet's time ) is Khadijah ( his wife ), daughter of Khuwaylid.)" The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْن»
( Many men achieved perfection, but among women, only Maryam the daughter of `Imran and Asiah, the wife of Fir`awn, achieved perfection. ) The Six -- with the exception of Abu Dawud - recorded it.
Al-Bukhari's wording for it reads,
«كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ، وَمَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلى سَائِرِ الطَّعَام»
( Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Asiah, the wife of Fir`awn, and Maryam, the daughter of `Imran.
The superiority of `A'ishah (his wife ) to other women, is like the superiority of Tharid ( meat and bread dish ) to other meals.) We mentioned the various chains of narration and wordings for this Hadith in the story of `Isa, son of Maryam, in our book, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, all the thanks are due to Allah. Allah states that the angels commanded Maryam to increase acts of worship, humbleness, submission, prostration, bowing, and so forth, so that she would acquire what Allah had decreed for her, as a test for her.
Yet, this test also earned her a higher grade in this life and the Hereafter, for Allah demonstrated His might by creating a son inside her without male intervention.
Allah said, يمَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِى وَارْكَعِى مَعَ الرَكِعِينَ ( "O Maryam! Submit yourself with obedience (Aqnuti ) and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with Ar-Raki`in.") As for Qunut ( Aqnuti in the Ayah ), it means to submit with humbleness.
In another Ayah, Allah said, بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَـنِتُونَ ( Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience (Qanitun ) to Him.) 2:116 Allah next said to His Messenger after He mentioned Maryam's story, ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَآءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ( This is a part of the news of the Ghayb which We reveal. ) "and narrate to you ( O Muhammad ), " وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُون أَقْلَـمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ ( You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam; nor were you with them when they disputed. ) meaning, "You were not present, O Muhammad, when this occurred, so you cannot narrate what happened to the people as an eye witness.
Rather, Allah disclosed these facts to you as if you were a witness, when they conducted a lottery to choose the custodian of Maryam, seeking the reward of this good deed." Ibn Jarir recorded that `Ikrimah said, "Maryam's mother left with Maryam, carrying her in her infant cloth, and took her to the rabbis from the offspring of Aaron, the brother of Musa.
They were responsible for taking care of Bayt Al-Maqdis ( the Masjid ) at that time, just as there were those who took care of the Ka`bah.
Maryam's mother said to them, `Take this child whom I vowed to serve the Masjid, I have set her free, since she is my daughter, for no menstruating woman should enter the Masjid, and I shall not take her back home.' They said, `She is the daughter of our Imam,' as `Imran used to lead them in prayer, `who took care of our sacrificial rituals.' Zakariyya said, `Give her to me, for her maternal aunt is my wife.' They said, `Our hearts cannot bear that you take her, for she is the daughter of our Imam.' So they conducted a lottery with the pens with which they wrote the Tawrah, and Zakariyya won the lottery and took Maryam into his care."'.
`Ikrimah, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, and several others said that the rabbis went into the Jordan river and conducted a lottery there, deciding to throw their pens into the river.
The pen that remained afloat and idle would indicate that its owner would take care of Maryam.
When they threw their pens into the river, the water took all the pens under, except Zakariyya's pen, which remained afloat in its place.
Zakariyya was also their master, chief, scholar, Imam and Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him and the rest of the Prophets.

(3:44) (O Muhammad!) We reveal to you this account from a realm which lies beyond the reach of your perception for you were not with them when they drew lots with their pens about who should be Mary's guardian, *43 and you were not with them when they disputed about it.

That is from the news of the meaning

*43).
They drew lots to decide who should be the guardian of Mary, whose mother had consecrated her to the service of God in the Temple.
Since she was a girl, it was a delicate matter as to who from among the priests of the Temple would be the appropriate person to take care of her.

 

The Virtue of Maryam Over the Women of Her Time Allah states that the angels spoke to Maryam by His command and told her that He chose her because of her service to Him, because of her modesty, honor, innocence, and conviction.
Allah also chose her because of her virtue over the women of the world.
At-Tirmidhi recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «خَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَخَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِد» ( The best woman (in her time ) was Maryam, daughter of `Imran, and the best woman ( of the Prophet's time ) is Khadijah ( his wife ), daughter of Khuwaylid.)" The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْن» ( Many men achieved perfection, but among women, only Maryam the daughter of `Imran and Asiah, the wife of Fir`awn, achieved perfection. ) The Six -- with the exception of Abu Dawud - recorded it.
Al-Bukhari's wording for it reads, «كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ، وَمَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ، وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلى سَائِرِ الطَّعَام» ( Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Asiah, the wife of Fir`awn, and Maryam, the daughter of `Imran.
The superiority of `A'ishah (his wife ) to other women, is like the superiority of Tharid ( meat and bread dish ) to other meals.) We mentioned the various chains of narration and wordings for this Hadith in the story of `Isa, son of Maryam, in our book, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, all the thanks are due to Allah. Allah states that the angels commanded Maryam to increase acts of worship, humbleness, submission, prostration, bowing, and so forth, so that she would acquire what Allah had decreed for her, as a test for her.
Yet, this test also earned her a higher grade in this life and the Hereafter, for Allah demonstrated His might by creating a son inside her without male intervention.
Allah said, يمَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِى وَارْكَعِى مَعَ الرَكِعِينَ ( "O Maryam! Submit yourself with obedience (Aqnuti ) and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with Ar-Raki`in.") As for Qunut ( Aqnuti in the Ayah ), it means to submit with humbleness.
In another Ayah, Allah said, بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَـنِتُونَ ( Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience (Qanitun ) to Him.) 2:116 Allah next said to His Messenger after He mentioned Maryam's story, ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَآءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ( This is a part of the news of the Ghayb which We reveal. ) "and narrate to you ( O Muhammad ), " وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُون أَقْلَـمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ ( You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam; nor were you with them when they disputed. ) meaning, "You were not present, O Muhammad, when this occurred, so you cannot narrate what happened to the people as an eye witness.
Rather, Allah disclosed these facts to you as if you were a witness, when they conducted a lottery to choose the custodian of Maryam, seeking the reward of this good deed." Ibn Jarir recorded that `Ikrimah said, "Maryam's mother left with Maryam, carrying her in her infant cloth, and took her to the rabbis from the offspring of Aaron, the brother of Musa.
They were responsible for taking care of Bayt Al-Maqdis ( the Masjid ) at that time, just as there were those who took care of the Ka`bah.
Maryam's mother said to them, `Take this child whom I vowed to serve the Masjid, I have set her free, since she is my daughter, for no menstruating woman should enter the Masjid, and I shall not take her back home.' They said, `She is the daughter of our Imam,' as `Imran used to lead them in prayer, `who took care of our sacrificial rituals.' Zakariyya said, `Give her to me, for her maternal aunt is my wife.' They said, `Our hearts cannot bear that you take her, for she is the daughter of our Imam.' So they conducted a lottery with the pens with which they wrote the Tawrah, and Zakariyya won the lottery and took Maryam into his care."'.
`Ikrimah, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, and several others said that the rabbis went into the Jordan river and conducted a lottery there, deciding to throw their pens into the river.
The pen that remained afloat and idle would indicate that its owner would take care of Maryam.
When they threw their pens into the river, the water took all the pens under, except Zakariyya's pen, which remained afloat in its place.
Zakariyya was also their master, chief, scholar, Imam and Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him and the rest of the Prophets.

( This ) which I mentioned of the story of Mary and Zachariah ( is of the tidings of things hidden ) of the things that were unknown to you, O Muhammad. ( We reveal it unto thee (Muhammad )) He says: We send Gabriel with it to you. ( Thou wast not present with them ) with the Rabbis ( when they threw their pens ) in the flow of water ( (to know ) which of them should be the guardian of Mary) to train her, ( nor wast thou present with them when they quarrelled (thereupon )) each giving argument for his better claim to be Mary’s guardian.

This is a part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, i.e. the news of the past nations of which you have no knowledge) which We inspire you with (O Muhammad SAW). You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam (Mary); nor were you with them when they disputed.

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