19: Mary (Maryam)
Revealed at Makkah
The name of this chapter is taken from the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. It begins with an account of the birth of John and of Jesus, the last representatives of prophecy in the house of Israel, and then refutes the doctrine of the Divine sonship of Jesus. It then mentions the missions of some earlier prophets, showing that only human beings are raised to reform the world. At the end the doctrine that Jesus is the son of God is again denounced. This chapter was revealed in the early period at Makkah, about or before the fifth year of the Holy Prophet’s mission.
Section 1 (Verses 19:1–19:15): Zacharias and John
The original Arabic consists of the letters kāf, hā, yā, ‘ain and ṣād. These stand for the words Kāf-in (Sufficient), Hād-in (Guide), Yamīn (Blessed), ‘Alīm (Knowing), and Ṣādiq (Truthful).
19:2
ذِکۡرُ رَحۡمَتِ رَبِّکَ عَبۡدَہٗ زَکَرِیَّا ۖ﴿ۚ۲﴾
A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zacharias —
19:4
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ وَہَنَ الۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّیۡ وَ اشۡتَعَلَ الرَّاۡسُ شَیۡبًا وَّ لَمۡ اَکُنۡۢ بِدُعَآئِکَ رَبِّ شَقِیًّا ﴿۴﴾
He said: My Lord, my bones are weakened, and my head flares with whiteness (of hair), and I have never been unsuccessful in my prayer to You, my Lord.
19:5
وَ اِنِّیۡ خِفۡتُ الۡمَوَالِیَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِیۡ وَ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا فَہَبۡ لِیۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡکَ وَلِیًّا ۙ﴿۵﴾
And I fear my kinsfolk after me, and my wife is barren, so grant me from Yourself an heir
19:6
یَّرِثُنِیۡ وَ یَرِثُ مِنۡ اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ٭ۖ وَ اجۡعَلۡہُ رَبِّ رَضِیًّا ﴿۶﴾
who should inherit me and inherit from the Children of Jacob, and make him, my Lord, acceptable (to You).
His fear was due to their not leading righteous lives, and he feared there would be none to lead people into the ways of righteousness after him. The inheritance of the Children of Jacob is the inheritance of the Divine blessing of prophethood, which had been promised to Jacob’s children.
19:7
یٰزَکَرِیَّاۤ اِنَّا نُبَشِّرُکَ بِغُلٰمِۣ اسۡمُہٗ یَحۡیٰی ۙ لَمۡ نَجۡعَلۡ لَّہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ سَمِیًّا ﴿۷﴾
O Zacharias, We give you good news of a boy, whose name is John: We have not made before anyone his equal.
It is not, of course, meant that one like John or equal to him was never before created in the world. According to the Gospels: “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew, 11:11). The meaning is that one like him was not born in Zacharias’ family, because in the previous verse it is his own relatives about whom Zacharias says that he feared, and therefore an assurance was now given to him that the promised son would not be like the other members of his family regarding whom he feared. Or the meaning may be that one like him had not appeared in that age.
19:8
قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰی یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا وَّ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ الۡکِبَرِ عِتِیًّا ﴿۸﴾
He said: My Lord, how shall I have a son, and my wife is barren, and I have reached extreme old age?
19:9
قَالَ کَذٰلِکَ ۚ قَالَ رَبُّکَ ہُوَ عَلَیَّ ہَیِّنٌ وَّ قَدۡ خَلَقۡتُکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ تَکُ شَیۡئًا ﴿۹﴾
He said: So (it will be). Your Lord says: It is easy to Me, and indeed I created you before, when you were nothing.
19:10
قَالَ رَبِّ اجۡعَلۡ لِّیۡۤ اٰیَۃً ؕ قَالَ اٰیَتُکَ اَلَّا تُکَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلٰثَ لَیَالٍ سَوِیًّا ﴿۱۰﴾
He said: My Lord, give me a sign. He said: Your sign is that you do not speak to people three nights, being in sound health.
In 3:41 the words are three days, thus showing that three days and three nights are meant. The Quran does not support the idea that Zacharias was struck dumb, because it speaks of him as being in sound health. The object of assuming silence was to be engaged solely in prayer to the Divine Being, and hence Zacharias told his people also to glorify God.
19:11
فَخَرَجَ عَلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ مِنَ الۡمِحۡرَابِ فَاَوۡحٰۤی اِلَیۡہِمۡ اَنۡ سَبِّحُوۡا بُکۡرَۃً وَّ عَشِیًّا ﴿۱۱﴾
So he went forth to his people from the sanctuary and proclaimed to them: Glorify (Allah) morning and evening.
19:12
یٰیَحۡیٰی خُذِ الۡکِتٰبَ بِقُوَّۃٍ ؕ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ الۡحُکۡمَ صَبِیًّا ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾
O John, take hold of the Book with strength. And We granted him wisdom when a child,
19:13
وَّ حَنَانًا مِّنۡ لَّدُنَّا وَ زَکٰوۃً ؕ وَ کَانَ تَقِیًّا ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾
and kind-heartedness from Us and purity. And he was dutiful,
19:14
وَّ بَرًّۢا بِوَالِدَیۡہِ وَ لَمۡ یَکُنۡ جَبَّارًا عَصِیًّا ﴿۱۴﴾
and kindly to his parents, and he was not insolent, disobedient.
The various aspects of the character of John deserve to be noted. He was pure and sinless and never disobeyed God. In fact, what is said of one prophet is equally true of all. They are all pure from birth, and never disobey God.
19:15
وَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡہِ یَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَ یَوۡمَ یَمُوۡتُ وَ یَوۡمَ یُبۡعَثُ حَیًّا ﴿٪۱۵﴾
And peace on him the day he was born and the day he died, and the day he is raised to life!
Section 2 (Verses 19:16–19:40): Mary and Jesus
19:16
وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ مَرۡیَمَ ۘ اِذِ انۡتَبَذَتۡ مِنۡ اَہۡلِہَا مَکَانًا شَرۡقِیًّا ﴿ۙ۱۶﴾
And mention Mary in the Book. When she drew aside from her family to an eastern place;
19:17
فَاتَّخَذَتۡ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمۡ حِجَابًا ۪۟ فَاَرۡسَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہَا رُوۡحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَہَا بَشَرًا سَوِیًّا ﴿۱۷﴾
so she screened herself from them. Then We sent to her Our spirit and it appeared to her as a well-made man.
It was in a vision that the spirit came, and the conversation that follows also took place in a vision. The word tamaththala (“it appeared”) lends support to this, for it signifies assuming the likeness of another thing, and this happens only in a vision. Further, the spirit or angel of God appears to His chosen ones only in a vision.
19:18
قَالَتۡ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعُوۡذُ بِالرَّحۡمٰنِ مِنۡکَ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ تَقِیًّا ﴿۱۸﴾
She said: I seek refuge from you in the Beneficent, if you are one guarding against evil.
19:19
قَالَ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا رَسُوۡلُ رَبِّکِ ٭ۖ لِاَہَبَ لَکِ غُلٰمًا زَکِیًّا ﴿۱۹﴾
He said: I am only bearer of a message of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy.
The words I will give you a pure boy are the words of the message. The Spirit only conveyed the Divine message. Every word of the Quran is the word of God, but every word was delivered to the Holy Prophet by the angel.
19:20
قَالَتۡ اَنّٰی یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّ لَمۡ یَمۡسَسۡنِیۡ بَشَرٌ وَّ لَمۡ اَکُ بَغِیًّا ﴿۲۰﴾
She said: How can I have a son and man has not yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste?
19:21
قَالَ کَذٰلِکِ ۚ قَالَ رَبُّکِ ہُوَ عَلَیَّ ہَیِّنٌ ۚ وَ لِنَجۡعَلَہٗۤ اٰیَۃً لِّلنَّاسِ وَ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنَّا ۚ وَ کَانَ اَمۡرًا مَّقۡضِیًّا ﴿۲۱﴾
He said: So (it will be). Your Lord says: It is easy to Me; and that We may make him a sign to people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter decreed.
Jesus was a sign to people, in the sense that he was made a prophet, and every prophet is a sign, because the Divine revelation granted to him affords a clear proof of the existence of the Divine Being. Or, he was a sign to the Israelites in particular, because with him prophethood came to an end among the Israelites.
19:22
فَحَمَلَتۡہُ فَانۡتَبَذَتۡ بِہٖ مَکَانًا قَصِیًّا ﴿۲۲﴾
Then she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a remote place.
19:23
فَاَجَآءَہَا الۡمَخَاضُ اِلٰی جِذۡعِ النَّخۡلَۃِ ۚ قَالَتۡ یٰلَیۡتَنِیۡ مِتُّ قَبۡلَ ہٰذَا وَ کُنۡتُ نَسۡیًا مَّنۡسِیًّا ﴿۲۳﴾
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She said: Oh, I wish I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten!
This shows that Mary gave birth to Jesus while on a journey; hence the reference to water and food in v. 24 and 25, such as one can only find in a journey. That she was going to a distant place is shown by v. 22. She may have had recourse to the trunk of a palm-tree to find a support in the throes of childbirth.
19:24
فَنَادٰىہَا مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَاۤ اَلَّا تَحۡزَنِیۡ قَدۡ جَعَلَ رَبُّکِ تَحۡتَکِ سَرِیًّا ﴿۲۴﴾
So a voice came to her from beneath her: Do not grieve, surely your Lord has provided a stream beneath you.
19:25
وَ ہُزِّیۡۤ اِلَیۡکِ بِجِذۡعِ النَّخۡلَۃِ تُسٰقِطۡ عَلَیۡکِ رُطَبًا جَنِیًّا ﴿۫۲۵﴾
And shake towards you the trunk of the palm-tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates.
The Quran does not accept that Jesus was born on 25th December. It was the time when fresh ripe dates are found on palm-trees. It is now a recognized fact that 25th December was not Jesus’ birthday. According to the birth account in Luke 2:8, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night in the fields, which shows that it was not winter. The 25th of December was taken from the birthday of the Persian sun-god Mithra.
19:26
فَکُلِیۡ وَ اشۡرَبِیۡ وَ قَرِّیۡ عَیۡنًا ۚ فَاِمَّا تَرَیِنَّ مِنَ الۡبَشَرِ اَحَدًا ۙ فَقُوۡلِیۡۤ اِنِّیۡ نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ صَوۡمًا فَلَنۡ اُکَلِّمَ الۡیَوۡمَ اِنۡسِیًّا ﴿ۚ۲۶﴾
So eat and drink and be comforted. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent, so I will not speak to anyone today.
It was really a kind of fast. Zacharias, as we have already seen, was told not to speak to people for three days.
19:27
فَاَتَتۡ بِہٖ قَوۡمَہَا تَحۡمِلُہٗ ؕ قَالُوۡا یٰمَرۡیَمُ لَقَدۡ جِئۡتِ شَیۡئًا فَرِیًّا ﴿۲۷﴾
Then she came to her people with him, carrying him. They said: Mary, you have indeed brought a strange thing!
The conversation in v. 27–33 is alone sufficient to make it clear that this incident relates to a time when Jesus had grown up sufficiently to have been appointed a prophet and to have received Divine revelation. The Quran does not relate stories in all their details, and often omits a number of incidents which are not needed for its purpose. For instance, v. 11 relates only Zacharias’ receiving the joyful news of a son, while v. 12 asks that son to take hold of the Book with strength. Jesus could only say that he was made a prophet when he was actually entrusted with the mission of a prophet, and not before. Moreover, it is unreasonable to suppose that, as soon as Mary gave birth to the child, she took it to her people to make a show of it. The word carrying does not show that she was carrying him in her arms; it means that he was being carried on an animal. Compare 9:92, where some of the companions are spoken of as coming to the Prophet that he might carry them, and he is related as replying that he did not have that on which to carry them, i.e. animals. Compare Matthew 21:1–7 where the story is related of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding an ass, or an ass and a colt.
19:28
یٰۤاُخۡتَ ہٰرُوۡنَ مَا کَانَ اَبُوۡکِ امۡرَ اَ سَوۡءٍ وَّ مَا کَانَتۡ اُمُّکِ بَغِیًّا ﴿ۖۚ۲۸﴾
Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!
The fact that Mary was devoted to the Temple from the age of three to twelve years shows that she belonged to the priestly class, being of the Levitical race. Hence she is called sister of Aaron. The word ukht, meaning sister, is by no means limited to the close blood-relationship.
19:29
فَاَشَارَتۡ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ قَالُوۡا کَیۡفَ نُکَلِّمُ مَنۡ کَانَ فِی الۡمَہۡدِ صَبِیًّا ﴿۲۹﴾
But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who is a child in the cradle?
Old and learned Jews would no doubt speak of a young man who was born and brought up before their eyes as a child in the cradle, as if disdaining to address one so young.
19:30
قَالَ اِنِّیۡ عَبۡدُ اللّٰہِ ۟ؕ اٰتٰنِیَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَ جَعَلَنِیۡ نَبِیًّا ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
He said: I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet,
19:31
وَّ جَعَلَنِیۡ مُبٰرَکًا اَیۡنَ مَا کُنۡتُ ۪ وَ اَوۡصٰنِیۡ بِالصَّلٰوۃِ وَ الزَّکٰوۃِ مَا دُمۡتُ حَیًّا ﴿۪ۖ۳۱﴾
and He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and the due charity so long as I live,
It is clear that this conversation did not take place when Jesus was an infant in the cradle, but when he had actually been made a prophet. It is absurd to suppose that prayers and charity were enjoined on Jesus while he was only a day old and that he really observed these injunctions at that age. Jesus’ answer clearly shows that he was addressing his people after he had been entrusted with the mission of prophethood.
19:32
وَّ بَرًّۢا بِوَالِدَتِیۡ ۫ وَ لَمۡ یَجۡعَلۡنِیۡ جَبَّارًا شَقِیًّا ﴿۳۲﴾
and to be kind to my mother; and He has not made me insolent, unblessed.
Here only the mother is spoken of, whereas in a similar case in v. 14 John is spoken of as being kind to both parents. This may be due to the fact that Joseph may not have been living at the time when Jesus spoke these words. Joseph was already an old man when he married Mary, and by the time that the ministry of Jesus begins we find no mention of him even in the Gospels, the mother and brothers being the only relations mentioned. Or, the mother alone is mentioned because the Gospels relate an incident showing that Jesus was rude to his mother (Matthew, 12:48), and this verse disproves the statement, it being one of the objects of the Quran to clear Jesus of all false charges.
19:33
وَ السَّلٰمُ عَلَیَّ یَوۡمَ وُلِدۡتُّ وَ یَوۡمَ اَمُوۡتُ وَ یَوۡمَ اُبۡعَثُ حَیًّا ﴿۳۳﴾
And peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised to life.
19:34
ذٰلِکَ عِیۡسَی ابۡنُ مَرۡیَمَ ۚ قَوۡلَ الۡحَقِّ الَّذِیۡ فِیۡہِ یَمۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
Such is Jesus, son of Mary — a statement of truth about which they dispute.
19:35
مَا کَانَ لِلّٰہِ اَنۡ یَّتَّخِذَ مِنۡ وَّلَدٍ ۙ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ ؕ اِذَا قَضٰۤی اَمۡرًا فَاِنَّمَا یَقُوۡلُ لَہٗ کُنۡ فَیَکُوۡنُ ﴿ؕ۳۵﴾
It does not befit Allah that He should take to Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a matter He only says to it, Be, and it is.
19:36
وَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ رَبِّیۡ وَ رَبُّکُمۡ فَاعۡبُدُوۡہُ ؕ ہٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۶﴾
And surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This is the right path.
According to Matthew, when Jesus was tempted of the devil, who asked him to worship him, Jesus’ reply was: “For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew, 4:10).
19:37
فَاخۡتَلَفَ الۡاَحۡزَابُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِہِمۡ ۚ فَوَیۡلٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ مَّشۡہَدِ یَوۡمٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۳۷﴾
But factions from among them differed; so woe to those who disbelieve, because of their presence on a grievous day!
19:38
اَسۡمِعۡ بِہِمۡ وَ اَبۡصِرۡ ۙ یَوۡمَ یَاۡتُوۡنَنَا لٰکِنِ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ الۡیَوۡمَ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۳۸﴾
How clearly will they hear and see on the day when they come to Us; but the wrongdoers are today in manifest error.
19:39
وَ اَنۡذِرۡہُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡحَسۡرَۃِ اِذۡ قُضِیَ الۡاَمۡرُ ۘ وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡ غَفۡلَۃٍ وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
And warn them of the day of Regret, when the matter is decided. And they are (now) in negligence and they do not believe.
The day of Judgment is here called the day of Regret, because man will then regret that he wasted the opportunity given to him to work for his own good.
19:40
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَرِثُ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَنۡ عَلَیۡہَا وَ اِلَیۡنَا یُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۰﴾
Surely We inherit the earth and those on it, and to Us they are returned.
Section 3 (Verses 19:41–19:50): Abraham
19:41
وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ ۬ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ صِدِّیۡقًا نَّبِیًّا ﴿۴۱﴾
And mention Abraham in the Book. Surely he was a truthful man, a prophet.
19:42
اِذۡ قَالَ لِاَبِیۡہِ یٰۤاَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا یَسۡمَعُ وَ لَا یُبۡصِرُ وَ لَا یُغۡنِیۡ عَنۡکَ شَیۡئًا ﴿۴۲﴾
When he said to his sire: My sire, why do you worship something which does not hear, nor see, nor can it avail you at all?
19:43
یٰۤاَبَتِ اِنِّیۡ قَدۡ جَآءَنِیۡ مِنَ الۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ یَاۡتِکَ فَاتَّبِعۡنِیۡۤ اَہۡدِکَ صِرَاطًا سَوِیًّا ﴿۴۳﴾
My sire, to me indeed has come the knowledge which has not come to you; so follow me, I will guide you on a right path.
19:44
یٰۤاَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ الشَّیۡطٰنَ ؕ اِنَّ الشَّیۡطٰنَ کَانَ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ عَصِیًّا ﴿۴۴﴾
My sire, do not serve the devil. Surely the devil is disobedient to the Beneficent.
19:45
یٰۤاَبَتِ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ یَّمَسَّکَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ فَتَکُوۡنَ لِلشَّیۡطٰنِ وَلِیًّا ﴿۴۵﴾
My sire, surely I fear that a punishment from the Beneficent may afflict you, so that you become a friend of the devil.
19:46
قَالَ اَرَاغِبٌ اَنۡتَ عَنۡ اٰلِہَتِیۡ یٰۤـاِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ ۚ لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ تَنۡتَہِ لَاَرۡجُمَنَّکَ وَ اہۡجُرۡنِیۡ مَلِیًّا ﴿۴۶﴾
He said: Do you dislike my gods, Abraham? If you do not stop, I will certainly drive you away. And leave me for a time.
19:47
قَالَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡکَ ۚ سَاَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَکَ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ بِیۡ حَفِیًّا ﴿۴۷﴾
He said: Peace be on you! I shall pray my Lord to forgive you. Surely He is ever Kind to me.
19:48
وَ اَعۡتَزِلُکُمۡ وَ مَا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ اَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّیۡ ۫ۖ عَسٰۤی اَلَّاۤ اَکُوۡنَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّیۡ شَقِیًّا ﴿۴۸﴾
And I withdraw from you and what you call on besides Allah, and I call upon my Lord. Maybe I shall not remain unblessed in calling upon my Lord.
19:49
فَلَمَّا اعۡتَزَلَہُمۡ وَ مَا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۙ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ؕ وَ کُلًّا جَعَلۡنَا نَبِیًّا ﴿۴۹﴾
So when he withdrew from them and what they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Isaac and Jacob. And each (of them) We made a prophet.
It is elsewhere made clear that Jacob was his grandson (11:71, 21:72). Nor should it be supposed that giving signifies only the giving of a son, for of Moses it is said in v. 53, We gave him his brother Aaron, a prophet, though Aaron was older than Moses.
19:50
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّحۡمَتِنَا وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَہُمۡ لِسَانَ صِدۡقٍ عَلِیًّا ﴿٪۵۰﴾
And We gave them of Our mercy, and We granted them a truthful mention of eminence.
However humble a life a prophet may lead, he is granted an eminence among later generations, and the record of eminence of a prophet is a truthful one.
Section 4 (Verses 19:51–19:65): Other Prophets are Raised
19:51
وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ مُوۡسٰۤی ۫ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ مُخۡلَصًا وَّ کَانَ رَسُوۡلًا نَّبِیًّا ﴿۵۱﴾
And mention Moses in the Book. Surely he was one purified, and was a messenger, a prophet.
Rasūl, or messenger, means one who is sent with a message for the regeneration of people, while nabī, or prophet, is one who has the gift of prophecy, i.e., who receives a naba’ or information from on high. The elect who are chosen for the regeneration of man are called prophets as receiving knowledge from Allah, and messengers as delivering to humanity the messages they receive.
19:52
وَ نَادَیۡنٰہُ مِنۡ جَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ الۡاَیۡمَنِ وَ قَرَّبۡنٰہُ نَجِیًّا ﴿۵۲﴾
And We called to him from the blessed side of the mountain, and We made him draw near to Us in communion.
19:53
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَتِنَاۤ اَخَاہُ ہٰرُوۡنَ نَبِیًّا ﴿۵۳﴾
And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron, a prophet.
19:54
وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ اِسۡمٰعِیۡلَ ۫ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ صَادِقَ الۡوَعۡدِ وَ کَانَ رَسُوۡلًا نَّبِیًّا ﴿ۚ۵۴﴾
And mention Ishmael in the Book. Surely he was truthful in promise, and he was a messenger, a prophet.
When Abraham prayed to the Lord “that Ishmael might live before You”, the reply was: “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you” (Genesis, 17:18, 20), which shows that Ishmael was made a prophet. See also 2:124–125, footnotes.
19:55
وَ کَانَ یَاۡمُرُ اَہۡلَہٗ بِالصَّلٰوۃِ وَ الزَّکٰوۃِ ۪ وَ کَانَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہٖ مَرۡضِیًّا ﴿۵۵﴾
And he enjoined on his people prayer and charity, and was one in whom his Lord was well pleased.
19:56
وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ اِدۡرِیۡسَ ۫ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ صِدِّیۡقًا نَّبِیًّا ﴿٭ۙ۵۶﴾
And mention Idrīs in the Book. Surely he was a truthful man, a prophet,
Idrīs is the same as Enoch of the Bible. The word raf‘, which is used of Jesus, is also used of Enoch, and some commentators therefore misinterpret it as indicating that Enoch was taken up to heaven alive. But the same mistake is made in both cases, for raf‘ signifies raising to high dignity; see 3:55 footnote 2. The mistake seems to have arisen from what is said of Enoch in the Bible: “And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis, 5:24).
19:58
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ مِنۡ ذُرِّیَّۃِ اٰدَمَ ٭ وَ مِمَّنۡ حَمَلۡنَا مَعَ نُوۡحٍ ۫ وَّ مِنۡ ذُرِّیَّۃِ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ ۫ وَ مِمَّنۡ ہَدَیۡنَا وَ اجۡتَبَیۡنَا ؕ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُ الرَّحۡمٰنِ خَرُّوۡا سُجَّدًا وَّ بُکِیًّا ﴿ٛ۵۸﴾
These are they on whom Allah bestowed favours, from among the prophets, of the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried with Noah, and of the offspring of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the messages of the Beneficent were recited to them, they fell down in submission, weeping.
19:59
فَخَلَفَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ خَلۡفٌ اَضَاعُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اتَّبَعُوا الشَّہَوٰتِ فَسَوۡفَ یَلۡقَوۡنَ غَیًّا ﴿ۙ۵۹﴾
But after them came an evil generation, who wasted prayers and followed lusts, so they will meet with ruin,
19:60
اِلَّا مَنۡ تَابَ وَ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَاُولٰٓئِکَ یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ الۡجَنَّۃَ وَ لَا یُظۡلَمُوۡنَ شَیۡئًا ﴿ۙ۶۰﴾
except those who repent and believe and do good — such will enter the Garden, and they will not be wronged in the least:
19:61
جَنّٰتِ عَدۡنِۣ الَّتِیۡ وَعَدَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ عِبَادَہٗ بِالۡغَیۡبِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ وَعۡدُہٗ مَاۡتِیًّا ﴿۶۱﴾
Gardens of perpetuity which the Beneficent has promised to His servants, in the Unseen. Surely His promise ever comes to pass.
19:62
لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا لَغۡوًا اِلَّا سَلٰمًا ؕ وَ لَہُمۡ رِزۡقُہُمۡ فِیۡہَا بُکۡرَۃً وَّ عَشِیًّا ﴿۶۲﴾
They will hear therein no vain discourse, but only, Peace! And they have their sustenance therein, morning and evening.
This description of the Hereafter shows that the Muslim in this world talks of nothing but peace. Islam is really peace, and it is by making peace here with the Creator and His creatures that one can find peace hereafter. This is the great truth underlying the Islamic idea of paradise. The state of perfect peace spoken of here is called the Garden in v. 63 which the righteous will inherit.
19:63
تِلۡکَ الۡجَنَّۃُ الَّتِیۡ نُوۡرِثُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا مَنۡ کَانَ تَقِیًّا ﴿۶۳﴾
This is the Garden which We cause those of Our servants to inherit who keep their duty.
19:64
وَ مَا نَتَنَزَّلُ اِلَّا بِاَمۡرِ رَبِّکَ ۚ لَہٗ مَا بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡنَا وَ مَا خَلۡفَنَا وَ مَا بَیۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ۚ وَ مَا کَانَ رَبُّکَ نَسِیًّا ﴿ۚ۶۴﴾
And we do not descend but by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us and what is between these, and your Lord is never forgetful.
As the angels brought revelation to previous prophets (indicated in the words we do not descend), so they now bring revelation, by the command of the Lord, to the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The words, your Lord is never forgetful, signify that the promises and prophecies made by God through His prophets could not be forgotten. Thus, after an account of the previous prophets, the subject moves to the revelation of the Holy Prophet for the remainder of the chapter.
19:65
رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا فَاعۡبُدۡہُ وَ اصۡطَبِرۡ لِعِبَادَتِہٖ ؕ ہَلۡ تَعۡلَمُ لَہٗ سَمِیًّا ﴿٪۶۵﴾
Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, so serve Him and be patient in His service. Do you know anyone equal to Him?
Section 5 (Verses 19:66–19:82): How the Opponents were Dealt With
19:66
وَ یَقُوۡلُ الۡاِنۡسَانُ ءَ اِذَا مَا مِتُّ لَسَوۡفَ اُخۡرَجُ حَیًّا ﴿۶۶﴾
And says man: When I am dead, shall I truly be brought forth alive?
19:67
اَوَ لَا یَذۡکُرُ الۡاِنۡسَانُ اَنَّا خَلَقۡنٰہُ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ یَکُ شَیۡئًا ﴿۶۷﴾
Does not man remember that We created him before, when he was nothing?
19:68
فَوَ رَبِّکَ لَنَحۡشُرَنَّہُمۡ وَ الشَّیٰطِیۡنَ ثُمَّ لَنُحۡضِرَنَّہُمۡ حَوۡلَ جَہَنَّمَ جِثِیًّا ﴿ۚ۶۸﴾
So by your Lord! We shall certainly gather them together and the devils, then shall We bring them around hell on their knees.
The devils here are clearly those humans who lead others to evil.
19:69
ثُمَّ لَنَنۡزِعَنَّ مِنۡ کُلِّ شِیۡعَۃٍ اَیُّہُمۡ اَشَدُّ عَلَی الرَّحۡمٰنِ عِتِیًّا ﴿ۚ۶۹﴾
Then We shall draw forth from every group those most rebellious against the Beneficent.
19:70
ثُمَّ لَنَحۡنُ اَعۡلَمُ بِالَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ اَوۡلٰی بِہَا صِلِیًّا ﴿۷۰﴾
Again, We certainly know best those who deserve most to be burned in it.
19:71
وَ اِنۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ اِلَّا وَارِدُہَا ۚ کَانَ عَلٰی رَبِّکَ حَتۡمًا مَّقۡضِیًّا ﴿ۚ۷۱﴾
And there is not one of you but shall come to it. This is an unavoidable decree of your Lord.
The wicked only are spoken of, as the context shows clearly. That the righteous will not go to hell is made clear further on: “The day when We gather the dutiful to the Beneficent to receive honours, and drive the guilty to hell, as thirsty beasts” (v. 85–86). According to 21:102, the righteous will not hear the faintest sound of hell.
19:72
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّی الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا وَّ نَذَرُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا جِثِیًّا ﴿۷۲﴾
And We shall deliver those who guard against evil, and leave the wrongdoers in it on their knees.
The word thumma, the first word of this verse, frequently means and, besides its meaning of then. It is wrong to suppose that the righteous will be first cast into hell and then delivered.
19:73
وَ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا ۙ اَیُّ الۡفَرِیۡقَیۡنِ خَیۡرٌ مَّقَامًا وَّ اَحۡسَنُ نَدِیًّا ﴿۷۳﴾
And when Our clear messages are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Which of the two groups is better in position and better assembled?
That is, they are proud of their great wealth and numerous forces.
19:74
وَ کَمۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا قَبۡلَہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡنٍ ہُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ اَثَاثًا وَّ رِءۡیًا ﴿۷۴﴾
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who had better possessions and appearance!
19:75
قُلۡ مَنۡ کَانَ فِی الضَّلٰلَۃِ فَلۡیَمۡدُدۡ لَہُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ مَدًّا ۬ۚ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا رَاَوۡا مَا یُوۡعَدُوۡنَ اِمَّا الۡعَذَابَ وَ اِمَّا السَّاعَۃَ ؕ فَسَیَعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَنۡ ہُوَ شَرٌّ مَّکَانًا وَّ اَضۡعَفُ جُنۡدًا ﴿۷۵﴾
Say: As for him who is in error, the Beneficent will prolong his length of days; until they see what they were threatened with, either the punishment or the Hour. Then they will know who is worse in position and weaker in forces.
The Hour signifies the hour of doom, when their power will be utterly destroyed. In comparison with this is the lighter “punishment”.
19:76
وَ یَزِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ اہۡتَدَوۡا ہُدًی ؕ وَ الۡبٰقِیٰتُ الصّٰلِحٰتُ خَیۡرٌ عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ ثَوَابًا وَّ خَیۡرٌ مَّرَدًّا ﴿۷۶﴾
And Allah increases in guidance those who go aright. And the ever-abiding, the good works, are better with your Lord in reward and yield better return.
19:77
اَفَرَءَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡ کَفَرَ بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ قَالَ لَاُوۡتَیَنَّ مَالًا وَّ وَلَدًا ﴿ؕ۷۷﴾
Have you seen him who disbelieves in Our messages and says: I shall certainly be given wealth and children?
They have no eye for the higher values of life; all they want is wealth and children or followers.
19:78
اَطَّلَعَ الۡغَیۡبَ اَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِنۡدَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ عَہۡدًا ﴿ۙ۷۸﴾
Has he gained knowledge of the unseen, or received a promise from the Beneficent?
19:79
کَلَّا ؕ سَنَکۡتُبُ مَا یَقُوۡلُ وَ نَمُدُّ لَہٗ مِنَ الۡعَذَابِ مَدًّا ﴿ۙ۷۹﴾
By no means! We write down what he says, and We shall lengthen to him the length of the punishment,
19:80
وَّ نَرِثُہٗ مَا یَقُوۡلُ وَ یَاۡتِیۡنَا فَرۡدًا ﴿۸۰﴾
and We shall inherit from him what he says, and he will come to Us alone.
The reference is to his saying in v. 77: “I shall certainly be given wealth and children”. God’s inheriting thus means that their wealth and children will be taken away from them and ultimately be a source of strength to Islam.
19:81
وَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اٰلِہَۃً لِّیَکُوۡنُوۡا لَہُمۡ عِزًّا ﴿ۙ۸۱﴾
And they have taken gods besides Allah, that they should be to them a source of strength —
19:82
کَلَّا ؕ سَیَکۡفُرُوۡنَ بِعِبَادَتِہِمۡ وَ یَکُوۡنُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ضِدًّا ﴿٪۸۲﴾
By no means! They will soon deny their worshipping them, and be their adversaries.
Section 6 (Verses 19:83–19:98): False Doctrine of Sonship
19:83
اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّـاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا الشَّیٰطِیۡنَ عَلَی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ تَؤُزُّہُمۡ اَزًّا ﴿ۙ۸۳﴾
Do you not see that We send the devils against the disbelievers, inciting them provokingly?
19:84
فَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَہُمۡ عَدًّا ﴿ۚ۸۴﴾
So make no haste against them. We only number out to them a number (of days).
19:85
یَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ اِلَی الرَّحۡمٰنِ وَفۡدًا ﴿ۙ۸۵﴾
The day when We gather the dutiful to the Beneficent to receive honours,
19:86
وَّ نَسُوۡقُ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ اِلٰی جَہَنَّمَ وِرۡدًا ﴿ۘ۸۶﴾
and drive the guilty to hell, as thirsty beasts.
19:87
لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ الشَّفَاعَۃَ اِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِنۡدَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ عَہۡدًا ﴿ۘ۸۷﴾
They have no power of intercession, except him who has made a covenant with the Beneficent.
19:88
وَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَلَدًا ﴿ؕ۸۸﴾
And they say: The Beneficent has taken to Himself a son.
19:90
تَکَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ یَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡہُ وَ تَنۡشَقُّ الۡاَرۡضُ وَ تَخِرُّ الۡجِبَالُ ہَدًّا ﴿ۙ۹۰﴾
The heavens may almost be torn apart at it, and the earth split, and the mountains crumble down in pieces,
19:92
وَ مَا یَنۡۢبَغِیۡ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ اَنۡ یَّتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا ﴿ؕ۹۲﴾
And it is not worthy of the Beneficent that He should take to Himself a son.
Verses 89–93 contain a most emphatic and clear condemnation of the Christian doctrine of the Godhead of Jesus Christ. As this chapter belongs to about the fifth year of the Holy Prophet’s mission, it shows that Islam had set before itself from the very first the grand object of the reformation of Christianity. The particular point on which stress is laid in this chapter, as against the fundamental errors of the Christian religion, Sonship and Atonement, is that God is Raḥmān (Beneficent), and does not require any compensation to forgive sinners. It is for this reason that the name Raḥmān, in preference to all other names of the Divine Being, is mentioned over and over again in this chapter, and the key to the whole position is contained in v. 92 in the words: It is not worthy of the Beneficent that He should take to Himself a son. In fact, the doctrine of Atonement is contradicted by Christ’s own words in the Lord’s prayer: “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew, 6:12). A man is said to forgive his debtor when he remits the debt and does not exact any compensation. Even thus does God forgive sinners; He needs no compensation.
19:93
اِنۡ کُلُّ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّاۤ اٰتِی الرَّحۡمٰنِ عَبۡدًا ﴿ؕ۹۳﴾
There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes to the Beneficent as a servant.
19:94
لَقَدۡ اَحۡصٰہُمۡ وَ عَدَّہُمۡ عَدًّا ﴿ؕ۹۴﴾
Certainly He comprehends them, and has numbered them all.
19:95
وَ کُلُّہُمۡ اٰتِیۡہِ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ فَرۡدًا ﴿۹۵﴾
And everyone of them will come to Him on the day of Resurrection, alone.
19:96
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ سَیَجۡعَلُ لَہُمُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وُدًّا ﴿۹۶﴾
Those who believe and do good deeds, for them the Beneficent will surely bring about love.
Allah’s bringing about love for the righteous means that He loves them Himself and inspires love for them in the hearts of other people, while they also love Allah as well as their fellow-beings. The righteous servants of God are opposed at first, but gradually their goodness prevails and they are loved and admired. There is a prophetic reference here to the great love with which the hearts of the enemies of the Prophet were to be inspired in the near future, and even today the hearts of people are being inspired with greater and greater love for him as the world witnesses the good which he did to humanity.
19:97
فَاِنَّمَا یَسَّرۡنٰہُ بِلِسَانِکَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِہِ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ وَ تُنۡذِرَ بِہٖ قَوۡمًا لُّدًّا ﴿۹۷﴾
So We have made it easy in your tongue, only that you should give good news by it to those who guard against evil, and should warn by it a contentious people.
19:98
وَ کَمۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا قَبۡلَہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡنٍ ؕ ہَلۡ تُحِسُّ مِنۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ اَحَدٍ اَوۡ تَسۡمَعُ لَہُمۡ رِکۡزًا ﴿٪۹۸﴾
And how many a generation before them have We destroyed! Can you see anyone of them or hear a sound of them?