Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 73

(Ayah 73) ➊ {قَالُوْۤا اَتَعْجَبِيْنَ مِنْ اَمْرِ اللّٰهِ: } means that He can create without parents as well, so what difficulty is there for Him to grant a child to an old woman? When nothing is impossible before Allah’s command, then why be surprised? Furthermore, the miracles of Allah’s mercy and blessing that have been manifest in this house from the beginning, such as the fire becoming a garden, Isma'il (peace be upon him) being saved from slaughter, the chastity of Sarah (peace be upon her) being protected from the tyrant of Egypt, etc.—after these, one should not be surprised at any impossible thing happening by Allah’s command.

➋ Before {رَحْمَتُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكٰتُهٗ عَلَيْكُمْ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ:’’ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ‘‘}, the vocative particle {’’ يَا ‘‘} is implied, so it is in the accusative case, meaning “O people of the house!” Previously, {’’ سَلٰمًا ‘‘} was said, now with {’’ رَحْمَتُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكٰتُهٗ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘} it is completed; no words beyond this are established. At that time, the angels’ addressee was only Sarah (peace be upon her) alone; among the words the angels used for them, two are especially noteworthy: first, that a single woman was addressed with the plural masculine present form { ’’ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘}, even though she was feminine. Second, she was addressed as {’’ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ‘‘}. It is understood from this that a man’s Ahl al-Bayt (household) is his wife. Secondly, when saying peace and mercy and blessing, women are also addressed with the masculine form. This verse is decisive that in Surah Al-Ahzab, Ayah: «{ اِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ يُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيْرًا }» [ الأحزاب : ۳۳ ] “Allah only wishes to remove impurity from you, O people of the house, and to purify you thoroughly.” In this verse, while mentioning Ahl al-Bayt, both before and after, the mention is of the noble wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so here in this verse as well, in { ’’ عَنْكُمُ ‘‘}, {’’ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ‘‘}, and {’’ يُطَهِّرَكُمْ ‘‘}, in all three, the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) are meant. Those who deny this are denying a clear and established reality, and the only reason for this is nothing but malice and enmity towards the beloved noble wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); and whoever harbors malice towards the beloveds of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), how can he benefit from the love of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?

73. 1. This is an interrogative for the purpose of denial. That is, how can you express astonishment at Allah’s decree and destiny, when nothing is difficult for Him? Nor is He dependent on ordinary means; whatever He wills comes into existence by His word "Kun" (Be).
73. 2. Here, the angels addressed the honorable wife of Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) as "Ahl al-Bayt" and also used the masculine plural address (عَلَیْکُمْ) for them. From this, it is established that the use of the masculine plural form for "Ahl al-Bayt" is also permissible. As in Surah Al-Ahzab, 33, Allah Almighty has also called the pure wives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ "Ahl al-Bayt" and addressed them with the masculine plural form.

73. They said, "Do you marvel at Allah's command? O people of the house (of Prophethood), may Allah's mercy and blessings [84] be upon you. Surely, He is Praiseworthy, Glorious."

[84] The angels said, "Are you surprised at Allah's command while being the wife of a prophet? Allah is capable of doing whatever He wills, and upon the household of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ, Allah's mercies and blessings have always been descending and will continue to descend, among which is the birth of the child Ishaq who is to come."