Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 25

(Ayah 26,25) ➊ {وَ هُزِّيْۤ اِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ … : ’’ قَرِّيْ عَيْنًا ‘‘} The famous grammarian Farra’ said that the Quraysh and the people around them say {’’ قَرَّ يَقَرُّ ‘‘} (with a fatha on the qaf), and Qays, Tamim, and the people of Najd say {’’قَرَّ يَقِرُّ‘‘ } (with a kasrah on the qaf). In the first case, {’’ قَرِّيْ ‘‘} will be with a fatha on the qaf, which is the well-known recitation; in the second case, it will be {’’قِرِّيْ‘‘} with a kasrah on the qaf, which is a rare recitation. The root is {’’ قُرَّةٌ وَ قُرُوْرٌ‘‘}, meaning to become cool. (Biqā‘ī) For loneliness, hunger, thirst, the pain of childbirth, the weakness after childbirth, and the fear of disgrace, Allah Almighty miraculously provided the best remedy for each. How much can a weak woman, who has just come out of the life-threatening stage of childbirth, move the trunk of a date palm? But it was said: shake it, and it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon you. Most commentators say that it was not the season for dates to bear fruit. It is possible that this was the case, because Maryam (peace be upon her) used to receive out-of-season provision in her room; for details, see Surah Al ‘Imran (37). But even if it is accepted that it was the season for dates, let a young and strong man try to shake the trunk of a date palm and see how many dates fall! All physicians agree that fresh, ripe dates are beneficial for the weakness after childbirth. For drinking, her Lord made a stream flow beneath her. For loneliness and distress, He granted her the comfort of her eyes, a beautiful and noble son, and above all, all of Allah’s favors were granted miraculously, contrary to the usual way. As for the reproach that was to come when she would go to her people, the remedy was given that if at any time you see any person, say to him by gesture that I have vowed a fast for the Most Merciful, so I will not speak to any human being in any way. The words “if at any time you see any human” indicate that she remained alone throughout this process.

➋ { اِنِّيْ نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ صَوْمًا :} Since it was not possible for those who reproached her for having a child without marriage to be satisfied by any kind of explanation, she was commanded to remain completely silent in response. This is the way of wise people in response to the ignorant. Allah Almighty said: «{ وَ اِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجٰهِلُوْنَ قَالُوْا سَلٰمًا }» [ الفرقان : ۶۳ ] “And when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace.” There is an Arabic saying: {’’أَذَلُّ النَّاسِ سَفِيْهٌ لَا يَجِدُ مُسَافِهًا‘‘} “The most humiliated fool is the one who finds no one to reciprocate his foolishness.”

➌ { فَلَنْ اُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ اِنْسِيًّا :} From this verse, it is understood that observing a fast of silence was permissible among the Children of Israel, but in our Shari‘ah it has been prohibited, and even making such a vow is forbidden. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: [ بَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَخْطُبُ إِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ فَسَأَلَ عَنْهٗ فَقَالُوْا أَبُوْ إِسْرَائِيْلَ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَّقُوْمَ وَلاَ يَقْعُدَ وَلاَ يَسْتَظِلَّ وَلَا يَتَكَلَّمَ وَيَصُوْمَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُرْهٗ فَلْيَتَكَلَّمْ وَلْيَسْتَظِلَّ وَلْيَقْعُدْ وَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهٗ ] [ بخاري، الأیمان والنذور، باب النذر فیما لا یملک و في معصیۃ : ۶۷۰۴ ] “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering a sermon when he saw a man standing. He asked about him, and the people said: This is Abu Isra’il; he has vowed to stand in the sun, not to seek shade, not to speak, and to fast. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Command him to sit down, to seek shade, to speak, and to complete his fast.’” In {’’ فَاِمَّا ‘‘}, {’’اِنْ‘‘ } is conditional and { ’’مَا‘‘ } is for emphasis, so the translation is “if ever.”

25. 1 Saribba: a small stream or water spring. That is, as a miracle and contrary to the laws of nature, Allah Almighty arranged for water to drink under the feet of Maryam and for ripe fresh dates to eat from a dried tree. The one who called out was Jibreel (Gabriel) عليه السلام, who called out from below the valley. It is also said that "Sariyy" means leader, and by this is meant Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, and he himself called out to Maryam from below.

The tafsir of this ayah is included with the following verse(s).