سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 39
فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room), (saying): "Allâh gives you glad tidings of Yahya (John), confirming (believing in) the word from Allâh [i.e. the creation of ‘Îsâ (Jesus) عليه السلام, the Word from Allâh ("Be!" - and he was!)], noble, keeping away from sexual relations with women, a Prophet, from among the righteous."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَنَادَتْهُ
fanādathu
Then called him
ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ
l-malāikatu
the Angels
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
when he
قَآئِمٌۭ
qāimun
(was) standing
يُصَلِّى
yuṣallī
praying
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْمِحْرَابِ
l-miḥ'rābi
the prayer chamber
أَنَّ
anna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يُبَشِّرُكَ
yubashiruka
gives you glad tidings
بِيَحْيَىٰ
biyaḥyā
of Yahya
مُصَدِّقًۢا
muṣaddiqan
confirming
بِكَلِمَةٍۢ
bikalimatin
[of] a Word
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَسَيِّدًۭا
wasayyidan
and a noble
وَحَصُورًۭا
waḥaṣūran
and chaste
وَنَبِيًّۭا
wanabiyyan
and a Prophet
مِّنَ
mina
among
ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
l-ṣāliḥīna
the righteous
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
39. 1. Upon seeing out-of-season fruits, the desire arose in the heart of Hazrat Zakariya (علیہ السلام) (despite old age and his wife being barren) that perhaps Allah Almighty would also bless him with offspring in the same way. Thus, involuntarily, his hands were raised in supplication to the Divine Court, which Allah Almighty honored with acceptance.
39. 2. The confirmation of Allah's word refers to the confirmation of Hazrat Isa (علیہ السلام), meaning Hazrat Yahya (علیہ السلام) was older than Hazrat Isa (علیہ السلام); both were maternal cousins and both supported each other. The meaning of حصوراً is pure from sins, i.e., did not even go near sins. Some have interpreted it as impotent, but this is not correct because it is a defect, whereas here their mention is in the context of praise and virtue.
39. 2. The confirmation of Allah's word refers to the confirmation of Hazrat Isa (علیہ السلام), meaning Hazrat Yahya (علیہ السلام) was older than Hazrat Isa (علیہ السلام); both were maternal cousins and both supported each other. The meaning of حصوراً is pure from sins, i.e., did not even go near sins. Some have interpreted it as impotent, but this is not correct because it is a defect, whereas here their mention is in the context of praise and virtue.
