سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 12
يَـٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(It was said to his son): "O Yahyâ (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah)]." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰيَحْيَىٰ
yāyaḥyā
O Yahya
خُذِ
khudhi
Hold
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Scripture
بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ
biquwwatin
with strength
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ
waātaynāhu
And We gave him
ٱلْحُكْمَ
l-ḥuk'ma
[the] wisdom
صَبِيًّۭا
ṣabiyyan
(when he was) a child
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 12){ يٰيَحْيٰى خُذِ الْكِتٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ … :} Allah Almighty left out many things before this that are self-evident. In short, Yahya (peace be upon him) was born, became somewhat sensible, so to prepare him as the successor of his father, Allah Almighty commanded him: O Yahya! Hold the Torah with strength, meaning memorize it, understand its meanings and implications, act upon it, and enforce its commands with full strength upon yourself and the entire nation. For this purpose, Allah Almighty granted him the ability to judge even in childhood, and he, in his youth, became the inheritor of his father's knowledge and virtue, the leadership of Bani Israel, and the legacy of revelation and prophethood, and began teaching the Torah and making decisions for Bani Israel with full strength. The father was weak and he was young, so he began teaching people the knowledge of the Book in place of his father. If someone says how this can happen in childhood, the answer is that the entire matter of prophethood is extraordinary, that is, against the usual routine, habit, and custom of the world, so one should not be surprised at this extraordinary event either.
