سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 29
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا ﴿29﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَشَارَتْ
fa-ashārat
Then she pointed
إِلَيْهِ ۖ
ilayhi
to him
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
كَيْفَ
kayfa
How
نُكَلِّمُ
nukallimu
(can) we speak
مَن
man
(to one) who
كَانَ
kāna
is
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْمَهْدِ
l-mahdi
the cradle
صَبِيًّۭا
ṣabiyyan
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 29){فَاَشَارَتْ اِلَيْهِ قَالُوْا كَيْفَ … :} Due to the vow of silence, Maryam (peace be upon her) indicated towards Isa (peace be upon him) for the testimony of her chastity, telling them to ask him. They all said, how can we speak to one who is still a child in the cradle? Here, {’’ كَانَ ‘‘} is in the meaning of continuity (perpetuity) up to the present time. This verse is proof that in the coming verses, the conversation of Isa (peace be upon him) is the conversation at the time of the cradle. Some deniers of miracles have considered it to be the conversation of Isa (peace be upon him) in his youth, but these verses and the verse (46) of Surah Aal-e-Imran are clear evidence of Isa (peace be upon him) speaking in the cradle. Besides, in an authentic hadith, there is mention of three children speaking in the cradle, one of whom is Isa (peace be upon him). [ بخاري، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب : « و اذکر فی الکتاب مریم…» : ۳۴۳۶، عن أبي ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
