سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 8
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "My Lord! How can I have a son, when my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme old age."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
رَبِّ
rabbi
My Lord
أَنَّىٰ
annā
How
يَكُونُ
yakūnu
can
لِى
lī
I have
غُلَـٰمٌۭ
ghulāmun
a boy
وَكَانَتِ
wakānati
while is
ٱمْرَأَتِى
im'ra-atī
my wife
عَاقِرًۭا
ʿāqiran
barren
وَقَدْ
waqad
and indeed
بَلَغْتُ
balaghtu
I have reached
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْكِبَرِ
l-kibari
the old age
عِتِيًّۭا
ʿitiyyan
extreme
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 8){ قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوْنُ لِيْ غُلٰمٌ …:’’ عِتِيًّا ‘‘ ’’عَتَا يَعْتُوْ عِتِيًّا‘‘} To reach the extreme of old age. Dry wood is called {’’عَاتٍ‘‘ } and {’’عَاسٍ‘‘}, and whoever reaches the extreme of old age, corruption, or disbelief is called {’’عَاتٍ‘‘} (active participle from {عَتَا يَعْتُوْ}). (Tabari)
Here, the thought arises that he himself prayed, so what does it mean to ask how a boy will be for me? The answer to this is that Zakariya (peace be upon him) asked this question involuntarily, to gain further reassurance after hearing the glad tidings of a son, which was against the usual way. Besides this, this question could also be a form of expressing immense joy and astonishment. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "There was no astonishment in asking for something unique, but when he heard that he would receive it, then he was astonished." (Mawdih) Some commentators have written that this question was actually to find out whether the son would be from the same barren wife or from another wife, and what would become of his old age?
Here, the thought arises that he himself prayed, so what does it mean to ask how a boy will be for me? The answer to this is that Zakariya (peace be upon him) asked this question involuntarily, to gain further reassurance after hearing the glad tidings of a son, which was against the usual way. Besides this, this question could also be a form of expressing immense joy and astonishment. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "There was no astonishment in asking for something unique, but when he heard that he would receive it, then he was astonished." (Mawdih) Some commentators have written that this question was actually to find out whether the son would be from the same barren wife or from another wife, and what would become of his old age?
