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 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 39) ➊ {فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ … : } While he was praying in the place of worship, the angels gave him the glad tidings of a son named Yahya. It is understood from this that a child's name can be given even before birth.
➋ { بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ :} This is the title of ‘Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام. Although every person is created by Allah’s word “Kun” (Be), ‘Isa عليه السلام was given this title as an honor because he was born without a father, just as “Bayt Allah” (House of Allah), “Naqat Allah” (She-camel of Allah), although every mosque and every she-camel belongs to Allah. Yahya عليه السلام was older than ‘Isa عليه السلام, that is why he affirmed ‘Isa عليه السلام.
➌ “{حَصُوْرًا“} refers to a person who has complete control over his sexual desires. (Fath al-Bayan) Some people have interpreted it as someone who cannot approach a woman, but this is neither a virtue nor is it meant here.
➋ { بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ :} This is the title of ‘Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام. Although every person is created by Allah’s word “Kun” (Be), ‘Isa عليه السلام was given this title as an honor because he was born without a father, just as “Bayt Allah” (House of Allah), “Naqat Allah” (She-camel of Allah), although every mosque and every she-camel belongs to Allah. Yahya عليه السلام was older than ‘Isa عليه السلام, that is why he affirmed ‘Isa عليه السلام.
➌ “{حَصُوْرًا“} refers to a person who has complete control over his sexual desires. (Fath al-Bayan) Some people have interpreted it as someone who cannot approach a woman, but this is neither a virtue nor is it meant here.
