سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 42
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿42﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
قَالَتِ
qālati
said
ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ
l-malāikatu
the Angels
يَـٰمَرْيَمُ
yāmaryamu
O Maryam
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ
iṣ'ṭafāki
(has) chosen you
وَطَهَّرَكِ
waṭahharaki
and purified you
وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ
wa-iṣ'ṭafāki
and chosen you
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
نِسَآءِ
nisāi
(the) women
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
(of) the worlds
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 42) ➊ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰىكِ …: } In this verse, Allah’s mention of choosing Maryam (peace be upon her) occurs twice. It may be for emphasis, or the first choosing may refer to Allah granting Maryam (peace be upon her) acceptance in her childhood, as mentioned in verse: «فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُوْلٍ حَسَنٍ », and the second choosing may refer to Allah selecting her for the birth of Isa (peace be upon him) and granting her special distinction.
➋ { عَلٰى نِسَآءِ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ:} “Women of all the worlds” refers only to the women of that era, because in the hadiths, similar words are mentioned regarding the virtues of Khadijah, Fatimah, and Aishah (may Allah be pleased with them) as for Maryam (peace be upon her). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Many men have attained perfection, but among women only Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam bint Imran attained perfection. And Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) has superiority over women as Tharid has superiority over other foods.” [بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : « و ضرب اللہ مثلاً… » : ۳۴۱۱، عن أبی موسیٰ الأشعری رضی اللہ عنہ ] Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among all the women of the worlds, Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, are sufficient for you.” [ترمذی، المناقب، باب فضل خدیجۃ : ۳۸۷۸ ]
➋ { عَلٰى نِسَآءِ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ:} “Women of all the worlds” refers only to the women of that era, because in the hadiths, similar words are mentioned regarding the virtues of Khadijah, Fatimah, and Aishah (may Allah be pleased with them) as for Maryam (peace be upon her). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Many men have attained perfection, but among women only Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam bint Imran attained perfection. And Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) has superiority over women as Tharid has superiority over other foods.” [بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : « و ضرب اللہ مثلاً… » : ۳۴۱۱، عن أبی موسیٰ الأشعری رضی اللہ عنہ ] Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among all the women of the worlds, Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, are sufficient for you.” [ترمذی، المناقب، باب فضل خدیجۃ : ۳۸۷۸ ]
