سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 44
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ ﴿44﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
This is a part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, i.e. the news of the past nations of which you have no knowledge) which We reveal to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam (Mary); nor were you with them when they disputed.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مِنْ
min
(is) from
أَنۢبَآءِ
anbāi
(the) news
ٱلْغَيْبِ
l-ghaybi
(of) the unseen
نُوحِيهِ
nūḥīhi
We reveal it
إِلَيْكَ ۚ
ilayka
to you
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كُنتَ
kunta
you were
لَدَيْهِمْ
ladayhim
with them
إِذْ
idh
when
يُلْقُونَ
yul'qūna
they cast
أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ
aqlāmahum
their pens
أَيُّهُمْ
ayyuhum
(as to) which of them
يَكْفُلُ
yakfulu
takes charge (of)
مَرْيَمَ
maryama
Maryam
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كُنتَ
kunta
you were
لَدَيْهِمْ
ladayhim
with them
إِذْ
idh
when
يَخْتَصِمُونَ
yakhtaṣimūna
they (were) disputing
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 44) ➊ {ذٰلِكَ مِنْ اَنْبَآءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوْحِيْهِ اِلَيْكَ …: } Five rulings are clearly established from this verse. The first is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know the unseen, otherwise there would have been no need to reveal these unseen reports to him. The second is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is not present and witnessing everywhere, otherwise Allah would not have said that you were not present with them at that time. The third is that the awliya and other prophets also do not know the unseen, otherwise the custodians of Bayt al-Maqdis and the prophet of the time, Zakariya (peace be upon him), would not have needed to cast lots. The fourth is that when there is one thing and several claimants to it, then deciding by casting lots is the decision of the Shariah. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has made a chapter in {’’كِتَابُ الشَّهَادَاتِ‘‘}: {’’ بَابُ الْقُرْعَةِ فِي الْمُشْكِلاَتِ ‘‘} "The explanation of casting lots in difficult matters," and has brought several hadiths in it. Some people have declared casting lots to be gambling; this is their mistake. Yes, if lots are cast for the purpose of deciding whether to do something or not, then this is not casting lots but drawing omens, which is forbidden. [ديكهيے سورهٔ مائده :۹۰]
The fifth is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), who was neither present at the time of this incident nor knew about it, his relating this incident through divine revelation is proof of his being a true Messenger.
➋ { اِذْ يُلْقُوْنَ اَقْلَامَهُمْ:} The need for this casting of lots arose because Maryam (peace be upon her) was the daughter of Imran, a very great scholar of the Children of Israel. When her mother dedicated her to the place of worship, there was a dispute among the custodians of the place of worship as to who would have the honor of her guardianship and supervision, so they cast lots, and the lot came out in favor of Zakariya (peace be upon him). (Ibn Kathir, Qurtubi)
The fifth is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), who was neither present at the time of this incident nor knew about it, his relating this incident through divine revelation is proof of his being a true Messenger.
➋ { اِذْ يُلْقُوْنَ اَقْلَامَهُمْ:} The need for this casting of lots arose because Maryam (peace be upon her) was the daughter of Imran, a very great scholar of the Children of Israel. When her mother dedicated her to the place of worship, there was a dispute among the custodians of the place of worship as to who would have the honor of her guardianship and supervision, so they cast lots, and the lot came out in favor of Zakariya (peace be upon him). (Ibn Kathir, Qurtubi)
