سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 17
فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrîl (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَٱتَّخَذَتْ
fa-ittakhadhat
Then she took
مِن
min
from them
دُونِهِمْ
dūnihim
from them
حِجَابًۭا
ḥijāban
a screen
فَأَرْسَلْنَآ
fa-arsalnā
Then We sent
إِلَيْهَا
ilayhā
to her
رُوحَنَا
rūḥanā
Our Spirit
فَتَمَثَّلَ
fatamathala
then he assumed for her the likeness
لَهَا
lahā
then he assumed for her the likeness
بَشَرًۭا
basharan
(of) a man
سَوِيًّۭا
sawiyyan
well-proportioned
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
She screened herself away from them [17], so We sent to her Our Spirit [18] (the angel), who appeared before her as a well-proportioned man.
[17]
Lady Maryam’s Worship in the Chamber of Bayt al-Maqdis:
After the extraordinary birth of Sayyiduna Yahya ؑ, now begins the miraculous birth of Sayyiduna Isa ؑ without a father. Lady Maryam ؑ used to seclude herself in a chamber on the eastern side of Bayt al-Maqdis, engaging in the worship of Allah. Then, she even put up a curtain in that room so that she could remain completely isolated from others and devote herself with full concentration to remembrance and contemplation. Another interpretation is that when she reached adulthood and experienced menstruation, she felt great shame and at that time secluded herself from everyone. Then, in that seclusion, she performed the ritual bath for menstruation.
[18] Here, “spirit” refers to an angel. Sayyiduna Jibril ؑ appeared at that very place behind the curtain in the form of a young and handsome man, and when angels come in human form to prophets or chosen personalities, they usually appear in pleasant forms.
[17]
Lady Maryam’s Worship in the Chamber of Bayt al-Maqdis:
After the extraordinary birth of Sayyiduna Yahya ؑ, now begins the miraculous birth of Sayyiduna Isa ؑ without a father. Lady Maryam ؑ used to seclude herself in a chamber on the eastern side of Bayt al-Maqdis, engaging in the worship of Allah. Then, she even put up a curtain in that room so that she could remain completely isolated from others and devote herself with full concentration to remembrance and contemplation. Another interpretation is that when she reached adulthood and experienced menstruation, she felt great shame and at that time secluded herself from everyone. Then, in that seclusion, she performed the ritual bath for menstruation.
[18] Here, “spirit” refers to an angel. Sayyiduna Jibril ؑ appeared at that very place behind the curtain in the form of a young and handsome man, and when angels come in human form to prophets or chosen personalities, they usually appear in pleasant forms.
