سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 50
وَجَعَلْنَا ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥٓ ءَايَةً وَءَاوَيْنَـٰهُمَآ إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ ﴿50﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We made the son of Maryam (Mary) and his mother as a sign, and We gave them refuge on high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَعَلْنَا
wajaʿalnā
And We made
ٱبْنَ
ib'na
(the) son
مَرْيَمَ
maryama
(of) Maryam
وَأُمَّهُۥٓ
wa-ummahu
and his mother
ءَايَةًۭ
āyatan
a Sign
وَءَاوَيْنَـٰهُمَآ
waāwaynāhumā
and We sheltered them
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
رَبْوَةٍۢ
rabwatin
a high ground
ذَاتِ
dhāti
of tranquility
قَرَارٍۢ
qarārin
of tranquility
وَمَعِينٍۢ
wamaʿīnin
and water springs
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.
And We made (Jesus) the son of Mary and his mother a sign [51], and gave them refuge on a high ground [52]—a place of comfort and security with a flowing spring.
Refutation of the Deniers of the Fatherless Birth of Isa (Jesus) ؑ:
Allah Almighty did not say that the son of Mary was also a sign and his mother was also a sign. Rather, He said that both of them together were made a single sign. And this is only possible if the birth of Isa (Jesus) is accepted as fatherless, and also that Mary ؑ became pregnant by the divine breath without being touched by any man.
The Literal Meaning of ﴿ربوة﴾ and Its Intended Reference:
﴿رَبوة﴾ refers to such land that is somewhat elevated above the general surface of the earth and its soil is loose and sandy. Such land absorbs water and swells up well. In Punjabi, such land is called "Meera Zameen." The characteristic of this land is that it is more lush and green compared to ordinary land and is also elevated. Now, regarding the identification of this "Rabwa," there is a difference among the commentators. Some say that it refers to the elevated place where Isa (Jesus) ؑ was born, and Allah Almighty caused a spring to flow there, and fresh dates began to fall from the trunk of a dry date palm by Allah's command. Others say that at that time, the tyrant Jewish king Herod became an enemy of Isa (Jesus) ؑ. Mary ؑ, for his protection, migrated towards Egypt by Allah's command and resided in a town on an elevated, spring-filled place called Ramla. Isa (Jesus) ؑ grew up there, and when Herod died, Mary ؑ brought him back to their homeland. Israelite traditions support this interpretation. And along with "Rabwa," "Zaat Qarar" refers to such a place where the necessities of life are available and a person faces no difficulty in residing there. The word "Mu'een" is for further emphasis, meaning running water, pure water, flowing spring, cool and sweet water—all are included. At the beginning of the twentieth century, in the district of Gurdaspur, India, in a town called Qadian, a person named Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed prophethood. He himself was buried there in Qadian, and his tomb was also built there. In 1947, when Pakistan was established, the followers of Mirza Sahib migrated from there to the district of Jhang in Pakistan. In the same way, they selected an elevated land for their headquarters and named it Rabwah. The caliphs and descendants of Mirza Sahib reside there.
The Claim of Mirza Qadiani to Be the Promised Messiah and the Identification of the Grave of Isa (Jesus) ؑ:
Mirza Sahib not only claimed prophethood but also claimed to be the Promised Messiah. He believed in the miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) ؑ but did not believe in the ascension of Isa (Jesus) ؑ, because if he had believed in it, it would have been difficult for him to become the Promised Messiah. His followers established a Rabwah in Jhang, but he declared Kashmir to be Rabwah. After declaring the natural death of Isa (Jesus) ؑ, he said that his grave is in Kashmir. In the locality of Khanyar in the capital of Kashmir, Srinagar, there is a grave famous as "Yuz Asaf." Among the public, it is well known that this is the grave of a prophet who was a prince and came here from another country. For Mirza Sahib's purpose, these baseless rumors were sufficient. Thus, he received a revelation that this grave is indeed that of Isa (Jesus) ؑ. Now, even if, according to his followers, his revelation is considered correct, the question arises that in this verse, not only Isa (Jesus) ؑ is mentioned but also his mother is mentioned. Therefore, the revelation should have been about two graves. But unfortunately, there is only one grave there. This exposes the reality of his prophethood and revelations.
Refutation of the Deniers of the Fatherless Birth of Isa (Jesus) ؑ:
Allah Almighty did not say that the son of Mary was also a sign and his mother was also a sign. Rather, He said that both of them together were made a single sign. And this is only possible if the birth of Isa (Jesus) is accepted as fatherless, and also that Mary ؑ became pregnant by the divine breath without being touched by any man.
The Literal Meaning of ﴿ربوة﴾ and Its Intended Reference:
﴿رَبوة﴾ refers to such land that is somewhat elevated above the general surface of the earth and its soil is loose and sandy. Such land absorbs water and swells up well. In Punjabi, such land is called "Meera Zameen." The characteristic of this land is that it is more lush and green compared to ordinary land and is also elevated. Now, regarding the identification of this "Rabwa," there is a difference among the commentators. Some say that it refers to the elevated place where Isa (Jesus) ؑ was born, and Allah Almighty caused a spring to flow there, and fresh dates began to fall from the trunk of a dry date palm by Allah's command. Others say that at that time, the tyrant Jewish king Herod became an enemy of Isa (Jesus) ؑ. Mary ؑ, for his protection, migrated towards Egypt by Allah's command and resided in a town on an elevated, spring-filled place called Ramla. Isa (Jesus) ؑ grew up there, and when Herod died, Mary ؑ brought him back to their homeland. Israelite traditions support this interpretation. And along with "Rabwa," "Zaat Qarar" refers to such a place where the necessities of life are available and a person faces no difficulty in residing there. The word "Mu'een" is for further emphasis, meaning running water, pure water, flowing spring, cool and sweet water—all are included. At the beginning of the twentieth century, in the district of Gurdaspur, India, in a town called Qadian, a person named Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed prophethood. He himself was buried there in Qadian, and his tomb was also built there. In 1947, when Pakistan was established, the followers of Mirza Sahib migrated from there to the district of Jhang in Pakistan. In the same way, they selected an elevated land for their headquarters and named it Rabwah. The caliphs and descendants of Mirza Sahib reside there.
The Claim of Mirza Qadiani to Be the Promised Messiah and the Identification of the Grave of Isa (Jesus) ؑ:
Mirza Sahib not only claimed prophethood but also claimed to be the Promised Messiah. He believed in the miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) ؑ but did not believe in the ascension of Isa (Jesus) ؑ, because if he had believed in it, it would have been difficult for him to become the Promised Messiah. His followers established a Rabwah in Jhang, but he declared Kashmir to be Rabwah. After declaring the natural death of Isa (Jesus) ؑ, he said that his grave is in Kashmir. In the locality of Khanyar in the capital of Kashmir, Srinagar, there is a grave famous as "Yuz Asaf." Among the public, it is well known that this is the grave of a prophet who was a prince and came here from another country. For Mirza Sahib's purpose, these baseless rumors were sufficient. Thus, he received a revelation that this grave is indeed that of Isa (Jesus) ؑ. Now, even if, according to his followers, his revelation is considered correct, the question arises that in this verse, not only Isa (Jesus) ؑ is mentioned but also his mother is mentioned. Therefore, the revelation should have been about two graves. But unfortunately, there is only one grave there. This exposes the reality of his prophethood and revelations.
