إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ عِمْرَٰنَ رَبِّ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِى بَطْنِى مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 35
Translations
[Mention, O Muḥammad], when the wife of ʿImrān said, "My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing."
Transliteration
Idh qalat imra'atu 'Imrana Rabbi inni nadhartu laka ma fi batni muharraran fataqabbal minni innaka anta al-Samee'u al-'Aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the prayer of Maryam's mother (the wife of 'Imran) as she vowed to dedicate her unborn child to the service of Allah's House, seeking His acceptance. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this vow was made during pregnancy, and she sought to offer her child for religious devotion. The response to this vow is mentioned in the next ayah (3:36), where Allah accepted her supplication, though the child born was a daughter (Maryam) rather than the son she may have anticipated.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran's narrative about the birth and virtues of Maryam (Mary), the mother of 'Isa (Jesus), establishing her honored status in Islam. The context begins the story of how Maryam came to be dedicated to the service of Allah's House in Jerusalem, setting the foundation for understanding her exceptional position as the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran.
Related Hadiths
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The best of women is Maryam bint 'Imran, and the best of women [among his ummah] is Khadijah.' (Sahih Bukhari 3769). Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned that Maryam was one of the four best women: 'The best of the women of the world are: Maryam bint 'Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh.' (Tirmidhi 3843)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the power of sincere intention and earnest supplication to Allah, demonstrating how parents can dedicate their children to righteous purposes while trusting in Allah's wisdom and acceptance. It reminds us that our plans may differ from God's plans, yet His wisdom supersedes our expectations—as evidenced by Allah sending a blessed daughter instead of the anticipated son.
Related Ayahs
فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allāh upon the liars [among us]."
ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
That is for what your hands have put forth and because Allāh is not ever unjust to [His] servants."
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
إِنَّ أَوْلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـٰذَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allāh] and this prophet [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] and those who believe [in his message]. And Allāh is the Ally of the believers.