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
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِى لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ
Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] calling to faith, [saying], 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die among the righteous.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ
Those to whom people [i.e., hypocrites] said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allāh, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
O you who have believed, if you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back on your heels, and you will [then] become losers.