ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ 44
Translations
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
Transliteration
Dhālika min anbāʾi al-ghaybi nūḥīhi ilayka wa-mā kunta ladayhim idh yulqūna aqlāmahum ayyuhum yakfulu maryama wa-mā kunta ladayhim idh yakhtaṣimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the detailed account of Maryam's (Mary's) upbringing by Zakariyyah—including the casting of lots to determine who would be her guardian—is knowledge of the unseen (ghayb) that Allah reveals to the Prophet Muhammad, something he could not have witnessed himself. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse serves as evidence for the Prophet's truthfulness, as he reports events he was not present for, demonstrating the divine source of the Quran.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ali 'Imran's detailed narrative about Maryam and her son 'Isa (Jesus). It contextually follows the account of the lottery among the scholars of Israel to determine guardianship of Maryam. The verse serves as a parenthetical statement affirming the divine origin of this historical narrative, reinforcing that such knowledge comes only through revelation.
Related Hadiths
The general theme of reporting unseen matters is related to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet describes the punishment of the grave and other unseen realities, establishing that such knowledge comes through revelation. Additionally, hadiths about the virtue of Maryam and her status, such as those in Sahih Muslim regarding her excellence among women, relate thematically.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the Quranic narratives, particularly those about events the Prophet did not witness, are authenticated through divine revelation, strengthening faith in his message. It also humbles us to recognize the limits of human knowledge and our dependence on Allah's guidance for understanding unseen matters.
Related Ayahs
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا۟ لِمَآ أَصَابَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا۟ وَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And how many a prophet [fought in battle and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allāh, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allāh loves the steadfast.
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.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
قُلْ إِن تُخْفُوا۟ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ أَوْ تُبْدُوهُ يَعْلَمْهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allāh knows it. And He knows that which is in the heavens and that which is on the earth. And Allāh is over all things competent.