إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ 45
Translations
[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].
Transliteration
Idh qaalat al-mala'ikatu ya Maryamu inna Allaha yubashshiruki bikalimatin minhu ismuhu al-Masih 'Isa ibnu Maryam wajihan fi ad-dunya wa-al-akhirah wa-mina al-muqarrabin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the angel's announcement to Mary of the miraculous birth of Jesus ('Isa), describing him as 'a Word from Allah' (Kalimah minhu), emphasizing his divine origin and unique status. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that Jesus is called 'the Messiah' and will be honored and respected (wajihan) in both this world and the Hereafter, while maintaining that he is a servant and messenger of Allah, not divine. The phrase 'from the drawn near' (min al-muqarrabin) indicates his elevated rank among the angels and the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Mary (Surah Ali 'Imran, verses 35-47), which was revealed in Medina. It provides the Quranic account of the Annunciation, affirming the virgin birth of Jesus while clarifying his nature as a created being sent by Allah. The context addresses theological misconceptions about Jesus prevalent among some Christian communities of 7th century Arabia.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim (2286) where the Prophet Muhammad said Jesus will descend and judge by the law of Islam. Also relevant: The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3445) regarding Jesus being a sign and messenger of Allah, not divine.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize and respect the special status of prophets as honored servants of Allah while maintaining strict monotheism (Tawhid). It reminds us that extraordinary miracles (like the virgin birth) demonstrate Allah's absolute power and serve as signs to guide humanity toward faith.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs and a clear authority
وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنِّى قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِـَٔايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ أَنِّىٓ أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيْـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًۢا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُبْرِئُ ٱلْأَكْمَهَ وَٱلْأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allāh. And I cure the blind [from birth] and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allāh. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.