وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ 12
Translations
And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.
Transliteration
Wa Maryama ibnatа 'Imrānа al-latī aḥsanat farjahā fa nafakhnā fīhi min rūḥinā wa ṣaddaqat bi kalimāti rabbihā wa kutubih wa kānat mina al-qānitīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah praises Maryam (Mary), daughter of 'Imrān, for her exceptional piety and chastity in guarding her purity, and confirms that Allah breathed His Spirit (Rūḥ) into her—referring to the miraculous conception of 'Īsā (Jesus) without a father. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah establishes Maryam's unique spiritual station: she believed in Allah's words and scriptures and was among the devoutly obedient (al-qānitūn), making her a model of faith and righteousness. The mention of guarding her chastity (aḥsanat farjahā) not only refers to physical purity but also to her spiritual integrity and complete submission to Allah's will.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tahrim (Chapter 66) is Medinan and addresses various prohibitions and moral lessons. This ayah appears in the context of examples of believing women and their virtues, contrasting those who obey Allah with those who disobey. The surah uses Maryam as an exemplary figure of faith, particularly relevant to the Medinan community's need for moral guidance regarding family, obedience, and spiritual commitment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best women of the world are Maryam bint 'Imrān, Khadījah bint Khuwaylid, Fāṭimah bint Muḥammad, and 'Āishah bint Abī Bakr' (Jāmi' at-Tirmidhī). Additionally, 'Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib reported that the Prophet called Maryam 'the leader of the women of Paradise' (Sunan Ibn Mājah).
Themes
Key Lesson
Maryam's example teaches believers that true honor lies not in wealth or status but in guarding one's character, maintaining faith in Allah's signs, and complete devotion to obedience—qualities that transcend gender and remain eternally relevant. Her story reminds us that extraordinary spiritual achievement comes through steadfastness in faith, purity of intention, and unwavering trust in Allah's wisdom, even when facing trials that seem impossible to human understanding.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allāh in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.
وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allāh showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Aware."
عَسَىٰ رَبُّهُۥٓ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُۥٓ أَزْوَٰجًا خَيْرًا مِّنكُنَّ مُسْلِمَـٰتٍ مُّؤْمِنَـٰتٍ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٍ تَـٰٓئِبَـٰتٍ عَـٰبِدَٰتٍ سَـٰٓئِحَـٰتٍ ثَيِّبَـٰتٍ وَأَبْكَارًا
Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allāh], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling - [ones] previously married and virgins.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."