قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَـٰمًا زَكِيًّا 19
Translations
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son]."
Transliteration
Qāla innammā anā rasūlu rabbiki li-ahabu laki ghulāman zakiyyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angel Gabriel responds to Mary's fear by identifying himself as a messenger from her Lord, come to grant her a pure and righteous son. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this announcement confirms the miraculous nature of Jesus's birth—a son without a father—which was part of Allah's divine plan. The term 'zakiyyā' (pure/righteous) foreshadows Jesus's sinlessness and his special status as a messenger of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel in the sanctuary (mihrab). The surah presents this as a consoling response to Mary's fear and distress upon seeing the angel, contextualizing the miraculous conception within themes of divine mercy and Allah's ability to accomplish all things.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding Mary: 'The best of the women of Paradise are Khadijah, Fatimah, Mary, and Asiyah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Surah Maryam 19:19 connects to the broader theme found in Sahih Muslim about the virgin birth of Jesus as a sign of Allah's power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's comfort comes through His messengers and that supernatural events are within Allah's power and wisdom. For believers, it reinforces trust in Allah's ability to fulfill His promises and the importance of receiving divine guidance with faith rather than fear.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًا
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."
۞ فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا
But there came after them successors [i.e., later generations] who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil -
قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مَدًّا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَأَوْا۟ مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ وَإِمَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضْعَفُ جُندًا
Say, "Whoever is in error - let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised - either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] - they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers."
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًٔا
[Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?