۞ فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَٱنتَبَذَتْ بِهِۦ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا 22
Translations
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.
Transliteration
Fa-hamalat-hu fanta-bazat bihi makanan qasiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
Mary conceived Jesus and withdrew to a distant, secluded place to give birth away from her people. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that she chose isolation out of modesty and to avoid the accusations and shame that might come from her community, as her pregnancy without a husband would be viewed with suspicion. This ayah demonstrates her virtue, trust in Allah, and the miraculous nature of Jesus's conception without a father.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the detailed narrative of Mary's miraculous pregnancy in Surah Maryam, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period. The context addresses the miraculous birth of Jesus and defends Islamic belief in his virgin birth, contrasting with both Christian and pagan Arab misconceptions about Mary and Jesus.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah's incident, Surah Maryam's narrative is supported by the general hadith tradition affirming Jesus's virgin birth. The Qur'an itself is the primary source for Mary's story, which is elaborated in Surah Al-Imran (3:42-47) as well.
Themes
Key Lesson
Mary's withdrawal teaches us that when facing misunderstanding or false accusations, we should maintain our integrity and trust in Allah's protection rather than seeking validation from those who judge without knowledge; true honor comes from righteous conduct, not public perception.
Related Ayahs
لَّا يَمْلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ عَهْدًا
None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.
وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُوا۟ لَهُمْ عِزًّا
And they have taken besides Allāh [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.
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."
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ
Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.