فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا 29
Translations
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"
Transliteration
Fa-ashārat ilayh, qālū kayfa nukallimu man kāna fil-mahdi sabiyyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Mary pointed to her infant son Jesus in response to the people's accusations, and they expressed bewilderment at how they could speak to a newborn baby in the cradle. This gesture demonstrates Mary's trust in Allah's plan and serves as a prelude to the miraculous speech of infant Jesus, which would vindicate her honor and prove his divine mission. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Mary's silence and gesture showed wisdom and patience, leaving the proof to come from Jesus himself rather than attempting to defend herself verbally.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Jesus's miraculous birth and Mary's vindication from the accusations of the people of Bani Israel. The Quranic account emphasizes Mary's purity and the extraordinary nature of Jesus's conception as a sign from Allah. The passage illustrates how Allah provides solutions to seemingly impossible situations.
Related Hadiths
The miraculous speech of infant Jesus is affirmed in various Islamic sources. Imam Ahmad and other hadith collectors recorded narrations about miracles performed by the prophets, including Jesus speaking in the cradle, which validates the Quranic account presented in this surah.
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with false accusations or impossible circumstances, believers should place their trust in Allah rather than anxiously defending themselves, knowing that Allah will provide clear evidence and vindication. Mary's gesture of pointing to Jesus teaches us that sometimes silence and patience, coupled with faith, are more powerful than verbal arguments.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِۦٓ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."
قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allāh, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.