وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا 32
Translations
And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.
Transliteration
Wa-barran bi-waliditee wa-lam yaj'alni jabbaran shaqiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the words of Prophet Isa (Jesus) describing the qualities Allah bestowed upon him: kindness and dutiful respect toward his mother, and that Allah did not make him tyrannical or miserable. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates Isa's gratitude for Allah's blessings and his righteous character, emphasizing that true nobility lies in gentleness and obedience to Allah rather than arrogance and despotism. The phrase 'jabbaran shaqiyya' (tyrant and wretched) represents the opposite of the virtuous conduct that characterizes the prophets.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah Maryam, which narrates the miraculous birth of Prophet Isa and his early life. Isa is speaking about the divine gifts and moral character he was given, establishing his identity as a servant of Allah who was granted prophecy. This occurs in the Meccan period when the Quran was establishing the prophethood of Jesus against various misconceptions about his nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895). This hadith relates to the emphasis on kindness to parents mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true greatness is measured not by power or dominance, but by kindness, humility, and respect toward those we love, especially our parents. Believers should aspire to cultivate gentleness in their character and reject the vices of arrogance and cruelty, recognizing these qualities as signs of spiritual wretchedness rather than strength.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَـٰمًا زَكِيًّا
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son]."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ ۖ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُۥٓ ءَايَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا
He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"
لَّقَدْ أَحْصَىٰهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا
He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.