ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ 44
Translations
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
Transliteration
Dhālika min anbāʾi al-ghaybi nūḥīhi ilayka wa-mā kunta ladayhim idh yulqūna aqlāmahum ayyuhum yakfulu maryama wa-mā kunta ladayhim idh yakhtaṣimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the detailed account of Maryam's (Mary's) upbringing by Zakariyyah—including the casting of lots to determine who would be her guardian—is knowledge of the unseen (ghayb) that Allah reveals to the Prophet Muhammad, something he could not have witnessed himself. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse serves as evidence for the Prophet's truthfulness, as he reports events he was not present for, demonstrating the divine source of the Quran.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ali 'Imran's detailed narrative about Maryam and her son 'Isa (Jesus). It contextually follows the account of the lottery among the scholars of Israel to determine guardianship of Maryam. The verse serves as a parenthetical statement affirming the divine origin of this historical narrative, reinforcing that such knowledge comes only through revelation.
Related Hadiths
The general theme of reporting unseen matters is related to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet describes the punishment of the grave and other unseen realities, establishing that such knowledge comes through revelation. Additionally, hadiths about the virtue of Maryam and her status, such as those in Sahih Muslim regarding her excellence among women, relate thematically.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the Quranic narratives, particularly those about events the Prophet did not witness, are authenticated through divine revelation, strengthening faith in his message. It also humbles us to recognize the limits of human knowledge and our dependence on Allah's guidance for understanding unseen matters.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allāh much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allāh - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of resolve.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ لَيْسُوا۟ سَوَآءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allāh during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.