وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 46
Translations
He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous."
Transliteration
Wa yukallimu an-nasa fi al-mahdi wa kahlā wa min as-sāliḥīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Jesus ('Isa) speaking to people in the cradle as an infant and in his maturity, and being among the righteous. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that speaking in the cradle was a miraculous sign distinguishing Jesus from all other infants, demonstrating his prophethood from birth. The phrase 'and in maturity' indicates his continued guidance and righteousness throughout his life, while 'from the righteous' affirms his status as a prophet and servant of Allah who fulfilled his divine mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran's broader discussion of Jesus' miraculous birth and special status as a prophet. The context is Allah's response to Mary's concern about having a child without a father, where Gabriel announces Jesus' exceptional qualities and divine purpose. This revelation addressed the early Muslim community's understanding of Jesus in contrast to Christian theological claims.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'No child is born except on the fitrah (natural disposition). It is his parents who make him Jewish, Christian, or Magian.' (Sahih Bukhari 1385). Additionally, Jesus speaking in the cradle is mentioned in Surah Maryam 19:29-30 with more detail about his declaration of prophethood.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah empowers His chosen servants with extraordinary abilities to fulfill their divine missions, and that true greatness lies not in extraordinary deeds alone, but in maintaining righteousness and virtue throughout one's entire life—from youth to maturity.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
That is for what your hands have put forth and because Allāh is not ever unjust to [His] servants."
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allāh took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], "Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him." [Allāh] said, "Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?" They said, "We have acknowledged it." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].
لَن يَضُرُّوكُمْ إِلَّآ أَذًى ۖ وَإِن يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ يُوَلُّوكُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
They will not harm you except for [some] annoyance. And if they fight you, they will show you their backs [i.e., retreat]; then they will not be aided.