۞ 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
قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا
She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"
وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا
And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّا
When he called to his Lord a private call [i.e., supplication].
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَـٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ قَوْمًا لُّدًّا
So, [O Muḥammad], We have only made it [i.e., the Qur’ān] easy in your tongue [i.e., the Arabic language] that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.