يَـٰٓأُخْتَ هَـٰرُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا 28
Translations
O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."
Transliteration
Ya ukhta Harun, ma kana abuka imra'a saw'in wa ma kanat ummuka baghiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the accusation made against Maryam (Mary) by her people, who called her 'O sister of Aaron,' implying she had committed an immoral act. The ayah then presents Maryam's implicit defense through the context—that her father was not a man of evil and her mother was not unchaste, establishing her noble lineage and moral standing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this was the people's harsh rebuke when she emerged carrying the infant Jesus, and the ayah serves to vindicate her honor and character despite the miraculous and unprecedented nature of her situation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan surah Maryam, which narrates the story of John the Baptist and Jesus. The specific context is when Maryam returned to her people carrying the newborn Jesus; they accused her of sexual misconduct. The surah emphasizes the miraculous birth and the purity of Maryam, countering the false allegations of the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best women of the world are: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Asiya bint Muzahim (wife of Pharaoh), and Maryam bint Imran' (Sahih Bukhari). This hadith affirms Maryam's elevated status and virtue.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that those of noble character and pure lineage need not be destroyed by false accusations, as truth and divine protection ultimately prevail. It reminds believers to defend the innocent and to recognize that extraordinary circumstances do not diminish one's moral integrity or the integrity of their family line.