Towards Understanding the Qur'an. Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi
[Imran must be different from the [Imran just mentioned. He would rather be the father of Mary who was probably called [Imran. If this expression, however, is interpreted to mean “a woman of the house of [Imran,” it would mean that the mother of Mary belonged to that tribe.
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Al [Imran 3: 38–41
He asked her: “Mary, how did this come to you?” She said: “It is from Allah. Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning.” (38) Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: “O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all prayers.” (39) As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: “Allah gives you good tidings of John (Yahya), who shall confirm a command9 of Allah, shall be outstanding among people, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.” (40) Zechariah exclaimed, “My Lord! How shall I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?” He said: “Thus shall it be;10 Allah does what He wills.” (41) Zechariah said: “O my Lord! Appoint a Sign for me.” ▶
9 The “command from Allah” here signifies Jesus (peace be on him). His birth took place as the result of an extraordinary command from God and in an unusual manner, hence he is designated as “the command” or “word” from Allah.
10 Here it is being stressed that God would grant Zechariah a son despite his old age and the barrenness of his wife.
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Al [Imran 3: 42–5
The angel said: “The Sign for you shall be that you shall not speak to people for three days except by gesture. Remember your Lord and extol His glory by night and by day.”
(42) Then came the time when the angels said: “O Mary! Behold, Allah has chosen you, and has made you pure, and has exalted you above all the women in the world. (43) O Mary! Remain devout to your Lord, and prostrate yourself in worship, and bow down with those who bow down (before Him).”
(44) (O Muhammad), We reveal to you this account from a realm which lies beyond the reach of your perception for you were not with them when they drew lots with their pens11 about who should be Mary’s guardian, and you were not with them when they disputed about it.
(45) And when the angels said: “O Mary! Allah gives you the glad tidings of a command from Him: his name shall be Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. ▶
11 They drew lots to decide who should be the guardian of Mary, whose mother had consecrated her to the service of God in the Temple.
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Al [Imran 3: 46–9
He shall be highly honoured in this world and in the Next, and shall be one of those near stationed to Allah. (46) And he shall speak to people in the cradle and also later when he grows to maturity and shall indeed be among the right- eous.” (47) She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me?” The angel answered: “Thus shall it be.12 Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides something, He merely says: “Be,” and it is. (48) And He will teach him the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel, (49) and he will be a Messenger to the Children of Israel.”
(And when he came to them he said): “I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. I will make for you from clay the likeness of a bird and then I will breathe into it and by the leave of Allah it will become a bird. I will also heal the blind and the leper, and by the leave of Allah I will bring the dead to life. ▶
12 Thus it was affirmed that a child would be born to Mary despite the fact that no man had touched her.
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Al [Imran 3: 50–2
I will also inform you of what things you eat and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely this is a Sign for you if you are true believers. (50) And I have come to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to make lawful to you some of the things which had been forbidden to you.13 I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord; so have fear of Allah and obey me. (51) Surely, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so serve Him alone. This is the Straight Way.”
(52) And when Jesus per- ceived their leaning towards unbelief, he asked: “Who will be my helpers in the Way of Allah?” The disciples14 said: “We are the helpers of Allah.15 ▶
13 What Jesus wanted to impress upon them was that he would abolish the prohibitive innovations which had infiltrated the original Divine Law (Shari[ah). These innovations were the result of the superstitions of their ignorant commoners, the legal hair-splitting of their lawyers, and the exaggerations of their world-renouncing pietists. He also made it clear that in determining what is lawful and unlawful, he would be guided by the injunctions of God and not by the inventions of human beings.
14 The word hawari means approximately the same as the word ansar in the Islamic tradition.
15 That is, they are his allies in the cause of directing people to the Path of God.
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Al [Imran 3: 53–6
We believe in Allah, and be our witness that we have sub- mitted ourselves exclusively to Allah. (53) Our Lord! We believe in the commandment You have revealed and we obey the Messenger; make us, then, one of those who bear witness (to the Truth).”
(54) Then they schemed (against the Messiah), and Allah countered their schemes by schemes of His own. Allah is the best of schemers. (55) (And it was part of His scheme) when Allah said. “O Jesus! I will recall you16 and raise you up to Me and will purify you (of the company) of those who disbelieve, and will set your followers above the unbelievers till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me shall all of you return, and I shall judge between you regarding whatever you differed among yourselves. (56) As for those who disbelieved, I shall inflict a terrible chastisement on them in this world and in the Next; ▶
16 The expression used is mutawaffika. The original meaning of tawaffa is to take and receive. To “seize a person’s soul” constitutes the figurative rather than the literal meaning of the word.
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Al [Imran 3: 57–61
and they shall find none to help them.” (57) But those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will reward them in full. Allah does not love the unjust.
(58) What We recite to you consists of signs and wise admonition. (59) Surely, in the sight of Allah, the similitude of the creation of Jesus is as the creation of Adam whom He created out of dust, and then said: “Be,” and he was.17 (60) This is the truth from your Lord; be not, then, among those who doubt.
(61) Tell whoever disputes with you on this matter after true knowledge has come to you: “Come! Let us summon our sons and