Surah is prefixed with a longest set of Quranic initials
- [I swear by] Kaaf.Haa.Yaa.`Ayn.Saad (19:1).
Note: Quranic initials prefixed to the initialed surahs are primarily element(s) of God’s oath to affirm crucial or unusual event(s) stated in the Surah including other roles while they are also the factual as derived from the Arabic text that Quran is from God as given in the table below:
Note: The occurrence of these five Arabic letters is maintained at certain frequency in the Arabic text of the surah, which is a fact based proof not to have any traces of doubt in the hearts of the believers that the Quran is a revelation from God to accept it as our guidance to find the straight path for ourselves.
A secret call of Zachariah to his Lord
- A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant, Zakariya (19:2). When he had called his Lord a secret call (19:3). He had said, “My Lord, indeed the bone has weakened from me, and the head has flared with white hair; and I had not been unblessed in calling You, my Lord (19:4). And indeed, I have feared the successors after me, and my wife has been barren; so grant me an heir from Yours (19:5). He inherits me and inherits from the family of Jacob, and make him, my Lord, pleasing.” (19:6).
Note: Zachariah made a secret call to his Lord for a heir for his family and a family of Jacob when he has been in old age and his wife has been barren and they had no possibility of having a child.
God responded to Zachariah’s secret call
- O Zakariya, indeed We give you good news of a boy whose name is John; We have not assigned to him any likeness before (19:7). He had said, “My Lord, how can there be a son for me, while my wife has been barren, and certainly, I have reached the extremity of old age?” (19:8). He had said, “Thus your Lord said: ‘It is easy for Me, and certainly, I have created you before when you had not been anything.'”(19:9). He had said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He had said, “Your sign is that you do not speak to the people for three nights in a row.” (19:10). So he had come out to his people from the sanctuary, then he signaled to them, “Glorify morning and evening.” (19:11).
Note: God responded to Zachariah’s secret call and gave him a good news of a son named John and gave him a sign that he would not speak to his people for consecutive three nights while he signaled his family to glorify Him day and night.
A scripture was given to John and wisdom at child
- “O John, hold the scripture with strength.” And We had given him wisdom in childhood (19:12). And affection from Ours, and purity; and he has been righteous (19:13). And dutiful to his parents, and he had not been a disobedient tyrant (19:14). And peace upon him the day he has been born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised to life (19:15).
Note: God had given a scripture to John and wisdom to him at his childhood and has affection and purity from Him making him being dutiful to his parents.
The Gabriel visited Mary to give her a news of a pure son
- And recall in the scripture Mary, when she had withdrawn from her family to an eastern place (19:16). So she had taken a barrier from them; then We had sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared to her as a normal human being (19:17). She had said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Gracious from you, if you have been God-fearing.” (19:18).He had said, “I am just a messenger of your Lord that I bestow to you a pure boy (19:19). She had said, “How can a son be for me, when a man has not touched me, nor have I been unchaste?” (19:20). He had said, “Thus your Lord said: ‘It is easy for Me, and that We make him a sign for the people and a mercy from Ours; and it has been a matter decreed.'” (19:21). So she had conceived him, then she had withdrawn with him to a faraway place (19:22).
Note: God made Mary honorable for her chastity and a portent for the people being a mother of Jesus.
The birth process came to Mary by the trunk of date palm
- Then the childbirth labor had driven her to the trunk of the date palm. She had said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this, and I had been completely forgotten.” (19:23). Then he had called her from underneath her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has certainly placed a stream underneath of you (19:24). And shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you; it drops ripe, freshly picked dates upon you (19:25). So eat and drink and cool your eye. Then, if you see anyone among human beings, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed a fast to the Gracious, so I speak to no human being today.'” (19:26). Then she had come with him to her people, carrying him. They had said, “O Mary, certainly you have brought an amazing thing.” (19:27). O sister of Aaron, your father has not been an evil man, nor has your mother been unchaste.” (19:28). Then she had pointed to him. They had said, “How can we speak to whoever has been a child in the crib?” (19:29). He had said, “Indeed, I am a servant of God. He has given me the scripture and has made me a prophet (19:30). And He has made me a blessed one wherever I have been, and He has enjoined upon me the contact-prayer and the purification-charity as long as I remain alive.”(19:31). And dutiful to my mother, and He had not made me a tyrant, unblessed (19:32). And the peace is upon me the day I have been born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised to life.” (19:33). That is Jesus, son of Mary: a statement of the truth which they dispute about it (19:34).
Note: Jesus, son of Mary has been blessed to be a servant of God and has been given him a scripture and has been made him a prophet who had observed the salat prayer and had paid the zakah as long as he has been alive, while there is no dispute about Jesus that he has been a son of Mary to be confirmed from his birth event.
God decrees a matter just to say to it be
- It has not been for God that He takes a son. Glory is His; when He has decreed a matter, then He only says to it, ‘Be,’ so it is.” (19:35). And indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him. This is a straight path (19:36). Then the parties have differed among themselves. So woe to those who have disbelieved from the witnessing of a great day (19:37). Hear with them and see the day they come to Us! But the wrongdoers are in clear straying today.” (19:38). And warn them of the day of regret when the matter has been decided, while they are in heedlessness and they do not believe (19:39). Indeed, We inherit the earth and whoever is upon it; and to Us they are returned. (19:40).
Note: It is not befitting for God to have a son and when He has decreed any matter He only says to it, “Be,” so it is, and those who have differed in this matter have disbelieved of witnessing a great day of the Regret.
God has mentioned 7 prophets by name
- And recall in the scripture Abraham. Indeed, he had been a saint, a prophet (19:41). When he had said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship what does not hear, nor does it see, nor does it benefit you in anything? (19:42). O my father, indeed to me certainly has come from the knowledge what had not come to you; so follow me, I guide you an even path (19:43). O my father, do not worship Satan; indeed, Satan has been disobedient to the Gracious (19:44). O my father, indeed I fear that a punishment touches you from the Gracious, then you be a friend to Satan.” (19:45).
- He said, “Are you an averse one from my gods, O Abraham? Surely, if you do not desist, I surely stone you. And leave me for a long time.” (19:46). He said, “Peace upon you. I will ask my Lord forgiveness for you; indeed, He has been ever-kind to me.” (19:47). And I abandon you and what you call other than God, and I call my Lord. It may have been that I am not an unblessed one in the call of my Lord (19:48).
- Then when he had abandoned them and what they worship other than God, We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, and We made each a prophet (19:49). And We had bestowed upon them from Our mercy, and We made for them a high tongue of truth (19:50).
- And recall Moses in the scripture. Indeed, he has been a chosen one and has been a messenger prophet (19:51). And We had called him from the right side of the Mount, and We brought him near as a confidant (19:52). And We had bestowed upon him from Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet (19:53).
- And recall Ismail in the scripture. Indeed, he has been truthful of the promise and has been a messenger prophet (19:54). And he had enjoined his people with the ṣalāt prayer and the zakāt, and he has been an approved one with his Lord (19:55).
- And recall Idris in the scripture. Indeed, he had been a truthful prophet (19:56). And We had raised him to a high position (19:57).
- Those are the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor from the prophets—from the descendants of Adam, and from whom We had carried with Noah, and from the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and from whom We had guided and chosen. When the revelations of the Gracious are recited to them, they had fallen as prostrators and weepers (19:58).
Note: Abraham has been a saint prophet who asked his father not to worship other than God to be punished as a friend of the Satan who has been disobedient to God.
Note: Abraham’s father warned Abraham about stoning him but he promised his father to ask forgiveness for him to his Lord, which was a mistake Abraham committed has been mentioned in (60:4) as the believer cannot ask forgiveness to God for the sin of the idolater or the disbeliever.
Note: God has blessed Abraham with Isaac and Jacob who were made prophet with high position as well as were bestowed mercy from their Lord.
Note: God came down to the earth to speak to Moses, a messenger prophet while He bestowed mercy on him choosing his brother Aaron as a prophet.
Note: Ismail enjoined his people to observe salat prayer and to pay zakah indicates that salah and zakah has been in practice before the revelation of the Quran.
Note: Idris has been a saint prophet who has been grandfather of Noah was chosen as a prophet before Noah.
Note: If we read the verses from 19:12 to 19:57, we get the names of 9 prophets, and the verse, 19:58 confirms that these 9 prophets are: John, Jesus, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Ismael and Idris who have been blessed to recite scripture to their people being chosen from descendants of Adam with an indication that Idris has been a prophet before Noah who was his grandson, and from those whom have been carried with Noah, and descendants of Abraham, Isaac as well as whom He has guided and has chosen, but no mntion of Adam and Noah as prophet except from descendants of them.
The people down the generation abandoned the Salat Prayer
- Then successors have succeeded after of them; they have abandoned the ṣalāt prayer and have followed the lusts, so they will meet evil (19:59). Except whoever has repented, believed, and done a righteous one—then those enter the Paradise, and they are not wronged a thing (19:60). Gardens of Eternity, which the Gracious has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has been fulfilled (19:61). They do not hear vain talk in it except peace, and their provision is for them in it morning and evening (19:62). That is the Paradise which We bequeath to whoever from Our servants has been righteous (19:63).
Note: Those who have abandoned the salat prayer down the generations will meet evil while those who have repented and have believed as well as have done as the righteous will inherit Gardens of Eden, which has been promised to them, which is to come.
Angels come down only by permission of their Lord
- And we do not descend except by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before of us, and what is behind of us, and what is between of that. And your Lord has not been forgetful (19:64).Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between both of them; so worship Him and be steadfast in His worship. Do you know a likeness for Him? (19:65).
Note: It is God’s system that the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) visit to whomever He has chosen among His servants with His command (16:2). Thus, they do not come down except by permission of their Lord who is Lord of the heavens and the earth, and whatever between them while the prophet had to worship God being steadfast in His worship disregarding what was saying the ignorant people around him.
Most people have difficulty to believe in the resurrection
- And the human says, “When I have died, will I surely be brought forth alive?” (19:66). And does the human not remember that We had created him before, while he was not a thing? (19:67). So by your Lord, surely We gather them and the devils, then surely We present them around Hell kneeling (19:68). Then surely We drag out from each sect whichever of them is worst in rebellion against the Gracious (19:69). Then surely We are best Knower of those who are most worthy of it in burning (19:70). And not one of you is there except a passer-by of it. It has been upon your Lord a decreed inevitability.” (19:71).
Note: Even those who are concern about the resurrection have difficulty to believe in it while they will be gathered around Hell and then each group will be dragged into it for burning in it.
The God fearing will be saved from Hell while the disbelievers will suffer in it
- Then We save those who have feared, and We leave the wrongdoers in it kneeling 19:72). And when Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who have disbelieved have said to those who have believed, “Which of the two groups is better in position and better in meeting?” (19:73). And how many of a generation have We destroyed before of them—they were better in possession and outward appearance! (19:74). Say, ‘Whoever has been in the straying, then let the Gracious extend for him an extension—until when they have seen what they are promised, either the punishment or the Hour, then they will know who is worse in position and weaker in forces (19:75). And God increases those who have accepted guidance in guidance. And the enduring righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in return (19:76).
Note: The God fearing will be saved from Hell with better reward as He had increased their guidance for accepting His guidance while the wrongdoers will be left therein as they had disbelieved when the clear revelations were recited to them and had gone astray.
God has recorded what the disbelievers say
- Have you then seen the one who has disbelieved in Our revelations and said, “Surely I am given wealth and offspring”? (19:77). Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken a pledge with the Gracious? (19:78). Nay! We will record what he says, and We will extend for him from the punishment an extension (19:79). And We inherit from him what he says, and he comes to Us as an individual (19:80). And they have taken gods other than God, that they be honor for them (19:81). Nay! They will deny their worship, and they will be opposition against them (19:82). Have you not seen that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them an incitement?” (19:83). So do not make haste upon them; We are only counting for them a count (19:84). On the Day We gather the righteous to the Gracious as a delegation (19:85). And We drive the guilty to Hell thirsty (19:86). They do not possess the intercession except whoever has taken a pledge with the Gracious (19:87).
Note: Those who have disbelieved in God’s revelations said that they will be given wealth and children, while God has recorded their statements and will prolong their punishment as they have taken gods other than God and He has sent the devils upon them to incite. A day the Gracious will gather the righteous as delegation and will drive the guilty to Hell, who will have no power of intercession with Him.
It is not befitting for God to have a son
- And they said, “The Gracious has taken a son!” (19:88). Certainly, you have brought a blasphemous thing (19:89). The heavens almost shatter from it, and the earth splits asunder, and the mountains collapse in devastation (19:90). That they have ascribed a son to the Gracious (19:91). And it does not befit the Gracious that He take a son (19:92). Not everyone who is in the heavens and the earth except a comer to the Gracious as a servant (19:93). Certainly, He has enumerated them and has counted them a counting (19:94). And each of them is a comer to Him on the Day of the Resurrection as an individual (19:95).
Note: God has taken a son is a blasphemous statement when uttered as if the heavens are shattering, the earth is splitting asunder and the mountains are crumbing in devastation. He has counted those who have made such statement since everyone in the heavens and the earth is His servant.
The Gracious has made the Quran easy to have His affection
- Indeed, those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds—the Gracious will bestow affection for them (19:96). So We have only made it easy in your tongue, that you give good news to the righteous with it and warn a hostile people with it (19:97). And how many of a generation have We destroyed before of them! Do you perceive anyone from them, or hear a faint sound for them? (19:98).
Note: The Quran has been made easy for the prophet in his language to give good news to the righteous and to warn a hostile people while God has reminded us that He has destroyed many generations in the past not to reflect upon what had been sent down to them from Him.
In brief, the Surah Maryam (Mary) may be reviewed reflecting that: it is prefixed with a longest set of Quranic initials; a secret call of Zachariah to his Lord who responded his call and granted him a son, John and made him a prophet; an angel visited to Mary to give her a good news of a son, Jesus and made him a prophet, and Jesus spoke even being an infant and no dispute about Jesus that he has been a son of Mary; Abraham asked his father not to worship other than God but his father warned him about stoning him if he would not stop; Abraham was granted Isaac and Jacob, who were made prophet with high position; Moses has been a messenger prophet directly spoke to God; Ismael has been a messenger prophet who enjoined his people to observe salah and pay zakah; Idris has been a saint prophet who has been raised to high position; angels descend only by their Lord’s permission; most people have difficulty to believe in the resurrection; the God fearing will be saved from Hell but the disbelievers will suffer in it; God has recorded what the disbelievers in His revelations said and will drive them to Hell; God has counted those who made a statement that He has taken a son; Quran has been made easy for the prophet in his language to give a good news to the righteous and to warn a hostile people; God has reminded us that He destroyed many generations in the past for not reflecting upon His revelations.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (4/16/2021).