55 Page Notes

03 Surah Ali-Imran (continued)

Page __ Grammar 

Page 55 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

3:38

3:39

3:40

3:41

3:42

3:43

3:44

3:45

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 55 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 55 of the standard Madinah Quran covers Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3), verses 38 through 45. This powerful section transitions from the miraculous childhood of Maryam (Mary) into the miraculous answer to the prayer of Prophet Zakariyyah (Zechariah) for a son (Yahya/John), followed by the angels announcing to Maryam the glad tidings of the birth of 'Isa (Jesus).

Prophetic traditions (Hadith) and statements of the early generations (Salaf) directly illuminate the virtues, character traits, and context of these verses.

1. Verses 38–41: The Prayer of Zakariyyah and the Birth of Yahya

"At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, 'My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.' So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, 'Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John...'"

The Chaste Nature of Prophet Yahya

In verse 39, the angels describe Yahya as "a master, chaste (hasura), and a prophet from among the righteous." The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly commented on this unique description of Yahya's purity.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every son of Adam will come on the Day of Resurrection with some sin, except for Yahya ibn Zakariyyah." Then, the Prophet ﷺ picked up a tiny straw from the ground and said: "This is because he was a 'Hasur'—he had nothing with him of desire except like this tiny straw (meaning he was entirely free from worldly lusts or the capacity to sin)."

• Citation: Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 2291) and Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim (Graded as authentic/Sahih by Al-Hakim and agreed upon by Al-Dhahabi). It is widely cited by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari in their commentaries on verse 39.

The Meeting of Jesus and John in the Wombs

• The Sunnah Narrative: Early scholars of Tafsir record historical traditions passed down regarding the closeness of Maryam and Yahya's mother (Elisabeth). The Prophet ﷺ noted their close familial bond during his Night Journey (Isra' wal-Mi'raj), where he met them together in the second heaven. He said: "I met the maternal cousins, Yahya ibn Zakariyyah and 'Isa ibn Maryam."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 111) and Sahih Muslim (Book 1, Hadith 329).

2. Verses 42–43: The Exaltation of Maryam

"And [mention] when the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.'"

This passage establishes Maryam as one of the absolute greatest women to ever exist. The Sunnah provides numerous Sahih narrations ranking her position.

Maryam as the Best Woman of Her Era

• The Hadith: Ali ibn Abi Talib narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "The best of the world's women [in her lifetime] was Mary, daughter of 'Imran, and the best of the world's women [in this lifetime] is Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 62) and Sahih Muslim (Book 44, Hadith 96).

Achieving Spiritual "Perfection"

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ stated: "Many men reached perfection, but none among women reached perfection except Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, and Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of Aisha over other women is like the superiority of Tharid (a meat and bread dish) over all other meals."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 70) and Sahih Muslim (Book 44, Hadith 99).

3. Verse 44: Casting Pens for Maryam's Guardianship

"That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed."

Drawing Lots in Islamic Law (Qur'ah)

When Maryam's mother brought her to the temple, the scholars and priests of Jerusalem fiercely disputed over who would have the honor of guarding her. They went to the Jordan River and threw their reed pens into the water; Zakariyyah’s pen miraculously floated against the current, earning him the guardianship.

• The Sunnah Legal Connection: Classical jurists use this verse as a primary textual foundation for the practice of drawing lots (Al-Qur'ah) when multiple parties have an equal legal right to something and cannot agree.

• The Prophetic Practice: Whenever the Prophet ﷺ intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots among his wives to determine who would accompany him justly.

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 52, Hadith 21) and Sahih Muslim (Book 44, Hadith 133).

4. Verse 45: The Glad Tidings of "The Word" (Kalimah)

"[Mention] when the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah 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 Allah].'"

The Meaning of 'Isa Being "A Word From Him"

The phrase "a word from Him" (Kalimatim-minhu) can easily be misunderstood. The Sunnah explicitly defines how Muslims are to view this title.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever testifies that there is no true god but Allah Alone, with no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that 'Isa (Jesus) is the slave of Allah, His Messenger, and His Word which He bestowed upon Maryam, and a spirit created by Him... Allah will admit him into Paradise through any of its eight gates he wishes."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 71) and Sahih Muslim (Book 1, Hadith 43).

• Connection: This Hadith mirrors the exact language of verse 45. Commentators like Al-Qurtubi explain that he is called "The Word" because he was brought into existence without a biological father, but rather directly by Allah's divine decree and word: "Kun!" (Be!).