“He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.”
Mary therefore humbled herself, turned back to her Lord, and submitted to the divine command. She knew full well that this would entail a severe trial for her, for people would inevitably speak ill of her. Unaware of the reality, they would judge only by appearances, without reflection or understanding.
Mary used to leave the sanctuary only during her menses or for an unavoidable need—drawing water or obtaining food. One day she stepped out for such a purpose and, as the Qur’an says, “withdrew” (i.e., went off alone) to the eastern side of the Noble Sanctuary. There, Allah sent to her the Trustworthy Spirit, Gabriel—peace be upon him—“who appeared to her as a well-proportioned man.” When she saw him she exclaimed, “I seek refuge in the All-Merciful from you, if you are God-fearing.”
Abū al-ʿĀliyah said: She knew that a God-fearing person would refrain. This statement refutes the tale of those who claim that there once lived among the Children of Israel a licentious man, notorious for his debauchery, whose name was “Taqī.” Such a claim is baseless, without evidence, and among the most ridiculous of assertions.
The angel said, “I am only a messenger of your Lord,” meaning: I am no mortal—rather, I am an angel whom Allah has sent to you—“to grant you a pure son,” that is, a blessed child. (1)
She replied, “How shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor have I been unchaste?”—I have no husband, and I am not one who commits immorality. He answered, “So it shall be. Your Lord says: ‘That is easy for Me.’” Thus the angel responded to her amazement at bearing a child under such circumstances, saying in effect: Your Lord has promised to create a boy from you though you have no husband and are not an adulteress. “That is easy for Me,” simple and effortless for Him, for He is All-Powerful over whatever He wills. (2)
“And so that We may make him a sign to humankind”—that is, We shall make his creation, under these very conditions, a proof of the perfection of Our power over every mode of creation: Allah created Adam with neither male nor female, created Eve from a male without a female, created Jesus from a female without a male, and created the rest of humanity from both male and female.
“And a mercy from Us”—meaning, through him We show mercy to the servants: he will call them to Allah both as a child and as an adult, in his youth and in his maturity, that they devote worship exclusively to Allah alone, with no partner, and exalt Him above taking a consort, children, partners, equals, rivals, or peers. (3)(4)
“And the matter has already been decreed.” This may be the completion of Gabriel’s words to her: it is a matter Allah has decided, ordained, determined, and made inevitable. This is the view of Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq and the opinion preferred by Ibn Jarīr (5), who mentioned no other. Allah knows best.
It is also possible that the phrase “and the matter has already been decreed” is a discreet allusion to Gabriel’s blowing into her, just as He said