(16–21) “And mention in the Scripture Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. She screened herself off from them, and We sent to her Our Spirit, who appeared before her as a perfectly formed man. She said, ‘I seek refuge from you in the Most Compassionate, if you are mindful of Allah.’ He said, ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, sent to grant you a pure son.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor have I been unchaste?’ He said, ‘So it shall be. Your Lord says, “That is easy for Me. We shall make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.” It is a matter already decreed.’”
Having related the account of Zechariah and John, which was one of the wondrous signs, Allah proceeded from it to something even more wondrous, moving gradually from the lesser to the greater. He said: “And mention in the Scripture”—the noble Scripture—“Mary,” peace be upon her. This is one of her greatest virtues: that she is mentioned in the magnificent Scripture recited by Muslims throughout the eastern and western reaches of the earth, where she is remembered in the finest terms and praised in the best manner, as a reward for her virtuous deeds and her perfect striving. That is: Mention Mary in the Scripture in her excellent state, when “she withdrew”—that is, distanced herself from her family—“to a place toward the east,” meaning a place on their eastern side.
“She screened herself off from them”—that is, she placed a covering and barrier between herself and them. She withdrew and placed this screen so that she might seclude herself, devote herself solely to worshipping her Lord, and stand devoutly before Him in a state of sincerity, submission, and humility before Allah Most High. In doing so, she obeyed the words of Allah Most High: “And when the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of all peoples. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord, prostrate, and bow with those who bow.’”
His words, “We sent to her Our Spirit,” refer to Gabriel, peace be upon him. “Who appeared before her as a perfectly formed man”—that is, a fully formed man of handsome appearance and fine bearing, without any defect or imperfection, because she would have been unable to bear seeing him in his true form. When she saw him in this state while she was secluded from her family, alone and apart from people, having screened herself off even from those dearest to her—her own family—she feared that he was a man who intended her harm and had designs upon her. She therefore sought the protection of her Lord and refuge with Him from the man, saying: “I seek refuge from you in the Most Compassionate.” That is: I seek shelter in Him and protection through His mercy, lest you harm me. “If you are mindful of Allah”—that is, if you fear Allah and act with mindfulness of Him, then leave me alone.
She thus combined seeking her Lord’s protection with warning him, putting him on notice, and commanding him to remain mindful of Allah. She did so despite being alone, young, and far removed from people, while he possessed such dazzling beauty and a perfectly formed human appearance. He had neither spoken any evil to her nor made any advance toward her; it was merely her apprehension. This represents the highest degree of chastity and the utmost distance from evil and all avenues leading to it.
Such chastity—especially when every inducement is present and no obstacle stands in the way—is among the most excellent of deeds. Allah therefore praised her, saying: “And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her through Our Spirit.” He also said: “And the woman who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her through Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples.” Thus, in return for her chastity, Allah granted her a child who was one of His signs and a messenger from among His messengers.
When Gabriel saw her alarm and fear, he said: “I am only a messenger from your Lord.” That is: My sole task and purpose is to carry out my Lord’s message concerning you. “Sent to grant you a pure son.” This was tremendous good news of a son and of his purity, for purity entails being cleansed of blameworthy traits and endowed with praiseworthy qualities. Astonished at the prospect of a child without a father, she said: “How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor have I been unchaste?”—when a child normally comes about only by one of those two means?
“He said, ‘So it shall be. Your Lord says, “That is easy for Me. We shall make him a sign for humanity.”’” He would be a sign demonstrating the perfection of Allah Most High’s power and showing that causes do not produce their effects independently; rather, they take effect only by Allah’s decree. Allah therefore shows His servants instances in which the customary order of ordinary causes is broken, lest they become fixated on the causes and lose sight of the One who ordains and brings them about.
“And a mercy from Us”—that is, We would make him a mercy from Us for him, for his mother, and for humanity.