(33–37) “Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all people—descendants, some of them from others. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. When the wife of Imran said, ‘My Lord, I have dedicated what is in my womb entirely to Your service, so accept it from me. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ Then, when she gave birth to her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have given birth to a female’—and Allah knew best what she had delivered—‘and the male is not like the female. I have named her Mary, and I seek Your protection for her and her descendants from Satan, the accursed.’ So her Lord accepted her graciously, caused her to grow in an excellent manner, and placed her in Zechariah’s care. Whenever Zechariah entered the prayer chamber to visit her, he found provision with her. He asked, ‘Mary, where did this come from?’ She replied, ‘It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whomever He wills without measure.’”
Allah Most High informs us of His choosing those whom He selected from among His devoted servants, chosen ones, and beloved. He states that He chose Adam—that is, He selected him above all other creatures. He created him with His Hand, breathed into him of His spirit, commanded the angels to prostrate before him, admitted him into His Paradise, and granted him such knowledge ⦗129⦘, forbearance, and virtue that he surpassed all other creatures. He therefore also favored Adam’s descendants. Allah Most High says: “We have certainly honored the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, provided them with good things, and greatly favored them above many of those We created.”
He chose Noah and made him the first messenger sent to the inhabitants of the earth when idols came to be worshipped. He granted him such patience, endurance, gratitude, and constancy in calling to Allah at all times that he merited being chosen and selected. In response to his supplication, Allah drowned the inhabitants of the earth, saved him and those (1) with him in the fully laden Ark, made his descendants the sole survivors, and left him an enduring legacy of praise throughout all times and ages.
He also chose the family of Abraham. This includes Abraham, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful, whom Allah singled out for His intimate friendship. Abraham offered himself to the flames, his son for sacrifice, and his wealth to his guests. He called to his Lord by night and day, privately and publicly. Allah made him an example for those who came after him to follow and placed prophethood and Scripture among his descendants. The family of Abraham includes all the prophets sent after him, for they were among his descendants. Allah distinguished them with many kinds of virtue, by which they became the chosen ones above all people. Among them was the master of Adam’s descendants, our Prophet Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in whom Allah Most High combined the perfections that had been distributed among others. He—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—surpassed those of earlier and later generations, becoming the master of the messengers and the chosen descendant of Abraham.
Allah also chose the family of Imran. This may refer to Imran, the father of Mary, or to Imran, the father of Moses (peace be upon him). These families mentioned by Allah were His chosen ones above all people, and righteousness and divine assistance continued through their descendants. Allah therefore says: “Descendants, some of them from others.”
That is, they resembled and corresponded to one another in their natural dispositions and beautiful character. Similarly, after mentioning a number of prophets belonging to these great families, Allah Most High said: “And from among their fathers, brothers, and descendants, We chose them and guided them to a straight path.” “And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing”: He knows who deserves to be chosen and chooses him, and who does not deserve it, whom He then forsakes and leaves to ruin. This indicates that He chose these people because of what He knew of their states that warranted it, out of His grace and generosity.
One benefit and wisdom in His relating to us the accounts of these chosen ones is that we may love them, follow their example, ask Allah to grant us the same divine assistance that He granted them, and never cease reproaching ourselves (2) for falling short of them and failing to possess their beautiful qualities and distinctions. This is also part of His kindness to them: He causes them to be praised by earlier and later generations and makes their noble rank renowned. How immense are Allah’s munificence and generosity, and how abundant are the rewards of devotion to Him! Had they possessed no honor other than having their memory preserved forever and their virtues perpetuated, that alone would have been sufficient distinction.
After mentioning the virtues of these noble families, He related what happened to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how Allah graciously cared for her throughout her upbringing and growth. He said: “When the wife of Imran said”—meaning Mary’s mother, when she became pregnant—“My Lord, I have dedicated what is in my womb entirely to Your service.” That is, she devoted what was in her womb sincerely to Him, consecrating the child to His service and the service of His House. “So accept it from me”—this blessed deed. “Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing”: You hear my supplication and know my intention and purpose. She said this while the child was still in her womb, before giving birth.
“Then, when she gave birth to her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have given birth to a female.’” It was as though she had hoped the child would be male, so that he would be better able to serve and occupy a more prominent position. Her words thus contained [a kind] (3) of apology before her Lord. Allah said: “And Allah knew best what she had delivered.” That is, He did not need her to inform Him; rather, His knowledge encompassed the child before her mother knew what she was. “And the male is not like the female. I have named her Mary.” This indicates the superiority of the male over the female, that a child may be named at birth, and that the mother may name her child if the father does not object. “And I seek Your protection for her and her descendants from Satan, the accursed.” She prayed that Allah would protect her and her descendants from Satan, the accursed.
“So her Lord accepted her graciously.” That is, He made her an accepted consecrated offering and protected her and her descendants from Satan. “And caused her to grow in an excellent manner”: she grew well in body, constitution, and character. Allah Most High appointed Zechariah (peace be upon him) for her “and placed her in his care.” This was part of His tenderness toward her, so that Zechariah might raise her in the most perfect circumstances. She grew up worshipping her Lord, surpassed other women, devoted herself entirely to worship, and remained in her prayer chamber. Thus, “whenever Zechariah entered the prayer chamber to visit her, he found provision with her”—without any work or toil on her part. Rather, it was provision that Allah brought to her and an honor He bestowed upon her. Zechariah would ask her, “Mary, where did this come from?” She replied, “It is from Allah”—a gift of grace and kindness. “Indeed, Allah provides for whomever He wills without measure”—that is, without the servant expecting or earning it. Allah Most High says: “Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect.”
This verse establishes the miraculous gifts granted to Allah’s devoted servants that transcend ordinary experience, as reports concerning them have been transmitted in such abundance as to establish certainty, contrary to those who deny them. When Zechariah (peace be upon him) saw what Allah had bestowed upon Mary and how He had honored her with wholesome provision that came to her without any effort or work on her part, his heart began to hope for a child. Thus Allah Most High said: