among the greatest of His favors and the finest manifestations of His generosity and bounty.

“Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” He knows who deserves favor and distinction, and so He bestows His favor wherever His wisdom requires.

(34–36) After establishing the greatness of these households, He related the account of Mary and her son Jesus (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): how they descended from these virtuous households, how their circumstances unfolded from beginning to end, and how the wife of Imran said, humbly beseeching her Lord and seeking nearness to Him through this offering that He loves—one that entailed honoring His House and devoting oneself to His obedience—“My Lord, I have dedicated to You what is in my womb, entirely devoted to Your service.” That is, as a servant of the house of worship, which was filled with worshippers.

“So accept this from me”—that is, establish this deed upon faith and sincerity, and make it fruitful in goodness and reward. “Indeed, You alone are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. * When she delivered her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have delivered a female’—and Allah knew best what she had delivered—‘and the male is not like the female.’”

Her words expressed a measure of humble supplication and a sense of personal disappointment, since her vow had been made in the expectation that the child would be male and thus possess the strength needed to serve and undertake this duty, as strong people could, whereas a female was different. But Allah consoled her heart and accepted her vow. This female became more perfect and complete than many males—indeed, than most of them—and far greater purposes were fulfilled through her than would have been fulfilled through a male. Hence He said, “Her Lord accepted her with gracious acceptance and caused her to grow in a beautiful manner.” That is, she was given an extraordinary religious, moral, and refined upbringing by which every aspect of her life attained perfection, her words and deeds became righteous, and her virtues flourished. Allah also appointed Zachariah to be her guardian.

It is among Allah’s favors to a servant that He appoints one of the virtuous and righteous to oversee his upbringing.

(37–39) Allah Most High then honored Mary and Zachariah by providing Mary with sustenance obtained without toil or hardship; it was simply a miraculous honor that Allah bestowed upon her.

“Whenever Zachariah entered the sanctuary where she was”—the sanctuary being the place of worship, which indicates how frequently she prayed and how constantly she remained there—“he found provision with her,” wholesome and ready.

“He said, ‘O Mary, where did this come from?’ She said, ‘It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides without measure for whomever He wills.’”

When Zachariah saw her condition and Allah’s goodness and kindness toward her, it reminded him to ask Allah Most High to grant him a child, even though he had lost all hope of one. He therefore said, “My Lord, grant me from Yourself righteous offspring. Indeed, You hear every prayer. * Then the angels called out to him while he stood praying in the sanctuary: ‘Allah gives you glad tidings of John, who will confirm a Word from Allah.’” The name of that Word from Allah was Jesus, son of Mary.

Thus, the glad tidings he received of this noble prophet also contained glad tidings of Jesus, son of Mary, and that John would affirm him and bear witness to his messengership.

This Word from Allah is a noble word by which Allah distinguished Jesus, son of Mary; it is nevertheless one of His words by which He brings created things into existence. As the Most High says, “Indeed, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is like that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.”

His words, “a leader and chaste,” mean that the child of whom he was given glad tidings—John—would be a leader among the eminent and honored messengers. As for “chaste,” it has been said that it means one who would have no offspring and no desire for women. It has also been said that it means one protected and preserved from sins and harmful desires. The latter of these two meanings is more appropriate.

“And a prophet among the righteous”—those who attained the lofty summit of righteousness.

(40) “He said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?’” These were two impediments, so he asked: By what means, my Lord, can this happen despite what appears to preclude it?

“He said, ‘Thus does Allah do whatever He wills.’ Just as His wisdom requires that events ordinarily occur through their familiar causes, He may also override those causes. He does whatever He wills: all causes have submitted to His power, and His will and volition take effect within them. No cause can resist His power, however strong it may be.

(41) “He said, ‘My Lord, appoint a sign for me,’” so that he might rejoice and receive the glad tidings with delight. That is: My Lord, although I am certain of what You have told me, the soul rejoices and the heart finds reassurance in the first signs of mercy and kindness.

“He said, ‘Your sign is that you will not speak to people for three days except by gestures,’” (and) during this period, “remember your Lord much and glorify Him morning and evening”—at the beginning and end of the day. He was prevented from speaking during this period, and this inability fittingly corresponded to the coming of a child from an elderly man and a barren woman.

That he was unable to address people while his tongue remained free to remember and glorify Allah was another sign.

At that point, he experienced joy and delight, thanked Allah, and increased his remembrance and glorification of Him morning and evening.

This child was thus among the blessings that came to Zachariah through Mary daughter of Imran. The wholesome provision that Allah bestowed upon her without measure reminded and stirred him to humble supplication and petition. Allah Most High is the One who graciously bestows both the cause and its effect, yet He ordains beloved things at the hands of those whom He loves so that He may elevate their standing and magnify their reward.

(42) The Most High then returned to the account of Mary and how she attained a tremendous degree of worship and perfection. He said, “And when the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah has chosen you’”—that is, He selected you and granted you noble qualities and beautiful character—“and purified you” from base traits, “and chosen you above all the women of the worlds.” For this reason, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Many men attained perfection, but no women attained perfection except Mary daughter of Imran, Āsiya daughter of Muzāhim, and Khadīja daughter of Khuwaylid; and Aisha’s excellence over other women is like the excellence of tharīd—a dish of bread and broth—over all other food.”

(43) The angels then called out to her at Allah’s command so that she might delight in Allah’s blessings, thank Him, fulfill His rights, and devote herself to His service. They therefore said, “O Mary, remain devoutly obedient to your Lord”—that is, increase in obedience, humility, and reverence toward your Lord and persevere in that—“prostrate yourself and bow with those who bow.” That is, pray with those who pray. She fulfilled everything she had been commanded, came to the fore, and surpassed others in perfection.

Since this account and others like it are among the clearest proofs of Muhammad’s messengership (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)—for he related it in precise and verified detail, without addition or omission, which could only have come through revelation from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise, and not through learning from people—the Most High said, “This is from the tidings of the unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their pens to determine which of them would take charge of Mary,” when her mother brought her,