and they disputed over which of them would take charge of her, for she was the daughter of their imam and leader, and they all sought goodness and reward from Allah. Their dispute reached the point that they drew lots for her, casting their pens for that purpose, and the lot fell to Zachariah as a mercy from Allah to him and to her. You, O Messenger, were not present on that occasion to learn what happened and then relate it to the people. Rather, Allah informed you of it. This is the greatest purpose behind relating such accounts: that lessons may be drawn from them. The greatest of these lessons is that they furnish proof of Allah’s oneness, the messengership, the resurrection, and other major fundamentals.
(45) “When the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near.’” That is, he would possess honor and immense standing among creation in this world and the Hereafter.
At the same time, he would be among those brought near to Allah, who are the nearest of all creation to Him and the highest in rank. These were glad tidings unlike any others.
Another part of these glad tidings was that “he will speak to people in the cradle,” so his speech would be one of Allah’s signs and a mercy from Him to his mother and to creation. He would likewise speak to them “(and) in maturity,” that is, during mature adulthood. This would be the speech of prophethood, calling, and guidance.
His speech in the cradle contained signs and proofs of his truthfulness and prophethood, as well as his mother’s innocence of the evil suspicions directed against her. His speech in mature adulthood would immensely benefit creation, for through the revelation given to him and his conveyance of Allah’s religion and revealed law, he would serve as an intermediary between them and their Lord.
Moreover, he would be “among the righteous,” whose hearts Allah set aright through knowing and loving Him, whose tongues He set aright through praising and remembering Him, and whose limbs He set aright through obeying and serving Him.
(47) “She said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a child when no man has touched me?’” This was indeed an extraordinary matter. “He said, ‘So it shall be. Allah creates whatever He wills,’” so that His servants might know that He has power over all things and that none can thwart His will.
“Whenever He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is. And He will teach him the Scripture”—that is, the previous scriptures in general—as well as how to judge among people, and He would grant him prophethood.
(49) (And) He would make him “a messenger to the Children of Israel” and support him with clear signs and compelling proofs, for he would say, “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord,” showing you that I am truly Allah’s messenger.
Namely: “I fashion for you from clay something in the form of a bird, then breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave. I heal the one born blind”—whose eyes are effaced and who lacks both sight and eyes—“and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s leave. I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes. Indeed, in that”—all that has been mentioned—“there is surely a sign for you, if you are believers; * and I have come confirming the Torah that came before me.”
Allah thus supported him with two kinds of signs and proofs: extraordinary and astonishing miracles that none but prophets could present; and the message, call, and religion he brought, which was the religion of the Torah and the former prophets. This is among the greatest proofs of the truthfulness of those who speak the truth.
Had he been one of the liars, he would have opposed what the messengers had brought and contradicted them in their fundamental teachings and subsidiary rulings. It was thereby known that he was Allah’s messenger and that what he brought was unquestionably true.
Likewise, His words, “And I have come to make lawful for you some of what had been forbidden to you,” mean: to relieve you of some of your burdens and shackles.
(51) “So fear Allah and obey me. * Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.” This is what all the messengers called to: worshipping Allah alone, without any partner, and obeying them.
“This is the straight path.” Whoever follows it will be brought to the Gardens of Bliss. At that point, the factions among the Children of Israel differed concerning Jesus. Some believed in and followed him, while others disbelieved in and denied him and accused his mother of sexual immorality, as did the Jews.
(52) “When Jesus sensed disbelief from them” and their concerted determination to reject his call, “he said,” urging the Children of Israel to support him, “‘Who are my supporters in the cause of Allah?’ The disciples said”—that is, his supporters—“‘We are Allah’s supporters. We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims.’” This was among Allah’s favors to them and to Jesus: He inspired these disciples to believe in him, submit in obedience to him, and support His messenger.
(53) “Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and follow the Messenger.” This was a complete commitment to believe in everything Allah had sent down and to obey His messenger.
“So record us among the witnesses”—those who bear witness to Your oneness, to Your prophet’s messengership, and to the truth and veracity of Your religion.
(54) As for those in whom Jesus sensed disbelief—and they were the majority of the Children of Israel—“they plotted” against Jesus, “and Allah planned” against them. “And Allah is the best of planners.” They agreed to kill and crucify him, but someone else was made to resemble Jesus before them.
(55) They seized the man who had been made to resemble him, while Allah said to Jesus, “I will take you and raise you to Me, and purify you from those who disbelieve.” They crucified the man they killed, thinking that he was Jesus, and thereby incurred a tremendous sin.
Jesus son of Mary will descend toward the end of the era of this community as a just judge. He will kill swine, break the cross, and follow what Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) brought. The liars will then recognize their own delusion and deceit and realize that they are themselves deluded and deceived.
His words, “and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection,” refer to the group that believed in him. Allah granted them victory over those who deviated from his religion.
Then, when the community of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) arose, they became the true followers of Jesus. Allah strengthened them, granted them victory over all the disbelievers, and made them prevail through the religion brought to them by Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “Allah has promised those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession in the land”—to the end of the verse.
Yet Allah’s wisdom is just. It requires that Allah grant manifest victory to whoever adheres to the religion, and that He punish whoever abandons His commands and prohibitions, casts His revealed law aside, and brazenly commits acts of disobedience, giving his enemies power over him. “And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
His words, “Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that over which you used to differ.”
(56–57) He then explained what He would do with them, saying, “As for those who disbelieve, I will punish them severely in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. * But as for those who believe and perform righteous deeds, He will pay them their rewards in full. And Allah does not love