Responsibility for bringing up Mary was handed over to Zachariah

LESSON # 351

Responsibility for bringing up Mary was handed over to Zachariah

(Peace be upon them)

Surah ‘Aali ‘Imraan (The Family of Imran - 3), Stage – 1,

Verse – 37 of 200, Section – 4 of 20, (Part – 3)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

37.  And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Surely Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.

37.  Fata-qabbalahaa  Rabbuhaa bi-qabuulin  hasaninw-wa  ‘am-batahaa  nabaatan  hasananw-wa  kaffalahaa  Zakariyyaa.  Kullamaa  dakhala  ‘alayhaa  Zakariyyal-  Mihraaba,  wajada  ‘indahaa  rizqaa.  Qaala  yaa-Maryamu  ‘annaa  laki  haazaa.  Qaalat  huwa  min  ‘inDIllaah.  ‘InnAllaaha  yarzuqu  many-yashaaa-‘u   bi-gayrri  hisaab.

Lesson

       

Zakariyyaa – (Zachariah (peace be upon him) was a Prophet of God Almighty. He was husband of the mother’s sister of Mary (maternal uncle). After the death of Imran, (the father of Mary), Zachariah (peace be upon him) became chieftain of the nation.

‘al-  Mihraaba – (the sanctuary), an asylum, a separate place for somebody’s living alone for worship. Mihraab of Masjid (Mosque) is also called by this name because Imam (the spiritual leader) stands alone in front of the entire people separately to guide them for prayer (in congregational prayer).

Although in the past, female was not accepted for attending the temple (haikal), however God Almighty accepted the prayer of Mary’s mother and put this matter in the hearts of attendants of the Temple of Jerusalem (Bait ul Muqaddas) that they should accept this girl; contrary to common rules. When dissension arose between the Haikal (the Temple) about Mary’s sustenance, then a cast was drawn and the cast came out in the name of Zachariah (peace be upon him).

Allah Almighty grew Mary (peace be upon her) unusually regarding spiritual, literary, corporeal and moral matters. Zachariah (peace be upon him) became her guardian. He tried his best in her training. When Mary rose a little, a separate sanctuary was specified near the place of worship for her living. Mary (peace be upon her) used to remain there busy in worship.

Zachariah (peace be upon him) used to come there many times daily. Whenever he went there, he saw in the sanctuary different kinds of food and fruit, and perplexed that by whom these things are being delivered to Mary. Therefore, he asked Mary, “O Mary! Who gives this food to you? She answered: It is from Allah Almighty. Allah gives without stint to whom He wills by means of the unknown sources about which nobody can think.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)