اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗ نِدَآءً خَفِیًّا ﴿۴﴾
إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيّٗا
English
When he called upon his Lord, a secret calling,
English Short Commentary
[a]When he called upon his Lord in a low voice.[1740]
1740. Zachariah had understood from biblical prophecies and heavenly warnings that were administered to the Jews because of their repeated rejection of God’s Prophets that Prophethood was soon to be transferred from the House of Isaac to that of Ishmael. So he gave vent to his feelings in the form of a prayer for the birth of a righteous son. (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
[a]When he called upon his Lord, crying in secret.[2149]
2149. Important Words:
نادی (called upon): نادی الرجلmeans, he called the man aloud. نادی بسرہ means, he disclosed his secret. نادی فلاناً means, he consulted him (Aqrab).
Commentary:
The words, when he called upon his Lord, crying in secret, signify that Zachariah had kept concealed in the inmost recesses of his heart a long cherished desire. When he heard Mary’s innocent reply to his query (3:38), he was deeply touched and he laid bare his heart before his Lord and Creator and his long-suppressed desire assumed the form of prayer that a good and righteous son like Mary might be born unto him to continue prophethood in the Israelite line. Zachariah had understood from Biblical prophecies and heavenly warnings that were administered to the Jews for their repeated rejection of God’s Prophets that prophethood was soon to be transferred from the House of Isaac to that of Ishmael. So he gave vent to his feelings in the form of prayer for the birth of a righteous son. (close)
اُردو
جب اس نے اپنے ربّ کو دھیمی آواز میں پکارا۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
جب اس نے اپنے رب کو آہستہ آواز سے پکارا۔
Français
Quand il invoqua son Seigneur, d’une invocation secrète.
Español
Cuando invocó a su Señor con una invocación secreta.
Deutsch
Als dieser seinen Herrn mit leisem Ruf anrief,
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ وَہَنَ الۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّیۡ وَ اشۡتَعَلَ الرَّاۡسُ شَیۡبًا وَّ لَمۡ اَکُنۡۢ بِدُعَآئِکَ رَبِّ شَقِیًّا ﴿۵﴾
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ ٱلۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّي وَٱشۡتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأۡسُ شَيۡبٗا وَلَمۡ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّٗا
English
He said, ‘My Lord, the bones have indeed waxed feeble in me, and the head glistens with hoariness, but never, my Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee.
English Short Commentary
He said, ‘My Lord, my [b]bones have indeed become feeble and my head is all aflame with hoariness but never, my Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee;
English Five Volume Commentary
He said, ‘My Lord, [b]the bones have indeed waxed feeble in me, and the head glistens with hoariness but never, my Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee;[2149A]
2149A. Commentary:
Besides the rendering given in the text the words ولم اکن بدعائک رب شقیا may mean, "since Thou hast called me and hast made me a Prophet and Thy blessings and favours have covered me, I have never been unsuccessful in achieving my object." (close)
اُردو
کہا اے میرے ربّ! یقیناً میری ہڈیاں کمزور پڑگئی ہیں اور سر بڑھاپے سے بھڑک اٹھا ہے۔ پھر بھی میرے ربّ! میں تجھ سے دعا مانگتے ہوئے کبھی بدنصیب نہیں ہوا۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(اور) کہا‘ اے میرے رب! (میری حالت تو یقیناً ایسی ہے کہ) میری تمام ہڈیاں تک کمزور ہو گئی ہیں اور (میرا) سر بڑھاپے کی وجہ سے بھڑک اٹھا ہے اور اے میرے رب! میں کبھی بھی تجھ سے دعائیں مانگنے کی وجہ سے ناکام (ونامراد) نہیں رہا۔
Français
Il dit : « Mon Seigneur, mes os sont affaiblis, et ma tête brille de cheveux blancs, mais jamais, mon Seigneur, n’ai-je été déçu dans ma prière à Toi.
Español
Diciendo: “Señor mío, los huesos se me han debilitado y la cabeza me blanquea de canicie, pero nunca, mi Señor, he dejado de ser bendecido en mi súplica a Ti”;
Deutsch
sprach er: "Mein Herr, das Gebein in mir ist nun schwach geworden, und mein Haupt schimmert in Grauhaarigkeit, doch niemals, mein Herr, bin ich enttäuscht worden in meinem Gebet zu Dir.
وَ اِنِّیۡ خِفۡتُ الۡمَوَالِیَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِیۡ وَ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا فَہَبۡ لِیۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡکَ وَلِیًّا ۙ﴿۶﴾
وَإِنِّي خِفۡتُ ٱلۡمَوَٰلِيَ مِن وَرَآءِي وَكَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرٗا فَهَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيّٗا
English
‘And I fear my relations after me, and my wife is barren. Grant me, therefore, a successor from Thyself,
English Short Commentary
‘And I fear my relations after me, and [c]my wife is barren. So [d]grant me from Thyself a successor,[1741]
1741. The prayer of Zachariah possesses all the ingredients of a complete and successful prayer. A successful prayer should be offered with fervour and in humility. The supplicant should confess his own weakness and helplessness. He should have firm faith in the power of God to accept his prayers. Zachariah’s prayer fulfils all these conditions. (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
And I fear my relations after me, and [a]my wife is barren. [b]Grant me, therefore, a successor from Thyself,[2150]
2150. Important Words:
عاقراً (barren) is derived from عقر. They say عقرہ i.e. he wounded him; he wounded him much. عقر الابل means, he cut the feet of the camel. عقر النخلة means, he cut the upper part of the palm-tree so that it dried up and ceased to yield fruit. عقرت المرأةmeans, the woman became barren. عاقر is used both for man and woman and applied to a woman means, barren; that does not conceive or has ceased to conceive; and applied to a man it means, barren; that has no offspring born to him. (Lane & Aqrab).
ولیا (successor) is derived from ولی. They say ولی الرجل i.e. he helped the man; he made friends with him; he loved him. ولی فلاناًmeans, he followed such a one immediately without anyone intervening between them ولی means, a friend; beloved one, helper, master; successor or inheritor etc. (Aqrab). See also 2:108.
Commentary:
In view of the different meanings of the word ولی (successor) given under "Important Words" above, Zachariah’s prayer was for such a son as should prove his true successor and should propagate his mission and inherit the spiritual blessings that God had bestowed on the House of Israel. (close)
اُردو
اور میں یقیناً اپنے بعد اپنے شرکاءسے ڈرتا ہوں جبکہ میری بیوی بھی بانجھ ہے۔ پس مجھے خود اپنی جناب سے ایک وارث عطا کر۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
اور میں یقیناً اپنے رشتہ داروں سے اپنے (مرنے کے) بعد (کے سلوک سے) ڈرتا ہوں اور میری بیوی بانجھ ہے‘ پس تو مجھے اپنے پاس سے ایک دوست (یعنی بیٹا) عطا فرما۔
Français
Et je crains les proches qui doivent me succéder, et ma femme est stérile. Donc accorde-moi de Ta part un successeur,
Español
“Desconfío de mis parientes que me siguen, y mi mujer es estéril. Concédeme pues, un sucesor de Ti mismo”,
Deutsch
Nun aber fürchte ich meine Verwandten nach mir, und mein Weib ist unfruchtbar. Gewähre Du mir darum einen Nachfolger,
یَّرِثُنِیۡ وَ یَرِثُ مِنۡ اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ٭ۖ وَ اجۡعَلۡہُ رَبِّ رَضِیًّا ﴿۷﴾
يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنۡ ءَالِ يَعۡقُوبَۖ وَٱجۡعَلۡهُ رَبِّ رَضِيّٗا
English
‘That he may be heir to me and to the House of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, well-pleasing to Thee.’
English Short Commentary
‘To be my heir and the heir of the blessings of the House of Jacob. And [e]make him, my Lord, well-pleasing to Thee.’
English Five Volume Commentary
That he may be heir to me and heir to the House of Jacob. And [c]make him, my Lord well-pleasing to Thee.’[2151]
2151. Commentary:
The prayer of Zachariah is complete in every respect and possesses all the ingredients of a successful prayer. A successful prayer should be offered with fervour and in humility. The supplicant should confess his own weakness and helplessness. He should have firm faith in the power of God to accept his prayers. Zachariah’s prayer fulfils all these conditions. He prays to God in words full of extreme pathos. He invokes Divine mercy by referring to his extreme old age and to the barrenness of his wife. He prays fervently and in all humility. He asks for no worldly gains. He prays only for a righteous heir. He felt that righteousness had altogether disappeared from his family and his relations had consigned God to oblivion. He knew that the House of Israel was about to be deprived forever of the boon of prophethood but still he had not despaired of God’s mercy. He hoped that something yet might happen which should save his people and the House of Israel from utter spiritual ruin. He was extremely anxious that the Israelites might not reject the last Israelite Prophet and might still avert the impending wrath of God. This was Zachariah’s wish which he expressed in words full of pathos. He prayed that an heir be born to him who might warn the Israelites to take heed and not to deprive themselves of the light of prophethood by rejecting their own last Prophet. It appears from the Bible that the whole mission of Yahya for whose birth Zachariah had so fervently prayed consisted in preparing the way for Jesus. He says:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matt. 3:11).
Yahya tried his utmost to make the task of Jesus easy and to prepare the Jews to accept him. But his efforts proved vain. He himself was imprisoned and murdered. His people rejected him as well as his great successor, Jesus. They even sought to kill the latter on the cross. Zachariah’s prayer was only partly fulfilled as Divine decree had also to be implemented. So Yahya was born to Zachariah in fulfilment of his prayer but he (Yahya) failed to soften the hearts of his people. They did not believe in Jesus and thus could not avert the wrath of God and became deprived forever of the light of prophethood which was the real object of Zachariah’s prayer. The Divine will prevailed and prophethood became transferred from the House of Israel to that of Ishmael. (close)
اُردو
جو میر ا ورثہ بھی پائے اور آل یعقوب کا ورثہ بھی پائے اور اے میرے ربّ! اسے بہت پسندیدہ بنا۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
جو میرا بھی وارث ہو اور آل یعقوب (سے جو دین و تقویٰ ہم کو ورثہ میں ملا ہے اس) کا بھی وارث ہو۔ اور اے میرے رب اس کو (اپنا) پسندیدہ (وجود) بنائیو۔
Français
Pour qu’il soit mon héritier et celui de la Maison de Jacob. Et rends-le, mon Seigneur bien-agréable à Toi. »
Español
“Que sea heredero mío y de la Casa de Jacob. Y hazlo, Señor mío, agradable a Ti”.
Deutsch
auf dass er mein Erbe sei und Erbe von Jakobs Haus. Und mache ihn, mein Herr, (Dir) wohlgefällig."
یٰزَکَرِیَّاۤ اِنَّا نُبَشِّرُکَ بِغُلٰمِ ۣاسۡمُہٗ یَحۡیٰی ۙ لَمۡ نَجۡعَلۡ لَّہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ سَمِیًّا ﴿۸﴾
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسۡمُهُۥ يَحۡيَىٰ لَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ سَمِيّٗا
English
‘O Zachariah, We give thee glad tidings of a son whose name shall be Yahya‡. We have not made any one before him of that name.’
English Short Commentary
God said, ‘O Zachariah, [a]We give thee glad tidings of a son whose name shall be Yahya. We have not called any one before him [b]by that name.’[1742]
1742. Samiyy means, competitor or contender for superiority in eminence or glory or excellence; a like or an equal; a namesake of another (Lane). The verse does not mean that there had lived before Yahya (John) no man who was his namesake. From the Bible itself it appears that there had been several persons before him who were called John (II Kings, 25:23; I Chronicles, 3:15; Ezra, 8:12). Nor does it mean that John was peerless and unequalled in every respect. He himself confesses that 'there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose' (Mark, 1:7). The verse only signifies that Yahya or John was peerless in this respect that he was the first Prophet to come as a precursor to another Prophet—Jesus. And he was peerless in this respect also that he was the first Prophet who came with the power and spirit of another Prophet—Elijah. (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
God said, ‘O Zachariah, [a]We give thee glad tidings of a son whose name shall be Yahya. We have not made any one before him [b]of that name.’[2152]
2152. Important Words:
سمیا (of that name) is derived from سمی. They say سما و سمی الرجل زیداً i.e. he named the man Zaid. سما means, it became high. سموت الیه ببصری means, I raised my eye towards him. سمی means, competitor or contender for superiority, in eminence or glory or excellence; a like or an equal; a namesake of another. ھو سمیک means, he is thy namesake or he is thy equal or like (Aqrab & Lane).
Commentary:
The two words غلام and یحیٰی used in this verse are very significant. The word غلام signifies three periods of one’s life i.e. childhood, youth and middle age. Applied to Yahya or John it embodied a prophecy that he shall not die in childhood but shall grow up to be a young man before the eyes of his father and shall live up to middle age and so it actually came to pass. Yahya lived up to middle age and then was killed by the order of Herod to satisfy the wish of a dancing girl. The word یحییٰ literally meaning, "he lives" or "he shall live," also implied a great prophecy, viz. that he will die the death of a martyr and thus will become immortalized. Of the martyrs the Quran says: Say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; nay they are living; only you perceive not (2:155). Again it says: Think not of those who have been slain in the cause of Allah as dead. Nay, they are living in the presence of their Lord and are granted gifts from Him(3:170). Thus those who are killed in the way of God get everlasting life and so did Yahya or John. His ministry terminated in his imprisonment in the fortress of Machaerus, where he was executed by the order of Herod Antipas (Matt. 14:10 & 11). See also 3:40.
The words, We have not made anyone before him of that name, do not mean that there had lived before him no man whose name was John. From the Bible it appears that there had been several persons before him who were called John. (II Kings 25:23; I Chronicles 3:15; Ezra 8:12). Nor does the verse mean that John was peerless and was unequalled in every respect. He himself confesses that "there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose" (Mark 1:7). The verse only signifies that in some respects Yahya had no equal, i.e. he enjoyed a partial superiority in some respects over other Israelite Prophets. Abraham, Moses and Jesus were Prophets of much higher spiritual status than John, the Baptist, who had come only to prepare the way for Jesus (Mark 1:3). Yahya was peerless only in this respect that he was the first Prophet to come as a precursor and harbinger to another Prophet—Jesus. And he was peerless in this respect also that he was the first Prophet who came with the power and spirit of another Prophet—Elias. (close)
اُردو
اے زکریا! یقیناً ہم تجھے ایک عظیم بیٹے کی بشارت دیتے ہیں جس کا نام یحییٰ ہوگا۔ ہم نے اس کا پہلے کوئی ہمنام نہیں بنایا۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(اس پر اللہ نے فرمایا) اے زکریا! ہم تجھے ایک لڑکے کی خبر دیتے ہیں (جو جوانی کی عمر تک پہنچے گا اور) اس کا نام (خدا کی طرف سے) یحییٰ ہوگا۔ ہم نے اس سے پہلے کسی کو اس نام سے یاد نہیں کیا۔
Français
« Ô Zacharie, Nous te donnons la bonne nouvelle d’un fils dont le nom sera Yaḥyā. Nous n’avons donné ce nom à personne auparavant. »
Español
“Oh, Zacarías, te damos la buena nueva de un hijo cuyo nombre será Yahya. No hemos dado ese nombre a nadie antes de él”.
Deutsch
O Zacharias, Wir geben dir frohe Botschaft von einem Sohn, dessen Name Yahya (Johannes) sein soll. Wir haben zuvor noch keinen dieses Namens geschaffen.
قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰی یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا وَّ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ الۡکِبَرِ عِتِیًّا ﴿۹﴾
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَٰمٞ وَكَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرٗا وَقَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ ٱلۡكِبَرِ عِتِيّٗا
English
He said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached the extreme limit of old age?’
English Short Commentary
He said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son when [c]my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme limit of old age?’[1743]
1743. The verse expresses Zachariah’s innocent and spontaneous surprise at the greatness of the favour which God was about to bestow upon him. Every person, situated as Zachariah was, would be naturally surprised at the unusual glad tidings that he had received. (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
He said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son when [a]my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme limit of old age?’[2153]
2153. Important Words:
عتیا (extreme limit) is derived from عتا which means, he behaved proudly and was immoderate and inordinate; he was excessively proud or corrupt; he became advanced in age. عتت الریح means, the wind blew fiercely. The Quranic expression وقد بلغت من الکبر عتیا means, And I have reached the extreme degree of old age, or hardness and dryness in the joints and the bones like dry wood. The word also signifies that state of extreme old age which is incurable (Mufradat, Lane & Aqrab).
The word غلام as stated above (v.8) implied that Zachariah would see his son grow before his eyes and that he would also be able to train and educate him. The glad tidings was indeed a source of great comfort but at the same time it was a surprise for a man who had reached such an advanced old age as Zachariah.
The words, How shall I have a son, do not express despair. V.5 above shows that Zachariah had not despaired of God’s mercy. On the contrary he had perfect faith in the power of God to grant him a son. Moreover, a true believer never despairs of God’s mercy. "None despairs of Allah’s mercy save the unbelieving people", says the Quran (12:88). The verse only expresses Zachariah’s innocent and spontaneous surprise at the greatness of the favour which God was about to bestow upon him. Every person situated as Zachariah was would be naturally surprised at the unusual glad tidings that he had received. (close)
اُردو
اس نے کہا اے میرے ربّ! میرے بیٹا کیسے ہوگا جبکہ میری بیوی بانجھ ہے اور میں بڑھاپے کی انتہائی حد کو پہنچ گیا ہوں؟
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(زکریا نے) کہا۔ اے میرے رب! میرے ہاں لڑکا کیسے ہو سکتا ہے‘ حالانکہ میری بیوی بانجھ ہے اور میں بڑھاپے کی انتہائی حد کو پہنچ چکا ہوں۔
Français
Il dit : « Mon Seigneur, comment aurai-je un fils puisque ma femme est stérile, et que j’ai atteint l’extrême vieillesse ? »
Español
Dijo: “Señor mío, ¿cómo podré tener un hijo si mi mujer es estéril y yo he alcanzado el límite extremo de la vejez?”.
Deutsch
Er sprach: "Mein Herr, wie soll mir ein Sohn werden, wo mein Weib unfruchtbar ist, und ich habe schon die Grenze des Greisenalters erreicht?"
قَالَ کَذٰلِکَ ۚ قَالَ رَبُّکَ ہُوَ عَلَیَّ ہَیِّنٌ وَّ قَدۡ خَلَقۡتُکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ تَکُ شَیۡئًا ﴿۱۰﴾
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٞ وَقَدۡ خَلَقۡتُكَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَلَمۡ تَكُ شَيۡـٔٗا
English
He said, ‘So it is.’ But thy Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and indeed I created thee before, when thou wast nothing.’
English Short Commentary
The angel bearing the revelation said, [d]‘So it shall be.’ But thy Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and indeed I created thee before, when thou wast nothing.’
English Five Volume Commentary
The angel bearing the revelation said, [a]‘So it is.’ But thy Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and indeed I created thee before, when thou wast nothing.’[2154]
2154. Commentary:
The words, and indeed I created thee before, when thou wast nothing, primarily refer to the spiritual creation of Zachariah rather than to his physical creation. There seems to be no point in referring to an ordinary everyday physical phenomenon of the creation of one individual. If God had intended to refer to the phenomenon of physical creation, He would have referred to the creation of the whole universe and not to the creation of Zachariah alone. In fact, the present verse is an answer to the surprise of Zachariah expressed in the previous verses. Zachariah was promised the birth of a son in his extreme old age. The son was not to be an ordinary one but was to be possessed of great spiritual powers and to be peerless in respect of certain spiritual qualities. So the reference here is to the spiritual birth of Zachariah and to his great moral qualities.
The word "he" in the expression "he said", refers to the angel who brought the glad tidings to Zachariah. In verse 8 Zachariah is mentioned as having been addressed by God; in the present verse, however, he is described as having been addressed by one angel while in 3:40 it is stated that several angels called to him. These three statements seem to be mutually contradictory and the critics of Islam like Wherry have not failed to represent this fact as such. But in reality there is no such contradiction. According to the Quran when a Divine revelation of exceptional importance descends upon a Prophet of God, a number of angels, in accordance with the nature of its importance, are made to accompany it for its safeguarding (35:2) but only one angel representing all of them and on their behalf is entrusted with the duty to convey the Divine revelation to the Prophet. Thus the speaking of one angel means the speaking of all of them and therefore to say that one or many angels spoke to a Prophet makes no difference. Similarly, there is no contradiction in the words "God said" or "the angels said", because angels only speak to a Prophet as God’s representatives and as His servants convey to him the Divine Message. (close)
اُردو
اس نے کہا اسی طرح۔ تیرے ربّ نے کہا ہے کہ یہ مجھ پر آسان ہے۔ اور یقیناً میں تجھے بھی تو پہلے پیدا کر چکا ہوں جبکہ تُو کچھ چیز نہ تھا۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(الہام لانے والے فرشتہ نے) کہا (کہ جس طرح تو کہتا ہے واقعہ) اسی طرح (ہے) (مگر) تیرا رب کہتا ہے کہ یہ (بات) مجھ پر آسان ہے اور (دیکھ کہ) میں تجھے اس سے پہلے پیدا کر چکا ہوں حالانکہ تو کچھ بھی نہیں تھا۔
Français
. L’ange dit : « Il en sera ainsi. Mais ton Seigneur dit : « Ceci M’est facile, et en fait Je t’ai créé auparavant, quand tu n’étais rien. »
Español
Él dijo: “Así es”. Pero tu Señor dice: “Es fácil para Mí, pues, en efecto, te creé a ti antes, cuando no eras nada”.
Deutsch
Er sprach: «So ist´s; dein Herr aber spricht: "Es ist Mir ein leichtes, und Ich habe dich zuvor geschaffen, wo du ein Nichts warst."»
قَالَ رَبِّ اجۡعَلۡ لِّیۡۤ اٰیَۃً ؕ قَالَ اٰیَتُکَ اَلَّا تُکَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلٰثَ لَیَالٍ سَوِیًّا ﴿۱۱﴾
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّيٓ ءَايَةٗۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٖ سَوِيّٗا
English
He said, ‘My Lord, appoint for me a token.’God said, ‘Thy token is that thou shalt not speak to anyone for three full days and nights.’
English Short Commentary
Zachariah said, ‘My Lord appoint for me a commandment.’ God said, ‘The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not speak to the people for [a]three successive days and nights.’[1744]
1744. The commandment enjoining upon Zachariah to abstain from talking and to devote himself fully to the remembrance and glorification of God was a spiritual measure calculated to recuperate his exhausted physical powers. He had not become deprived of his power of speech, as the Gospels seem to suggest, as a punishment for his not believing in the words of God (Luke 1:20-22). (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
He said, ‘My Lord appoint for me a token.’ God said, ‘Thy token is that thou shalt not speak to the people for [a]three full days and nights.’[2155]
2155. Important Words:
آیة (token). They say أیاآیة i.e. he put or set up a sign, token or mark by which a person or thing might be known. آیةmeans, a sign, token or mark by which a person or thing is known, a message or communication sent from one person to another; a person or individual; a whole company of people; a verse or a chapter of the Quran; a miracle, an evidence or a proof; an example or a warning; a Divine commandment (Lane, Aqrab & Mufradat), See also 2:130.
سویا is derived from سوی (sawwa) which again is derived from سوی (sawiya) which means, it became straight and even and rightly set. سواہ (sawwa) means, he made it equal, uniform, even. سوی (sawiyyun) means, equal, symmetrical, smooth and even; straight; whole; in good condition. غلام سوی means, a young man uniform in make or symmetrical, without disease and without fault or defect (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Zachariah beseeches God to appoint for him a token or to give him a commandment (the word آیة also meaning 'a commandment' as given under "Important Words" above) by acting upon which he might give palpable expression to his feeling of extreme gratefulness for the most unusual favour God has bestowed upon him.
The commandment enjoining upon Zachariah to abstain from talking and to devote himself fully to the remembrance and glorification of God was a spiritual measure calculated to recuperate his exhausted physical powers. He had not become deprived of his power of speech, as the Gospels seem to suggest, as a punishment for his not believing in the words of God (Luke 1:20-22). See also 3:42.
In view of the meaning of the word سویا given under "Important Words" above, the verse, besides the meaning given in the text, also signifies that Zachariah was commanded by God not to speak to his people for three days and nights while he was without any defect or disease and was in perfect state of health. The very word used in this verse about Zachariah contradicts the Biblical statement of his having been struck dumb. (close)
اُردو
اس نے کہا اے میرے ربّ! میرے لئے کوئی نشان بنادے۔ اس نے کہا تیرا نشان یہ ہے کہ تُو لوگوں سے مسلسل تین راتوں تک کلام نہ کرے۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(زکریا نے) کہا‘ اے میرے رب! میرے لئے کوئی حکم بخش۔ فرمایا تیرے لئے یہ حکم ہے کہ تو لوگوں سے تین راتیں متواتر کلام نہ کر۔
Français
Il dit : « Mon Seigneur, désigne un signe pour moi. » Allāh dit : « Ton signe est que tu ne parleras à personne pendant trois jours et trois nuits consécutifs. »
Español
Dijo: “Señor mío, dame una señal”. Dios dijo: “Tu señal es que no hablarás a nadie durante tres días y noches completos”.
Deutsch
Er sprach: "Mein Herr, bestimme mir ein Zeichen." Er sprach: "Dein Zeichen sei, dass du drei (Tage und) Nächte nacheinander nicht zu den Menschen reden sollst."
فَخَرَجَ عَلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ مِنَ الۡمِحۡرَابِ فَاَوۡحٰۤی اِلَیۡہِمۡ اَنۡ سَبِّحُوۡا بُکۡرَۃً وَّ عَشِیًّا ﴿۱۲﴾
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكۡرَةٗ وَعَشِيّٗا
English
Then he came forth unto his people from the chamber and asked them by signs to glorify God in the morning and in the evening.
English Short Commentary
Then he came forth unto his people from the chamber and asked them in a low voice[1745] [b]to glorify God morning and evening.
1745. Auha ila fulanin means, he communicated to such a one or gave order or made a request by gesture or sign, or he talked to him in such a way that others could not hear him (Aqrab). In 3:42 the word Ramz, which means to communicate by means of movements of the lips and not by using one’s throat, has been used to express the same sense. (close)
English Five Volume Commentary
Then he came forth unto his people from the chamber and asked them in a low voice [a]to glorify God morning and evening.[2156]
2156. Important Words:
اوحی (asked in a low voice) is derived from وحی. They say وحی الی فلان or اوحی i.e. he communicated to him or gave order or made a request by gesture or sign; he talked to him in secret or he talked to him in such a way that others may not hear him; اوحی اللّٰه الیه means, God sent revelation to him. The real sense of وحی (wahy) which is inf. noun from وحی (waha) is to convey one’s intention or wish by means of quick signs which may be done by gesture, writing, etc. They say اوحی العمل i.e. he did the thing quickly. اوحی الدواء الموت means, medicine precipitated his death (Lane & Aqrab). See also 5:112.
For محراب (chamber) see 3:38.
Commentary:
When Zachariah was commanded by God not to speak to his people for three consecutive nights, he made up his mind to devote himself fully and completely to the remembrance of God. During this time when he had to speak to anyone he spoke so low as to be heard only by those very near him. In 3:42 the word رمزا has been used to express the same sense, for رمز means to communicate by means of movements of the lips and not to use one’s throat. So the Quran repudiates the Biblical suggestion that Zachariah was struck dumb. What actually happened was that he told his people in very low tones that he had been commanded by God to remember and glorify Him and that they should also do the same and not disturb him. (close)
اُردو
پس وہ اپنی قوم پر محراب سے ظاہر ہوا اور انہیں اشارہ کیا کہ صبح و شام تسبیح کرو۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
اس کے بعد (زکریا) محراب سے نکل کر اپنی قوم کے پاس گئے اور انہیں آہستہ آواز میں کہا کہ صبح و شام خدا کی تسبیح کرتے رہو۔
Français
Alors il sortit de la chambre et s’avança vers son peuple et leur indiqua par gestes de rendre gloire à Allāh matin et soir.
Español
Tras esto, se presentó a sus gentes saliendo del santuario y les indicó por señas que glorificaran a Dios día y noche.
Deutsch
So trat er heraus aus der Kammer vor sein Volk und forderte sie mit leiser Stimme auf, (Gott) zu preisen am Morgen und am Abend.
یٰیَحۡیٰی خُذِ الۡکِتٰبَ بِقُوَّۃٍ ؕ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ الۡحُکۡمَ صَبِیًّا ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾
يَٰيَحۡيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٖۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمَ صَبِيّٗا
English
‘O Yahya, hold fast the Book.’ And We gave him wisdom while yet a child,
English Short Commentary
God said, ‘O Yahya, hold fast the Book.’ And We gave him wisdom while yet a child,
English Five Volume Commentary
‘O Yahya, hold fast the Book.’ And We gave him wisdom while yet a child,[2157]
2157. Commentary:
The words, hold fast the Book, show that till the time of Yahya the Torah had not been abrogated nor was it about to be abrogated in the very near future. By the word "Book" is here meant the Torah because neither Muslims nor Jews nor Christians believe that Yahya was given a Book containing a new Law. Jesus had received baptism from Yahya (John) and it is inconceivable that the two Prophets—John and Jesus—who lived at the same time, one (John) should have acted upon the Law of Torah and the other (Jesus) who was John’s disciple and had been baptised by him should have been given a new Book and a new Law. Indeed both John and Jesus followed the Law of Moses and none of them brought any new Book. (close)
اُردو
اے یحییٰ! کتا ب کو مضبوطی سے پکڑ لے۔ اور ہم نے اسے بچپن ہی سے حکمت عطاکی تھی۔
اُردو تفسیر صغیر
(اس کے بعد یحییٰ پیدا ہو گیا اور ہم نے اسے کہا) اے یحییٰ تو (الٰہی) کتاب کو مضبوطی سے پکڑ لے اور ہم نے اسے چھوٹی عمر میں ہی (اپنے) حکم سے نوازا تھا۔
Français
Allāh dit : « Ô Yaḥyā, tiens fermement au Livre. » Et Nous lui donnâmes la sagesse dès l’enfance,
Español
“Oh Yahya, sujeta con fuerza el Libro”. Y le dimos la sabiduría cuando aún era un niño,
Deutsch
O Yahya, halte das Buch kraftvoll fest. Und Wir gaben ihm Weisheit im Kindesalter,