Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Sign of the Pregnancy Allah, the Exalted, informed about Zakariyya that he said, قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً (He (Zakariyya) said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign.") "Give me a sign and a proof of the existence of that which You have promised me, so that my soul will be at rest and my heart will be at ease with Your promise." Similarly Ibrahim said, رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى (My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead. He (Allah) said: "Do you not believe" He said: "Yes (I believe), but to put my heart at ease.")2:260 Then Allah says, قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ (He said: "Your sign is...") meaning, "Your sign will be..." أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً (that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect.) Meaning, `your tongue will be prevented from speaking for three nights while you are healthy and fit, without any sickness or illness.' Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Wahb, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others said, "His tongue was arrested without any sickness or illness." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "He used to recite and glorify Allah, but he was not able to speak to his people except by gestures. " Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً (three nights, though having no bodily defect.) "The nights were consecutive." However, the first statement that is reported from him and the majority is more correct. This Ayah is similar to what Allah, the Exalted, said in Surah Al `Imran, قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ (He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me." (Allah) said "Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much, and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning.)3:41 This is a proof that he did not speak to his people for these three nights and their days as well. إِلاَّ رَمْزًا (except with signals.) Meaning, with bodily gestures, this is why Allah says in this noble Ayah, فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ (Then he came out to his people from the Mihrab) referring to the place where he was given the good news of the child. فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ (he indicated to them by signs) Meaning he made a gesture to them that was subtle and swift. أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيّاً (to glorify Allah in the morning and in the afternoon.) That they should be agreeable to what he was commanded to do during these three days, to increase in his deeds and gratitude to Allah for what He had given him. Mujahid said, فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ (he indicated to them by signs) "He made a gesture." Wahb and Qatadah said the same.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says, ييَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَـبَ بِقُوَّةٍ (O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture the Tawrah.) Means, "Learn the Book with strength." In other words, learn it well, with zeal and studious effort. وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) This means he was given understanding, knowledge, fortitude, diligence and zeal for good and the pursuit of good. He was blessed with these characteristics even though he was young. Allah said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And (made him) Hananan from Us,) 19:13 Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us, ) "This means mercy from Us." `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak all said the same. Ad-Dahhak added, "Mercy that no one would be able to give except Us." Qatadah added, "With it, Allah had mercy upon Zakariyya." Mujahid said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us,) "This was gentleness from His Lord upon him." The apparent meaning is that Allah's statement Hananan (affection, compassion) is directly related to His statement, وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (and We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) meaning, "We gave him wisdom, compassion and purity." This means that he was a compassionate man, who was righteous. Hanan means the love for affection and tenderness (towards others). Concerning Allah's statement, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) This is related to His statement, وَحَنَانًا (And Hananan) The word Zakah means purity from filth, wickedness and sins. Qatadah said, "The word Zakah means the righteous deed." Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Jurayj both said, "The righteous deed is the pure (Zakah) deed." Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) "This means that he was a blessing." وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا (and he was pious.)19:13 meaning that he was pure and had no inclination to do sins. Allah said; وَبَرًّا بِوَلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (And dutiful to his parents, and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) After Allah mentioned Yahya's obedience to his Lord and that Allah created him full of mercy, purity and piety, He attached to it his obedience to his parents and his good treatment of them. Allah mentioned that he refrained from disobeying them in speech, actions, commands and prohibitions. Due to this Allah says, وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) Then, after mentioning these beautiful characteristics, Allah mentions his reward for this, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This means that he had security and safety in these three circumstances. Sufyan bin `Uyaynah said, "The loneliest that a man will ever feel is in three situations. The first situation is on the day that he is born, when he sees himself coming out of what he was in. The second situation is on the day that he dies, when he sees people that he will not see anymore. The third situation is on the day when he is resurrected, when he sees himself in the great gathering. Allah has exclusively honored Yahya, the son of Zakariyya, by granting him peace in these situations. Allah says, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This narration was reported by Ibn Jarir, from Ahmad bin Mansur Al-Marwazi, from Sadaqah bin Al-Fadl, from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says, ييَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَـبَ بِقُوَّةٍ (O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture the Tawrah.) Means, "Learn the Book with strength." In other words, learn it well, with zeal and studious effort. وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) This means he was given understanding, knowledge, fortitude, diligence and zeal for good and the pursuit of good. He was blessed with these characteristics even though he was young. Allah said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And (made him) Hananan from Us,) 19:13 Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us, ) "This means mercy from Us." `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak all said the same. Ad-Dahhak added, "Mercy that no one would be able to give except Us." Qatadah added, "With it, Allah had mercy upon Zakariyya." Mujahid said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us,) "This was gentleness from His Lord upon him." The apparent meaning is that Allah's statement Hananan (affection, compassion) is directly related to His statement, وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (and We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) meaning, "We gave him wisdom, compassion and purity." This means that he was a compassionate man, who was righteous. Hanan means the love for affection and tenderness (towards others). Concerning Allah's statement, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) This is related to His statement, وَحَنَانًا (And Hananan) The word Zakah means purity from filth, wickedness and sins. Qatadah said, "The word Zakah means the righteous deed." Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Jurayj both said, "The righteous deed is the pure (Zakah) deed." Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) "This means that he was a blessing." وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا (and he was pious.)19:13 meaning that he was pure and had no inclination to do sins. Allah said; وَبَرًّا بِوَلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (And dutiful to his parents, and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) After Allah mentioned Yahya's obedience to his Lord and that Allah created him full of mercy, purity and piety, He attached to it his obedience to his parents and his good treatment of them. Allah mentioned that he refrained from disobeying them in speech, actions, commands and prohibitions. Due to this Allah says, وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) Then, after mentioning these beautiful characteristics, Allah mentions his reward for this, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This means that he had security and safety in these three circumstances. Sufyan bin `Uyaynah said, "The loneliest that a man will ever feel is in three situations. The first situation is on the day that he is born, when he sees himself coming out of what he was in. The second situation is on the day that he dies, when he sees people that he will not see anymore. The third situation is on the day when he is resurrected, when he sees himself in the great gathering. Allah has exclusively honored Yahya, the son of Zakariyya, by granting him peace in these situations. Allah says, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This narration was reported by Ibn Jarir, from Ahmad bin Mansur Al-Marwazi, from Sadaqah bin Al-Fadl, from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says, ييَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَـبَ بِقُوَّةٍ (O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture the Tawrah.) Means, "Learn the Book with strength." In other words, learn it well, with zeal and studious effort. وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) This means he was given understanding, knowledge, fortitude, diligence and zeal for good and the pursuit of good. He was blessed with these characteristics even though he was young. Allah said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And (made him) Hananan from Us,) 19:13 Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us, ) "This means mercy from Us." `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak all said the same. Ad-Dahhak added, "Mercy that no one would be able to give except Us." Qatadah added, "With it, Allah had mercy upon Zakariyya." Mujahid said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us,) "This was gentleness from His Lord upon him." The apparent meaning is that Allah's statement Hananan (affection, compassion) is directly related to His statement, وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (and We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) meaning, "We gave him wisdom, compassion and purity." This means that he was a compassionate man, who was righteous. Hanan means the love for affection and tenderness (towards others). Concerning Allah's statement, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) This is related to His statement, وَحَنَانًا (And Hananan) The word Zakah means purity from filth, wickedness and sins. Qatadah said, "The word Zakah means the righteous deed." Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Jurayj both said, "The righteous deed is the pure (Zakah) deed." Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) "This means that he was a blessing." وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا (and he was pious.)19:13 meaning that he was pure and had no inclination to do sins. Allah said; وَبَرًّا بِوَلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (And dutiful to his parents, and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) After Allah mentioned Yahya's obedience to his Lord and that Allah created him full of mercy, purity and piety, He attached to it his obedience to his parents and his good treatment of them. Allah mentioned that he refrained from disobeying them in speech, actions, commands and prohibitions. Due to this Allah says, وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) Then, after mentioning these beautiful characteristics, Allah mentions his reward for this, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This means that he had security and safety in these three circumstances. Sufyan bin `Uyaynah said, "The loneliest that a man will ever feel is in three situations. The first situation is on the day that he is born, when he sees himself coming out of what he was in. The second situation is on the day that he dies, when he sees people that he will not see anymore. The third situation is on the day when he is resurrected, when he sees himself in the great gathering. Allah has exclusively honored Yahya, the son of Zakariyya, by granting him peace in these situations. Allah says, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This narration was reported by Ibn Jarir, from Ahmad bin Mansur Al-Marwazi, from Sadaqah bin Al-Fadl, from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says, ييَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَـبَ بِقُوَّةٍ (O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture the Tawrah.) Means, "Learn the Book with strength." In other words, learn it well, with zeal and studious effort. وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) This means he was given understanding, knowledge, fortitude, diligence and zeal for good and the pursuit of good. He was blessed with these characteristics even though he was young. Allah said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And (made him) Hananan from Us,) 19:13 Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us, ) "This means mercy from Us." `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak all said the same. Ad-Dahhak added, "Mercy that no one would be able to give except Us." Qatadah added, "With it, Allah had mercy upon Zakariyya." Mujahid said, وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا (And Hananan from Us,) "This was gentleness from His Lord upon him." The apparent meaning is that Allah's statement Hananan (affection, compassion) is directly related to His statement, وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً (and We gave him wisdom while yet a child.) meaning, "We gave him wisdom, compassion and purity." This means that he was a compassionate man, who was righteous. Hanan means the love for affection and tenderness (towards others). Concerning Allah's statement, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) This is related to His statement, وَحَنَانًا (And Hananan) The word Zakah means purity from filth, wickedness and sins. Qatadah said, "The word Zakah means the righteous deed." Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Jurayj both said, "The righteous deed is the pure (Zakah) deed." Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, وَزَكَوةً (and Zakatan,) "This means that he was a blessing." وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا (and he was pious.)19:13 meaning that he was pure and had no inclination to do sins. Allah said; وَبَرًّا بِوَلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (And dutiful to his parents, and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) After Allah mentioned Yahya's obedience to his Lord and that Allah created him full of mercy, purity and piety, He attached to it his obedience to his parents and his good treatment of them. Allah mentioned that he refrained from disobeying them in speech, actions, commands and prohibitions. Due to this Allah says, وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً (and he was not arrogant or disobedient.) Then, after mentioning these beautiful characteristics, Allah mentions his reward for this, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This means that he had security and safety in these three circumstances. Sufyan bin `Uyaynah said, "The loneliest that a man will ever feel is in three situations. The first situation is on the day that he is born, when he sees himself coming out of what he was in. The second situation is on the day that he dies, when he sees people that he will not see anymore. The third situation is on the day when he is resurrected, when he sees himself in the great gathering. Allah has exclusively honored Yahya, the son of Zakariyya, by granting him peace in these situations. Allah says, وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَياً (And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!) This narration was reported by Ibn Jarir, from Ahmad bin Mansur Al-Marwazi, from Sadaqah bin Al-Fadl, from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah.