سورة آل عِمرَان
Surah Al-i-‘Imrân 3:44
Family of Amran · Verse 44 of 200
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَامَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
These are some of the important accounts of the things unseen We have revealed to you. You were not present with them when they (- the priests) cast their quills (to decide) as to which of them should have Mary in his charge (to arrange her marriage); and you were not with them when they (- the exalted assembly of the angels) were engaged in a discussion (over the issue of Muhammad being entrusted with the Divine mission).
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which We reveal unto thee (O Messenger!) by inspiration: Thou wast not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: Nor wast thou with them when they disputed (the point).
Ahmed Ali
This is news of the Unknown that We send you, for you were not there when they cast lots with quills (to determine) who should take care of Mary, nor when they disputed it.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
(O Messenger:) that is of the tidings of the things of the unseen (the things that took place in the past and have remained hidden from people with all their truth), which We reveal to you, for you were not present with them when they drew lots with their pens about who should have charge of Mary; nor were you present with them when they were disputing (about the matter).
Daryabadi
This is of the tidings of things hidden which We reveal unto thee and thou wast not with them when they cast their reeds as to which of them should take care of Maryam, nor wast thou with them when they disputed.
Faridul Haque
These are tidings of the hidden, which We secretly reveal to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him); and you were not present with them when they threw their pens to draw lots, to know who should be the guardian of Maryam; nor were you present with them when they were quarrelling. (Yet you know of these things - this is a proof of your being a Prophet.)
Maulana Muhammad Ali
This is of the tidings of things unseen which We reveal to thee. And thou wast not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Mary in his charge, and thou wast not with them when they contended one with another.
Maulvi Sher Ali
This is of the tidings of things unseen which WE reveal to thee. And thou was not with them when they cast their arrows, as to which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor was thou with them when they disputed with one another.
Muhammad Asad
This account of something that was beyond the reach of thy perception We [now] reveal unto thee for thou wert not with them when they drew lots as to which of them should be Mary's guardian, and thou wert not with them when they contended [about it] with one another.
Muhammad Musin Khan
This is a part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, i.e. the news of the past nations of which you have no knowledge) which We inspire you with (O Muhammad SAW). You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam (Mary); nor were you with them when they disputed.
Muhammad Pickthall
This is of the tidings of things hidden. We reveal it unto thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they threw their pens (to know) which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor wast thou present with them when they quarrelled (thereupon).
Muhammad Sarwar
(Muhammad), that was some of the news about the unseen, that We have revealed to you. You were not among those who cast lots by throwing their arrows to find out who would take custody of Mary, nor were you among those who disputed the matter.
Muhammed ali Shakir
This is of the announcements relating to the unseen which We reveal to you; and you were not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Marium in his charge, and you were not with them when they contended one with another.
Rashad Khalifa
This is news from the past that we reveal to you. You were not there when they drew their raffles to select Mary's guardian. You were not present when they argued with one another.
Shabbir Ahmed
(O Messenger) We are revealing to you these events of the unseen history (so that you may dispel conjecture). You were not present with them when they threw their pens (casting lots) which of them should take charge of Mary (after Zakariya). And you were not present with them when they quarreled about it.
Commentary 3:44 The life history of Mary and Jesus was shrouded in mystery and darkness until the Holy Qur’ân clarified their true roles as righteous servants of Allâh,…
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَامَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
3:44 The life history of Mary and Jesus was shrouded in mystery and darkness until the Holy Qur’ân clarified their true roles as righteous servants of Allâh, and rejected two other and extreme views: the Jewish view that Jesus was conceived in sin and was an illegitimate child; and the Christian view that he was the son of God.
Mary’s life as narrated in the New Testament casts no light on these subjects; therefore the verse starts with the statement that ‘these are some of the important accounts of the things unseen’. It informs us that the person who took “charge” (يَكْفُلُ ) of Mary (-Zachariah) was chosen by casting quills, as there were many candidates interested in taking Mary in their charge. The person who takes “responsibility”; according to the word “kafalu” (كْفُلُ) used here, is responsible for the child till “nikkah” (Tâj, Lisân). In the Christian terminology, the expression “nikkah” is equivalent to getting married. The verse thus negates the view that Mary never married. “Giving her child to someone in charge in a Closter” was the promise of the Mother of Mary given to God (3:31).