Maryam (surah)
Maryam[1] (Arabic: مريم, "Mary") is the 19th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 98 verses (āyāt). It is named after Mary, mother of Jesus (Isa), and the Virgin Mary in Christian belief. The text of the surah refers to many known prophetic figures, including Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Ishmael, Idris, Adam, and Noah.
مريم Maryam Mary | |
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Classification | Meccan |
Position | Juzʼ 16 Qāla ʾa-lam |
No. of Rukus | 6 |
No. of verses | 98 |
No. of Sajdahs | 1 (Ayah 58) |
No. of words | 972 |
No. of letters | 3835 |
Opening muqaṭṭaʻāt | 5 Kaaf Ha Ya Ain Saad (كهيعص) |
Quran |
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Regarding the timing and contextual background of the supposed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier "Meccan Surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina. The Birmingham Quran manuscript preserves the final eight verses (Q19:91–98), radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645 CE (in the Islamic calendar, between 56 BH and 25 AH).[2][3]
Theodor Nöldeke's chronology identifies this Surah as the 58th Surah delivered, while the traditional Egyptian chronology places it as the 44th. According to Sayyid Qutb's commentary, the references to Abrahamic prophets serve to emphasize God's oneness and to delineate the various possible responses to prophecy and their consequences.[4]
Significance of Mary
Mary, the figure from whom this Surah takes its name. She is attributed the honorific title 'Sister of Aaron' in verse 28, and Jesus is referred to by his familial connection to her in verse 34; in a text and culture in which individuals were identified by their descent from male family members, the identifying title 'son of Mary' places startling emphasis on Mary's motherhood. This emphasis draws attention to the unique circumstances of Jesus's birth; it was not a biological process, and no father was involved, but it rejects the Christian belief that he was begotten by God. The text describes the agony of Mary's childbirth in great detail, including her wish that she had died long ago in order to avoid such pain. Despite this great hardship, God is portrayed as compassionate and attentive to Mary's needs; He urges her not to worry and provides her with food. Feminist reading of the text points to this treatment of childbirth as verification of the process's special significance.[5]
Other scholars point to the interaction between Mary and the angel Gabriel as indicative of traditional gender roles at the time; when Mary, a solitary female, encounters the male angel, her first reaction is fear of the impropriety of the situation and uncertainty regarding the angel's intentions. She can hear the angel's message and question him only after he assures her that he has come as a messenger from God.[6]
Maryam in Syriac (ܡܪܝܡ) is a common adjective connoting blessing and perhaps the verb "[God] exalts her".
Rhyme structures
In its original Arabic, the text of chapter 19 progresses through a series of varying rhyme structures that correspond to the content being discussed. Throughout the initial narration of the stories of Zachariah and John, Mary and Jesus, and other prophets, verses rhyme based on the syllable 'ya'. When the text moves on to a commentary on the true identity of Jesus, words rhyme due to a long 'ee' or 'oo' preceding a nasal 'm' or 'n', which is considered to give an air of settledness or finality to the subjects being discussed. The first rhyme scheme is then resumed during further accounts of earlier prophets and changes to a rhyme based on a medium 'a' following a voiced 'd' when the Surah discusses punishments for those who reject truth and the prophets. The strength of this vocalization is exchanged for the stronger still double 'd' sound when denouncing unbelievers for their criticism.[4]
Exegesis
Q19:1 the "mysterious letters"
The chapter opens with the Bismillah and the "mysterious letters": Kaf; Ha; Ya; 'Ayn; and Sad.[7] The remaining 97 verses can be divided into three primary sections.[4]
Q19:2-40 Jesus in Islam
The first section, verses 2–40, consists of the narrative of the prophet Zachariah and the birth of his son John, the story of Mary and the birth of her son Jesus, and a commentary on Jesus' true identity which rejects the Christian claim that he is God's son.[8]
Q19:16–37 the story of Maryam
- In the Book, tell the story of Maryam, when she went away from her family (for Prayer) to a place in the East.
- She placed a screen (to hide) from them; Then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her in the form of a man of respect in every way.
- She said: "Verily, I ask shelter from you with the Most Gracious (Allah):(Do not come near me) if you guard yourself against evil."
- He said: "I am a messenger from your Lord, only to announce to you, the gift of a righteous son."
- She said: "How shall I have a son, when no man has touched me, and I am not indecent?"
- He said: "It will be so: Your Lord says 'That is easy for Me: And (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign to men and a Mercy from Us': It is a thing (already) ordained."
- So she started to carry him (Jesus), and she went (to rest) with him to a far place.
- And the pains of childbirth took her to the trunk of a palm tree: She cried "Oh! If I had died before this! If I was a thing forgotten and not seen!"
- Then (a voice) cried to her from under the tree: "Do not feel sad! Because your Lord has made a stream underneath you; And shake towards yourself the trunk of the palm tree: It will drop fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and cool (wet your) eye. And if you see any man, say, 'I have promised solemnly to the Most Gracious, and this day I will not enter into talk with any human being.'"
- At the end she brought the baby to her people, carrying baby Jesus in her arms. They said "O Maryam! Truly an amazing thing have you brought! O sister of Aaron! Your father was not an adulterous man, and your mother was not an immoral woman!"
- Then, she pointed to the baby. They said, "How can we talk to one who is only a child in the cradle?"
- He (Baby Jesus) said, "Indeed I am a servant of Allah: He has given me the Injeel (Gospel) and made me a prophet; and he has made me blessed where ever I be, and has commanded for me prayer and charity as long as I live; Allah has made me kind to my mother, and not arrogant or miserable;And Peace is on me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I will be raised up alive!"
- Jesus, the son of Maryam was like this: It is a statement of truth, about which they dispute (uselessly).
- It is not suited for Almighty Allah that He should father a son. Glory to Him! When He determines anything, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.
- Jesus said: "And surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him alone you, therefore, worship: That is the Straight Path."
- Then, the groups differed among themselves: so this is a warning to the disbelievers because of the Judgement on a great Day! [9]
Q19:41-65 Abraham
The second section, verses 41–65, tells of Abraham's departure from his family's idolatrous ways and then refers to many other prophets. The text discusses the various responses of those who heard their prophecy and the fates those hearers met; throughout these descriptions, the oneness of God is emphasized.[10]
Q19:66-98 Islamic view of the Trinity
The third section, verses 66–98, confirms the reality of resurrection and offers depictions of the Day of Judgment alongside depictions of this life.[11]
Q19:91-98 Birmingham Manuscript
The Birmingham Quran manuscript preserves the final eight verses (Q19:91–98) of Chapter 19, Mayryam (plus parts of Chapter 18, Al-Kahf; and Chapter 20, "Taha").[12] Located in the Cadbury Research Library, It is written in the Arabic language in Hijazi script by unknown scribe(s).
The Manuscript has been radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645 CE (in the Islamic calendar, between 56 BH and 25 AH).[2][3]
Q19:91-92 dissents from the Trinitarian Christian practice of calling upon God in the name of his ‘son’.[13] 91That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. 92And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.[14] Q19:96 supports a requirement for "Faith and deeds"[15] 96Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.[16]
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Ṣan‘ā’ 1
Location | Visible Traces | Reconstruction | Standard Text |
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Quran 19:2 Folio 22, recto, l. 24, p. 63 | ر ﺣ[ـﻤ]ﻪ | رَحْمَةِ | رَحْمَتِ |
Quran 19:3 Folio 22, recto, l. 25, p. 63 | ا د ٮا د ی ر ٮک ر ﻛ[ـر] ٮا | إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّــكَ زَكَرِيَّا | إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّــهُ |
Quran 19:4 Folio 22, recto, l. 25, p. 63 | و ٯل ر ٮی | وَقٰلَ رَبِّــي | قالَ رَبِّ |
Quran 19:4 Folio 22, recto, l. 26, p. 63 | و ٯل ر ٮی ا سٮعل ا لر ا س سٮٮا | وَقٰلَ رَبِّي ٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْباً | قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا |
Quran 19:4 Folio 22, recto, l. 26, p. 63 | و لم ا کں ر ٮ ٮـ(ـد) عا ک | وَلَمْ أَکُنْ رَبِّ بِدُعَاءِكَ | وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ |
Quran 19:5 Folio 22, recto, l. 27, p. 63 | و ﺣ(ڡـ)ـٮ ا لمو ل مں و [ر] ا ی | وَ خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰل مِن وَرٰاءِى | وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرٰاءِى |
Quran 19:7 Folio 22, verso, l. 2-3, p. 63 | ؛{-----------------} (ٯد) و هٮٮا لک علما ر کٮا و ٮسر ٮه {----------------}(ﻪ) مں ٯـٮـ(ـﻞ) ﺳ//ـﻤٮـﺎ | ؛{يَـٰزَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا} قَد وَهَبْنَا لَكَ غُلٰماً زَكِيَّاً وَبَشَّرْنٰهُ {بِيَحْيیٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل ﻟَّ}ﻪُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا[17] | يَـٰزَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا |
Quran 19:8 Folio 22, verso, l. 3-4, p. 63 | ا //ﻰ ٮـ(ﮑ)ـﻮ ﮞ لی (ﻋ)ـلم {---------------} ﻟ[ﮑ]ـٮر عٮٮا | أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ {وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱ} لْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا | أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا |
Quran 19:9 Folio 22, verso, l. 5, p. 63 | و لم ٮک سا ی | وَلَمْ تَكُ شَاي | وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا |
Quran 19:11 Folio 22, verso, l. 7, p. 64 | ؛{-}ـم حرح | ؛{ثُـ}ـمَّ خَرَجَ | فَــخَرَجَ |
Quran 19:11 Folio 22, verso, l. 7, p. 64 | ا (و) ﺣ(ﻰ) ا ﻟ(ـٮـ)ﻬﻢ | أَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ | فَــأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ |
Quran 19:12 Folio 22, verso, l. 8, p. 64 | و علمٮه ا ﻟ(ـﺤ)ﮑﻢ | وَعَلَّمْنٰهُ الْحُكْمَ | وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا |
Quran 19:13 Folio 22, verso, l. 9, p. 64 | حننا | حَنٰناً | وَحَنَاناً |
Quran 19:14 Folio 22, verso, l. 10, p. 64 | و لم ٮک | وَلَمْ يَكُ | وَلَمْ يَكُنْ |
Quran 19:15 Folio 22, verso, l. 10, p. 64 | و علٮه ا لسلم | وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلٰمُ | وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ |
Quran 19:19 Folio 22, verso, l. 15, p. 64 | لنهب | لِنَهَبَ | لِأَهَبَ |
Quran 19:21 Folio 22, verso, l. 17, p. 64 | و هو ﻋﻠ//(ﻪ) ﻫ(ـٮـ)ـﮟ | وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ هَيِّنٌ | هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ |
Quran 19:21 Folio 22, verso, l. 18, p. 64 | و [ا] مر ا مٯصٮا | وَأَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا | وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا |
Quran 19:22 Folio 22, verso, l. 18, p. 64 | ڡحملٮ | فَحَمَلَتْ | فَحَمَلَتْــهُ |
Quran 19:23 Folio 22, verso, l. 19, p. 64 | ڡـﻠﻤ// ا حا ها ا لمحص | فَــلَمَّا أَجَاءَهَا ٱلْمَخٰضُ | فَأَجَاءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ |
Quran 19:23 Folio 22, verso, l. 20, p. 65 | ٯٮل هد ا ا ﻟ(ـٮـ)[ـو] م | قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا الْيَوْمِ | قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا |
Quran 19:24 Folio 22, verso, l. 20-21, p. 65 | ڡٮـ[ـد] ٮها مں ٮـﺤٮـﻬ/----------/ ا لا ٮحر ٮی | فَنٰدٮٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَـ/ـا مَلَكٌ/ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى [18] | فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى |
Quran 19:26 Folio 22, verso, l. 23, p. 65 | و ٯـ// [ی] ﻋ(ـٮٮـ)ﺎ | وَقَرِّى عَيْنًا | وَقَرِّى عَيْنًا |
Quran 19:26 Folio 22, verso, l. 24, p. 65 | ﺻ[ـﻮ] (ما) [و ﺻﻤ]ـٮا | صَوْماً وَصُمْتاً | صَوْماً |
Quran 19:26 Folio 22, verso, l. 24, p. 65 | ﻟﮟ ا کلم | لَنْ أُکَلِّمَ | فَــلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ |
Quran 19:27 Folio 22, verso, l. 25, p. 65 | ؛//ﺎ [ٮـ](ـت ٯو) [ﻣﻬ] ﺎ | فَأَتَتْ قَوْمَهَا | فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا |
Quran 19:27 Folio 22, verso, l. 25, p. 65 | لٯد ا ﺗٮت | لَقَدْ أَتَيْتِ | لَقَدْ جِئْتِ |
Quran 19:28 Folio 22, verso, l. 26, p. 65 | ما کا (ﮞ) ا ٮو [ک] (ا ٮا) //[ﻮ] ا | مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ أَباً سُوءاً | مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمْرَأَ سَوْءٍ |
See also
- Prophets of Islam
- Luke 1, chapter in the Christian Bible covering some of the same events
References
- Ibn Kathir. "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Maryam". Quran 4 U. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "Birmingham Qur'an manuscript dated among the oldest in the world". University of Birmingham. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- "'Oldest' Koran fragments found in Birmingham University". BBC. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- Qutb, Sayyid. In the Shade of the Qur'an. http://kalamullah.com/shade-of-the-quran.html
- Wadud, Amina. Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Sells, Michael. Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations. Ashland, Oregon: White Cloud Press.
- Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an: Sura 19:1. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an: Sura 19:2–40. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Translation: Syed Vickar Ahamed, 2007. Approved by Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy, Cairo, Egypt.
- Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an: Sura 19:41–65. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an: Sura 19:66–98. New York: Oxford University Press.
- "Tests show UK Quran manuscript is among world's oldest". CNN. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- p1033 "The Quran: A Complete Revelation", 2016, Sam Gerrans
- Q19:91-92 Sahih International translation
- Gerrans p1034
- Q19:96 Sahih International
- Sadeghi & Goudarzi 2012, p. 63. The hypothetical interpolation of texts for the missing parts in this and the next row are based on Sadeghi & Goudarzi's fn. 216 and 218.
- Sadeghi & Goudarzi 2012, p. 65. The hypothetical interpolation of text for the illegible part is based on Sadeghi & Goudarzi's fn. 229.