Maryam (Mary)
Verse 1 - 3
Table of Contents
(Revealed in Mecca)
No. 19
98 verses in 6 sections
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Surah Maryam, as arranged in the Book, is the nineteenth Surah of the holy Quran. It contains 98 verses which have been revealed in Mecca.
Similar to other Meccan Suras, the content of this Surah is mostly about matters concerning the Hereafter, the end of the evil-doers, the rewards of the good-doers, and part of the account of the lives of Zakariyya (Zachariah), Mary, Jesus, Yahya (John), Abraham, Ishmael and Idris (Enoch).
It is recorded in Tafsir-i-Al-Mizan that, in the last few verses of Surah Maryam, Allah says that the purpose of revealing this Surah is to give ‘glad tidings and warnings’, and this aim has been followed in the beautiful form of the story of the prophets’ lives.
Allah has mentioned no woman in the Qur’an directly by her proper name except Mary, and the name ‘Mary’ occurs 34 times in the Qur’an. The only Surah, which has been entitled by the name of a woman in the Qur’an, is this very Surah, Surah Mary.
For the virtue of studying this Surah, it has been cited that whoever continues reciting this Surah (whenever he can), he will not die save that Allah will suffice him in life, wealth and children.1
There is no doubt, of course, that the one will make himself free from want from others by means of practicing the contents of this Surah.
Section 1: Zachariah and John
Surah Maryam - Verses 1-3
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ كهيعص (1) ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا (2) إِذْ نادی رَبَّهُ نِداءً خَفِيًّا (3)
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
1. “Kaf‘k’,Ha‘h’,Ya‘y’,‘Ain ‘‘A’,Sad‘s’.”
2. (This is) a mention of the mercy of your Lord unto His servant Zachariah.”
3. “When he called upon his Lord in secret.”
The mentioned letters are among the ‘Abbreviated Letters’ of the Qur’an in which some mysteries and secrets are hidden. Some Islamic traditions indicate that each of these letters is a sign of one of the great names of Allah (The Names Most Beautiful). Kaf ‘K’ refers to /kafi/ (The Sufficient); Ha ‘H’ refers to /hadi/ (The Guide); Ya ‘Y’ refers to /waliyy/ (The Friend, The Protector, The Surety, The Patron); ‘Ain ‘A’ refers to /‘alim/ (The Knower); and Sad ‘S’ refers to /sadiq-ul-wa‘d/ (The One Who is Truthful in His promises). Sometimes, in some supplications, Allah (s.w.t.) is invoked through these abbreviated letters, in this manner:
“O Lord! by Ka, Ha, Ya, ‘Ain, Sad.”
In a supplication, for instance, Hadrat Ali-ibn-Abitalib (as) said:
“O Allah! We ask you, O’Kaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ain, Sad!”2
Some Islamic traditions state that these abbreviated letters indicate the event of the uprising of Imam Hussayn in Karbala, as follows: Kaf refers to ‘Karbala’, Ha refers to ‘Halak’ (the slaughter of the Prophet’s progeny), Ya refers to ‘Yazid’, ‘Ain refers to the subject of ‘Atash (thirst), and Sad refers to ‘Sabr’ (the patience and steadfastness of Imam Hussayn and his self-sacrificing supporters).
It should be noted, of course, that the verses of the Qur’an have the capacity to have different meanings but despite the variety of meanings, they do not conflict with each other.
After the abbreviated letters at the beginning of Surah Maryam, the first verse concerning the story of Zachariah begins.
It says:
“(This is) a mention of the mercy of your Lord unto His servant Zachariah.”
This event occurred at the time when Zachariah was very worried and sad because he did not have a child, and he, worshipping Him, called upon his Lord secretly.
The verse says:
“When he called upon his Lord in secret.”
The Arabic term /nida/ means ‘to call with a loud voice’, and the Qur’anic word /xafiyya/ means ‘in secret’ not in a low voice, since such a call cannot be performed ‘silently’, but it can be done secretly.
Perhaps, the invocation of Zachariah, done in secret, was for the reason that his people would not scoff at him by saying why that old man wished Allah for a son.
Some Islamic literature indicates that the best supplication is that which is asked in secret, and the best provision is that which is sufficient.2