Living The Quran
From Issue: 978 [Read full issue]
Moral Provision
Al-e-Imran (The House of Imran) Sura 3: Verse 37
"Her Sustainer graciously accepted her, and caused her to grow in a goodly growth and placed her in the care of Zakariya. Whenever Zakariya visited her in the sanctuary (mihrab), he found her supplied with sustenance (rizq). He would ask: 'O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?' She would answer: 'It is from Allah, for Allah grants sustenance (rizq) to whom He pleases without measure.'"
The word mihrab (sanctuary) in the text means either the part of the temple reserved for women to worship and to retire for itikaf or a specific chamber reserved for Maryam to live in and worship. There were many such chambers and rooms in the temple for worshippers. The words "whenever Zakariya visited her in the sanctuary" show two facts. One, to take care of her he frequently visited her, and two, Maryam spent all her time in her sanctuary in worship and remembrance of Allah.
"He found her supplied with sustenance (rizq)" indicate the exceptional spiritual excellence of Maryam that even Zakariya, a person of extraordinary spiritual and moral gifts, was impressed by her moral and spiritual excellence and would in great astonishment ask her, "O Maryam, whence have you got all these gifts and wisdom?"
The word rizq here means wisdom and insight. In the Quran, it has been used at more than one place for revelation and spiritual guidance just as it is used in the Torah and the Injil. Prophet Jesus is also reported as having said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4). In the next verse, it is mentioned that Zakariya was so impressed by Maryam's wisdom and knowledge that even though he had reached extreme old age and his wife was barren, he supplicated for a righteous offspring like her. Obviously, a person with spiritual gifts like Zakariya could not be impressed merely by provisions of grapes and apples to be moved to supplicate for offspring for himself. Only the moral and spiritual sustenance could ignite his spiritual fervour so that, on seeing its manifestation, he would marvel and wished for a child with similar moral and spiritual gifts.
Clearly the rhetorical question, "O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?" is not meant to elicit information but is expressive of surprise and appreciation for her excellence and is a natural result of finding someone gifted far beyond her or his years in the eyes of the speaker. Such an expression is a form of appreciation and here it shows the humility and generosity of Zakariya that he graciously appreciates the moral excellence of a rather young girl under his care. The answer of Mary, "It is from Allah," indicates her wisdom and maturity. She describes all her achievements as a bounty and gift from Allah and does not consider it a reward for her piety and worship.
Compiled From:
"Pondering Over The Qur'an: Surah Ali Imran" - Amin Ahsan Islahi