Tafsir of Al-Hijr 15:57

(i.e., what is your affair and your grave matter for which you were sent, other than the glad tidings, O you messengers?)

Perhaps he, peace be upon him, knew that the totality of the purpose was not merely the glad tidings, based on a statement of theirs—folded away here—that occurred during the conversation. The placement of "He said" between his two statements, peace be upon him, indicates that there is something whose mention was omitted. His addressing them with the title of "messengers"—after his previous address was devoid of that, and preceded by the fa (so)—makes it apparent that their intended statement contained what led him to understand that fact.

Thus, there is no need to resort to the argument that his knowledge—that the entire purpose was not the glad tidings—was because they were numerous, and glad tidings do not require a multitude (and for that reason, a single messenger sufficed for Zakariyya and Maryam, peace be upon them). Nor is there need to argue that they gave him the glad tidings in the midst of the situation to dispel his fear, for if it were the total purpose, they would have initiated the encounter with it.

Moreover, there is debate regarding what has been mentioned. It has been said: Punishment, like glad tidings, also does not require a multitude; does one not see that Gabriel, peace be upon him, overturned their cities with one of his wings? Furthermore, it refutes the claim that "for that reason, a single messenger sufficed" to point out that Zakariyya, peace be upon him, was not satisfied with one in his glad tidings, as indicated by the words of the Exalted: "Then the angels called to him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, 'Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya.'" As for Maryam, peace be upon her, only one came to her for the breathing of the soul and the gift [of the child], as indicated by his saying: "That I may give you a pure boy," and the saying of the Exalted: "Then We breathed into it of Our spirit." The glad tidings were a necessity of that gift and implicit within it, not the primary objective itself.

Furthermore, the statement "if it were the total purpose, they would have initiated with it" is undermined by the story of Maryam, peace be upon her; she said: "I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you fear Allah. He said: 'I am only a messenger from your Lord to give you a pure boy.'" It is possible that their saying, "Do not fear," was a preamble to the glad tidings.

This has been answered by stating that it carries no weight, because Maryam, peace be upon her—due to the purity of her state—hastened to seek refuge the moment she caught sight of him in human form, not allowing him to initiate with the glad tidings, unlike the situation we are currently discussing. Regarding what was mentioned earlier, the meaning is that the custom prevailing among people is that a single messenger is sent for glad tidings, and a group for other matters, such as war, seizure, and the like; and Allah, the Exalted, manages affairs for people according to what they are accustomed to. Therefore, the story of Gabriel, peace be upon him, does not contradict this, even if it is said: "The intended meaning by 'the angels' in that verse is Gabriel, peace be upon him," just as they say, "Let him ride horses and wear clothes," meaning the genus applicable to the single instance of such; this has been stated by some researchers.

The aforementioned view—that the knowledge [of their mission] stemmed from a statement occurring during the conversation that was omitted—has been criticized as being far-fetched. The placement of "He said," the fa, and the address using the title of "messengers" do not support it. As for the first, it is possible because there was a transition to another topic, and the like is frequent in speech. As for the second, it is possible that the fa is fasiha (eloquent/explicative), meaning: "If this has been realized, then inform me, what is your business for which you have come, other than the glad tidings?" As for the third, it is possible to say: He, peace be upon him, did not know they were angels sent from Allah, the Exalted, until after the glad tidings. It would not have been appropriate to address them as such at the time of denial or astonishment at their glad tidings; likewise, it would not be appropriate in the response, as is not hidden from those of sound taste. Rather, it might be said: It would not be appropriate even at his saying, "We are fearful of you," assuming he knew that before the glad tidings, because the situation there was too constrained to lengthen the speech with such an address. So, ponder this.