| Maryam: (10) He said, "My Lord, make..."

Issues Discussed:

Some commentators suggested that Zakariyya requested the sign to confirm the glad tidings. This view is considered weak because the glad tidings themselves (of the child) were already confirmed by the statement of God, and a revealed sign could not be stronger than the explicit word.

Others stated that the glad tidings of the child were given without specifying the time of its occurrence. Therefore, Zakariyya requested the sign to know the specific time when the event would take place. This latter view is the correct one.

There is consensus that the sign involved his inability to speak (to others). Mere silence, while capable of speech, would not constitute a miracle.

They differed on two opinions regarding the nature of this inability:

1. Opinion 1: His tongue was completely paralyzed from the beginning.
2. Opinion 2: He was prevented from speaking to the people in the manner of direct address, even though he was capable of uttering the remembrance of God (Dhikr) and reciting the Torah.

This second opinion is stronger in my view.

If his tongue were completely paralyzed, this could be due to an illness or a divine act. Zakariyya (a.s.) would not know that the paralysis was a miracle unless he knew it was not due to illness but purely an act of God while his vocal apparatus was sound. This requires another proof, which would then require yet another proof, leading to an infinite regress.

However, if his tongue was restrained only from speaking to the people, while he retained the ability to speak the remembrance of God and recite the Torah, it is self-evident that this restraint is not due to a physical ailment but purely an act of God. Thus, it is established as a sign and a miracle.

What strengthens this view is the Almighty's statement: {unless you speak to people for three nights perfectly}. This specification of speaking to people implies, by way of mafhūm (implication), that he was capable of speaking to others (i.e., in prayer or remembrance).

They differed on the meaning of sawiyyan (سَوِيًّا):

• Some said it is an adjective describing the three nights.
• Most exegetes said it is an adjective describing Zakariyya. The meaning is: "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people during this period while you are sawiyyan (sound/healthy), meaning no illness has afflicted you."

{فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ أَنْ سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا}

(So he came out to his people from the sanctuary, and signaled to them: "Exalt [God] morning and evening.")