Tafsir of Maryam 19:11

Surah Maryam (19): Verse 11

(11) Then he came out to his people from the mihrab (prayer niche)...

The First Issue: His Coming Out from the Mihrab

Regarding the Almighty's saying: {Then he came out to his people from the mihrab}:

1. It is said that the mihrab was a place where he would seclude himself for prayer and worship, and then he would move to his people, at which point revelation would come to them (concerning his condition).
2. It is also said that it was a place where he and others prayed, but they could not enter it for prayer except with his permission. They had gathered, waiting for him to come out to grant them permission. He came out to them while he was unable to speak, and revelation came to them (indicating his state).

The Second Issue: The Nature of the Revelation

It is not permissible that what is meant by "revelation came to them" (awha ilayhim) is speech, because speech was impossible for him. Therefore, what was meant was something other than speech. This could be making them aware of the matter either through gesture, a specific symbol (ramz), or writing, as all these convey the intended meaning.

Thus, they knew that what he had been promised (his ability to speak again) had occurred. Just as joy occurred for him, it occurred for them, revealing to them Allah's honor bestowed upon him through the answer (to his prayer).

It should be noted that gesture (isharah) is the most fitting interpretation, based on the Almighty's saying in Surah Al 'Imran: {three days except by signal (ramzan)} (Al 'Imran: 41), and a ramz (signal/symbol) is not a metaphor for speech.

The Third Issue: The Meaning of Glorification (Tasbih)

The commentators agree that by glorification (al-tasbih), the intended meaning is prayer (al-salat), which is permissible in the Arabic language. It is said: Sabbahtu al-duha (I performed the Duha prayer), meaning the Duha prayer. 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said regarding the Duha prayer: "I indeed usabbihuha (perform it)," meaning I pray it.

If this is established, then it is narrated from Abu Al-'Aliyah that the morning (al-bukrah) refers to the Dawn Prayer (Fajr), and the evening (al-'ashiy) refers to the Afternoon Prayer (Asr).

It is possible that they used to pray only these two prayers with him in his mihrab. He would then come out to them and permit them with his tongue. When his tongue was restrained, he came out to them as usual and permitted them without speech. And Allah knows best.

< (12) O Yahya! Take the Scripture with strength." And We gave him wisdom while he was a youth.

(13) And compassion from Us, and purity. And he was pious,

(14) And dutiful to his parents, and was not a tyrant nor a disobedient one.

(15) And peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he will be resurrected alive.