Tafsir of Maryam 19:3

Surah Maryam (19): Verse 3

إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا (When he called his Lord with a secret call.)

Tafsir Points (Al-Razi's Perspective):

He observed the Sunnah (way) of God in concealing his call, because for God, openness and secrecy are equal. Concealment was preferable for four reasons:

1. Closer to Sincerity (Ikhlas): Concealment is further from showing off (Riya').
2. Avoiding Blame: He concealed it so he would not be blamed for requesting a child in his old age.
3. Fear of Guardians/Relatives: He kept it secret from his guardians/relatives whom he feared.
4. Weakness of Voice: His voice was faint due to his weakness and extreme old age, as described in the characteristics of an old man: his voice is low, and he hears only at times.

Addressing the Apparent Contradiction:

If it is stipulated that a Nida' (call) must be loud, how can it be both a Nida' and Khafiyyan (secret/low)?

The answer is twofold:

1. Intention vs. Reality: He exerted the utmost effort he was capable of in raising his voice. However, the voice was weak due to extreme old age. Therefore, it was a Nida' in terms of his intention but Khafiyyan (low) in terms of the actual outcome.
2. Context of Prayer: He supplicated while praying, because God Almighty answered him during prayer, as stated: “So the angels called him while he was standing praying in the sanctuary, [saying], ‘Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John…’” (Al 'Imran: 39). The fact that the answer came during prayer indicates that the supplication occurred during prayer, thus necessitating that the call within it be low/secret.

Verses 4-6:

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا (He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have grown feeble, and my head has turned gray with age, and I have never been, O my Lord, unhappy in my supplication to You.)

وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا (And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife is barren. So grant me from Yourself an heir)

يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا (Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, O my Lord, pleasing [to You].")