Tafsir of At-Tahreem 66:12

Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition): Verse 12

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ...

... الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا...

• "Guarded her chastity" (أَحْصَنَتْ): Meaning, she protected herself from all indecent acts (الفواحش), especially since she was falsely accused of adultery (قذفت بالزنا).
• "Her private parts" (الفرج): Taken in its literal sense.
  • Ibn Abbas said: Gabriel blew into the opening of her garment (جيب الدرع), stretching it with his two fingers and blowing into it. Anything that constitutes an opening or hole in a garment can be termed الفرج.
  • It is also said that أحصنت means she exerted herself greatly in maintaining her chastity; the chaste woman is the المحصنة.

...فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِنَا...

• "Breathed into it" (فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ): Meaning, He breathed into the opening of her garment (فرج ثوبها).
• Alternatively, it means: We created within him that which manifests life in bodies.
• "Into him" (فِيهِ): Referring to Jesus (عيسى).
• Some read it as (فِيهَا), referring to the essence/self of Jesus (نفس عيسى), as the act of breathing (النفث) is feminine.
• Analogy to Blowing (التشبيه بالنفخ): This is because when the Spirit is created within him, it spreads throughout the entire body, just as the wind spreads when blown into something. It is likened to blowing due to the swiftness of its entry, similar to the wind.

...وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا...

• "Confirmed" (صَدَّقَتْ):
  • Muqatil said this refers to Jesus (عيسى). This is supported by Al-Hasan’s reading (بكلمة ربها - singular), as Jesus is named "The Word of God" (كلمة الله) in several places in the Quran, and here that Word is gathered/realized.
  • Abu Ali al-Farsi said: The "Words" (الكلمات) refer to the divine laws (الشرائع) established for her, rather than just spoken utterances. The meaning is that the laws were confirmed and adopted, and the Books were confirmed and not rejected. Laws are named "Words," as in the verse: $\text{{وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ}} (Al-Baqarah: 124).
  • The word صَدَّقَتْ was read with both abbreviation (lightening) and emphasis (doubling), meaning she made the Words and the Books truthful, i.e., she described them as true, which is the essence of confirmation (التصديق).
  • It was also read as (كلمة) singular or (كلمات) plural, and (كتبه) plural or (كتابه) singular. The reference to "Books" (الكتب) also implies abundance and widespread acceptance.

...وَكُتُبِهِ...

...وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ

• "Among the devoutly obedient" (مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ):
  • Ibn Abbas said: The obedient (الطائعين).
  • Ata said: Among the worshippers (المصلين).

We say:

1. The "Words of God" (كلمات الله) refer to the Scrolls revealed to Idris and others.
2. His "Books" (كتبه) refer to the Four major Books (Torah, Gospel, Psalms, Quran).
3. Alternatively, it encompasses everything God spoke to His angels and everything He inscribed in the Preserved Tablet (اللوح المحفوظ) and elsewhere.
4. It was also read as: "by the Word of God (بكلمة الله)"—meaning Jesus—"and His Book (وكتابه)"—meaning the Gospel (الإنجيل).

If it is asked: Why was the masculine form used (وكانت من القانتين)?

We reply:

1. Because obedience (القنوت) is a quality that encompasses both genders who are obedient, so the masculine form prevails over the feminine. The particle مِن here implies partiality (للتبعيض), as stated in Al-Kashshaf.
2. Alternatively, the masculine form is used because the intended meaning is "the people" (القوم), and it is a general term, like in \text{{وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ}} (Al Imran: 43). The meaning is: Be among those who establish obedience to God Almighty.
3. Also, because she was from the descendants of Aaron (هارون), the brother of Moses (peace be upon them both).

The parable set forth concerning the wives of Noah (named Wā'ilah) and Lot (named Wāhilah) contains multiple benefits that only God Almighty fully comprehends. Among these benefits are:

1. A warning to both men and women regarding the immense reward (الثواب العظيم) and the painful punishment (العذاب الأليم).
2. Knowledge that the righteousness of one person does not benefit the corrupt, nor does the corruption of one person harm the righteous.
3. Knowledge that even a man of utmost righteousness cannot feel secure regarding his wife, nor can he feel secure regarding himself, as exemplified by the wives of Noah and Lot.
4. Knowledge that the chastity and virtue of a woman are profoundly beneficial, as demonstrated by Mary, the daughter of Imran, whom God Almighty informed: \text{{إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَى نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ}}$ (Al Imran: 42).
5. A reminder that sincere supplication (التضرع بالصدق) in the presence of God Almighty is a means to salvation from punishment and attainment of reward without measure.
6. That returning to the Eternal Presence (الحضرة الأزلية) is necessary in every matter, for to Him is the return and the final destination.

May His power be exalted and His Word be supreme. There is no god but Him, and to Him is the final return. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings upon the Master of the Messengers, his family, and his companions.