Tafsir of Maryam 19:12

"O John, take..." Meaning: Take the Torah with seriousness, diligence, and support through divine guidance.

"{The Scripture (al-ḥukm)}" Meaning: Wisdom. From this comes the verse: "And judge (wa-ḥkum) as the judgment of the tribe's maiden." It is said: ḥukm (judgment/wisdom) is like ḥulm (dream/forbearance); it is the understanding of the Torah and jurisprudence in religion, according to Ibn Abbas.

It is also said: It refers to when the children called him to play while he was still a boy, and he replied, "I was not created for play," according to al-Ḍaḥḥāk.

According to Maʿmar: It is intellect. It is also said: It is prophethood, because God perfected his intellect in his childhood and revealed to him.

"{And affection from Us and purity, and he was God-fearing. And [he was] dutiful to his parents, and he was not a tyrant, disobedient.}"