ﲧ ﲨ ﲩ ﲪ ﲫ ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
Tafsir
Verse range: 3:44
"That is from the news..."
"That" A reference to what preceded of the news of Zachariah, John, Mary, and Jesus, peace be upon them. It means: That is from the unseen matters which you would not have known except through revelation.
If you ask: Why was the act of witnessing (seeing) negated, when its absence is known without doubt, while the hearing of the news from those who preserved it was not negated, even though that is a possibility?
I say: It was known to them with certain knowledge that he (the Prophet) was not among those who listen or read, and they were deniers of revelation. Thus, nothing remained but the act of witnessing, which is at the extreme of improbability and impossibility. Therefore, it was negated by way of mockery toward those who deny revelation, despite their knowledge that he had neither heard it nor read it.
Similar to this are:
"Their pens" Their arrows, which they cast into the river to draw lots. It is also said: They are the pens with which they used to write the Torah, which they chose for the drawing of lots to seek blessing through them.
"When they were disputing" Regarding her, competing to take charge of her.
If you ask: To what does "which of them" (in "which of them should take charge of Mary") attach?
I say: It attaches to an omitted element indicated by "they cast their pens." It is as if it were said: They cast them, looking to see which of them should take charge, or to know, or saying [to one another].
"When the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous.' She said, 'My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?' [The angel] said, 'Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel. And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], "Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers. And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.'" (45-51)
