QASAS-UN-NABIYEEN VOLUME 4. STORY OF ZAKARIA, PROPHET BE UPON HIM. CHAPTER 2 AND 3

CHAPTER 2

نذر امرأَة عمران

THE VOW OF IMRAN’S WIFE

VOCABULARY

family	اُسرة	vow	نذر
caller	داعي	She will give as a gift	تَهَبَ
		leaders	أئمة

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Imran’s wife, who was from Zakaria’s family, had made a vow, and she was a good woman who loved Allah SWT and His religion, that if she gave birth to a male child, she would offer him as a gift to the service of Allah’s religion. She requested Allah SWT to accept this boy and grant him the ability to provide benefit His religion and His servants. She hoped that he could invite people to Allah and become one of the well guided leaders.

CHAPTER 3

قالَت رَبِ اني وَضَعتًها اُنثى

She said O my Sustainer I have given birth to a girl!

VOCABULARY

She gives birth	تَلِدُ	welfare	مصلحة
She hides	تَغشاءُ	She grieves	تَحزَنُ
discharged	يُضطَلِعُ	Sorrow, grief	كأبة
dedicated	مُحرر	burden	أَعباء

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Imran’s wife intended one thing to happen, and Allah SWT willed something else. And Allah SWT is more knowledgeable about what is better for His servants. She gave birth to a girl and felt sad. She tried to hide her grief but the girl was not like any other girl. She was capable of more worship and had greater intent in acts of obedience and charity than most boys. When Allah SWT ordained, out of His wisdom that only He knows, that this child would be a girl, and while the burdens of prophethood cannot be discharged except men, He also ordained that she would become the mother of a pious prophet who will have a special stature.

“(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: "O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing."

Then when she gave birth to her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: "O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child," - and Allah knew better what she brought forth, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast.”