19: 8

Asad [Zachariah] exclaimed: “O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when my wife has always been barren and I have become utterly infirm through old age?”

Pickthall He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached infirm old age?

Transliteration Qa_la rab bi an na_ yaku_nu li ghula_muw wa ka_natim ra ati 'a_qiraw wa qad balaghtu minal kibari 'itiy ya_

19: 9

Asad Answered [the angel]: “Thus it is; [but] thy Sustainer says “This is easy for Me – even as I have created thee aforetime out of nothing.’”

Pickthall He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as I created thee before, when thou wast naught.

Transliteration Qa_la kadza_lik qa_la rab buka huwa 'alay ya hay yinuw wa qad khalaqtuka min qablu wa lam taku sai a_

[ Ruby’s note: This verse is stressing the truth about the ultimate origin of a human being or of anything else for that matter. This word “nothing” is related to the material existence of anything and everything: all material existence was non existent one time and God created the reality out of that state of “nothingness”.

This incomprehensible fact has been indicated in other verses: where it says God just says ‘Be” and “it is”. He is the PRIMARY Creator, his creation is not transforming something out of other things in existence. A human being is just a part of that reality.

A human being may seem to originate from a sperm and an egg coming together. However, the components of these two and the law they abide by to transform this union into a human were created out of an absolutely state of nothingness themselves. In the truest sense then a human being and all other things has its origin with God and finally will be returning to God.]

19: 10

Asad [Zachariah] prayed: “O my Sustainer! Appoint a sing for me!” Said [the angel]: :Thy sign shall be that for full three nights [and days] thou wilt not speak unto men.” [see 3:41 and the corresponding note29]

Pickthall He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights.

Transliteration Qa_la rab bij'al li a_yah qa_la a_yatuka al la_ tukal liman na_sa tsala_tsa laya_lin sawiy ya_

19: 11

Pickthall Then he came forth unto his people from the sanctuary, and signified to them: Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night.

Transliteration Fakhraja 'ala_ qaumihi minal mihra_bi fa auha_ ilaihim an sab bihu_ bukrataw wa asyiy ya_

19: 12

Asad [And when the son was born and grew up, he was told,] “O John! Hold fast unto the divine writ with [all thy] strength!” - - for We granted him wisdom while he was yet a little boy,

Pickthall (And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold the Scripture. And We gave him wisdom when a child.

Transliteration Ya_ yahya_ khudzil kita_ba biquw wah wa a_taina_hul hukma sabiy ya_

19: 13

Asad as well as, by Our grace, [the gift of] compassion and purity; and he was [always] conscious of Us.

Pickthall And compassion from Our presence, and purity; and he was devout,

Transliteration Wa hana_nam mil ladun na_ wa zaka_h wa ka_na taqiy ya_

19: 14

Asad and full of piety towards his parents; and never was he haughty or rebellious.

Pickthall And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious.

Transliteration Wa bar ran biwa_lidaihi wa lam yakun jab bara_n ashiy ya_

19: 15

Asad Hence, [God’s] peace was upon him on the day when he was born, and on the day of his death, and will be [upon him] on the day when he shall be raised to life [again].

Pickthall Peace on him the day be was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive!

Transliteration Wa sala_mun 'alaihi yauma wulida wa yauma yamu_tu wa yauma yub'atsu hay ya_

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[Ali’s notes: 2468 John the Baptist did not live long. He was imprisoned by Herod, the tetrarch (provincial ruler under the Roman Empire), whom he had reproved for his sins, and eventually beheaded at the instigation of the woman with whom Herod was infatuated. But even in his young life, he was granted (1) wisdom by Allah, for he boldly denounced sin; (2) gentle pity and love for all Allah's creatures, for he moved among the humble and lowly, and despised "soft raiment"; and (3) purity of life, for he renounced the world and lived in the wilderness. All his work he did in his youth. These things showed themselves in his conduct, for he was devout, showing love to Allah and to Allah's creatures, and more particularly to his parents (for we are considering that aspect of his life): this was also shown by the fact that he never used violence, from an attitude of arrogance, nor entertained a spirit of rebellion against divine Law. (19.13)

2469 This is spoken as in the life-time of Yahya. Peace and Allah's Blessings, were on him when he was born; they continue when he is about to die an unjust death at the hands of a tyrant; and they will be specially manifest at the Day of Judgment. (19.15) ]

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19: 21

Asad [The angel] answered: “Thus it is; ‘This is easy for Me; ………so that We might make him a symbol unto mankind and an act of grace from Us.’”

Pickthall He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.

Transliteration Qa_la kadza_lik qa_la rab buki huwa alay ya hay yin wa linaj'alahu_ a_ya_tal lin na_si wa rahmatam min na_ wa ka_na amram maqdhiy ya_

19: 34

Asad Such was, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree.

Pickthall Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.

Transliteration Za_lika 'isab nu maryam qaulal haq qil lazi fihi yamtaru_n

19: 35

Asad It is not conceivable that God should have taken unto Himself a son: limitless is He in His glory! When He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it “Be” – and it is!

Pickthall It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.

Transliteration Ma_ ka_na lil la_hi ay yat takhidza miw waladin subha_nah idza_ qadha_ amran fa in nama_ yaqu_lu lahu_ kun fayaku_n

19: 36 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: “Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way.”

Pickthall And lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right path.

Transliteration Wa in nal la_ha rab bi wa rab bukum fa'budu_h ha_dza_ shira_thum mustaqim

[ Ruby’s notes: This is simple. The Creator who created everything, why He would become part of His own creation? The Almighty who is the Sustainer of everything, why He would manifest Himself as one of the thing or person He Sustains? The One who is infinite and beyond comprehension, why He would reveal Himself as a finite thing or person? These questions are rational questions and the answers should be simple: it does not make any sense to think and worship an infinite unseen Supreme Being as a finite person in flesh and blood. The concept of Trinity does not stand a chance before the concept Islam offers about God. And this very idea of God and worship of Him should be the foundation of life and its work. This then should constitute the true submission, the Straight Path, the Religion for mankind defined in the Quran in 30:30. ]

[ Ali’s note : 2487 Begetting a son is a physical act depending on the needs of men's animal nature. Allah Most High is independent of all needs, and it is derogatory to Him to attribute such an act to Him. It is merely a relic of pagan and anthropomorphic materialist superstitions. (19.35)

2488 As opposed to the crooked superstitions which take refuge in all sorts of metaphysical sophistries to prove three in one and one in three. In the Qur-an there is no crookedness (xviii. 1). Christ's teaching was simple, like his life, but the Christians have made it crooked. (19.36) ]

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[[19:64

AND [the angels say]: "We do not descend [with revelation], again and again, other than by

thy Sustainer's command: unto Him belongs all that lies open before us and all that is hidden -

from us and all that is in-between." And never does thy Sustainer forget [anything] –

(19:65)

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Worship, then, Him

alone, and remain steadfast in His worship! Dost thou know any whose name is worthy to be

mentioned side by side with His?" mentioned side by side with His?" ]]

[Asad note 51- 51 Lit., "when [or "although"] he was nothing". ]

19:67