19. [Maryam, Mecca 44]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا...   

19: 26.  "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye.

C2478. Cool thine eye: An idiom for "comfort thyself and be glad".

The literal meaning should not, however, be lost sight of. She was to cool her eyes (perhaps full of tears) with the fresh water of the rivulet and take comfort that a remarkable babe had been born to her.

She was also to look around, and if any one came near, she was to decline all conversation. It was quite true: she was under a vow, and could not talk to any one.

...فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي...

And if thou dost see any man, say,

...إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا ﴿٢٦﴾

'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' "

C2479. She was to decline all conversation with man or woman, on the plea of a vow to Allah.

The "fast" here does not mean abstinence literally from eating and drinking. She has just been advised to eat the dates and drink of the stream. It means abstinence from the ordinary household meals, and indeed from human intercourse generally.

فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ...   

19: 27.  At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms).

...قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا ﴿٢٧﴾

They said:

"O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!

C2480. The amazement of the people knew no bounds. In any case they were ready to think the worst of her, as she had disappeared from her kin for some time. But now she comes, shamelessly parading a babe in her arms! How she had disgraced the house of Aaron, the fountain of priesthood!

We may suppose that the scene took place in the Temple in Jerusalem, or in Nazareth.