Maryam · Makki · ayah 43 of 98

Maryam 19:43

يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدْ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعْنِىٓ أَهْدِكَ صِرَٰطًا سَوِيًّا

“O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.”

Saheeh International

Essence

A son tells his father that some knowledge has reached him, and offers to walk him, like a fellow traveller, along a level path.

A reflection

'Follow me' from a son, said without arrogance

'Follow me, and I will guide you.' Read quickly, it sounds like the most presumptuous thing a son could say. A young man telling his father to fall in behind him. Many readers hear arrogance in it, or at least a reversal of the natural order.

The commentaries hear something else, and the words support them. One commentary paraphrases the sense. Even though I am from your loins, and you see me as younger because I am your child, know this. Knowledge has come to me from Allah that has not come to you.

Then look at how small the claim is. Min al-ʿilm: some of knowledge. Not 'all knowledge', not 'I am learned and you are ignorant'. One classical commentator draws out exactly this. He did not call his father deeply ignorant, though he was. Nor did he call himself highly knowledgeable, though he was. He said only that a portion of knowledge was with him that was not with his father.

The same commentator then gives the image that holds the whole ayah. Suppose you and I are travelling together, and I happen to know the way and you do not. Then follow me, and I will save you from losing your way.

That is not a son lording it over a father. It is a companion on the road, pointing out the path. The father is not asked to become smaller. He is asked to arrive.

The Makkans hearing this were travellers too, on a road their fathers had laid. The question was whether they would let a guide walk beside them.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.