Ali 'Imran · Madani · ayah 45 of 200

Ali 'Imran 3:45

إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

“[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word[125] from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].”

Saheeh International

Essence

Angels gave Maryam glad tidings of a Word from Allah: ʿĪsā son of Maryam, the Messiah, honoured in both worlds and brought near.

A reflection

Brought near, not climbing near

At a crowded charity dinner, a nervous young volunteer hovers outside the roped-off area. The host notices her, walks over, and leads her past the rope himself. 'She's with me,' he tells the doorman. She did not climb in. She was brought in.

The ayah gives ʿĪsā two honours. He is wajīh in this world and the next: a man with 'face', standing and dignity. A major early commentator explains it as one honoured by kings and people, and with high rank before Allah. And he is min al-muqarrabīn, 'among those brought near'.

Notice the grammar of the second. Muqarrab is passive: one who has been brought near by another. A major early commentator says simply that Allah will bring him near on the Day of Resurrection. The lexicons picture the root of nearness as thirsty camels hurrying through the last night because the water is close. But the one who sets the nearness here is Allah.

This is where the ego is quietly undone. We tend to think of status as something we climb to. Even the honour given to one of the greatest messengers is described as conferred. A classical commentator explains his 'face' in this world as the revelation and law Allah gave him. His honour in the next is intercession, for whomever Allah permits.

Does Allah need to describe the honour He confers? He needs nothing (35:15). The description is for us. It tells us where every human honour, even a prophet's, comes from.

And it guards against a mistake. Someone brought near is, by definition, someone who was not already there. The volunteer at the dinner is welcomed because of the host. ʿĪsā's nearness is a gift from his Lord, and he would be the first to say so.

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.