I Seek Refuge With the Most Gracious From You

Fa-arsalnā ilayhā rūḥanā fa-tamaththala lahā basharan sawiyyā: he presented himself to her in a human form. Now, Maryam is alone — and now she suddenly sees a man. That made her nervous.

Qālat innī aʿūdhu bi-l-Raḥmāni minka in kunta taqiyyā: she said, verily I seek refuge with the Most Gracious Allah from you, if you do fear Allah. She's making a duʿāʾ to Allah (swt), and at the same time she's begging the man. She said aʿūdhu bi-l-Raḥmāni minka: I seek refuge in Allah — so she is asking Allah (swt). And then she is begging him, saying in kunta taqiyyā: if you have any fear of Allah — meaning, stay away from me. It made her nervous to see this man when she was alone, and this man was approaching her.

Qāla innamā ana rasūlu rabbiki li-ahaba laki ghulāman zakiyyā. The angel said — and she doesn't know that this is the angel; she thinks it's a human being — I am only a messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a righteous son. And this made it even worse. She asked: qālat annā yakūnu lī ghulāmun wa lam yamsasnī basharun wa lam aku baghiyyā — she said, how can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?

Qāla kadhāliki qāla rabbuki huwa ʿalayya hayyin: he said, so it will be; your Lord said, that is easy for Me. And We will make him a sign for mankind. ʿĪsā ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) is a sign for mankind.

And subḥān Allāh, the most amazing personality is ʿĪsā ibn Maryam (peace be upon him). His birth was miraculous; it was an amazing birth. His miracles are amazing — giving life. The way he was elevated was amazing; it was a miracle in itself. The descending of ʿĪsā ibn Maryam is a miracle. So his whole life, subḥān Allāh, is an intriguing and amazing life.

And that's why the personality of ʿĪsā ibn Maryam is the most controversial. In the three religions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism — the pivotal point of dispute is on ʿĪsā ibn Maryam. The difference between the three religions, the point of contention, is on the reality of ʿĪsā ibn Maryam.

The Jews say that he was not a prophet of Allah, and that he was an illegitimate son. They said he is not a legitimate son; he was born out of zinā. That's what the Yahūd say — and subḥān Allāh, it's interesting to see how the Christians can fall prey to the Jews, when they know that's what the Jews say about their Nabī. The Christians say: no, Jesus was born from the Virgin Mary, and he is the son of Allah — taʿālā Allāhu ʿammā yaqūlūna ʿuluwwan kabīrā.

And then the Muslims come and say: ʿĪsā ibn Maryam was born from the Virgin Mary, and he is the Nabī of Allah (swt); and he is the righteous one, one of the five best of the anbiyāʾ of Allah (swt). But Allah (swt) does not have a partner, and Allah does not have a son. So the difference focuses on ʿĪsā ibn Maryam.

And because of this contention, Allah (swt) will send him down again to solve it. Because of this dispute that arose, it is he, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, who will come down at the end of time and solve this once and for all. He will not accept jizyah; wa yaqtulu al-khinzīr, and he will kill the pig; wa yaksiru al-ṣalīb, and he will break the cross. He will put an end to this.

And he is a mercy from Allah, and it is already decreed. So Jibrīl is telling her: this is something you cannot argue with; it's already done.