Linguistic Miracle - Quran Gems - Exquisite Word Choice - Prophet Zakariya and Maryam

  بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ

As we all know, the Quran is a literary marvel in style,content and precision in word choice. Here we will look into the exquisite word choice that Allah uses in the Quran - highlighting to us that this Quran is not the work of a man.

Let's begin.

Zakariya alaihsalam asks Allah for a boy even though he is in his old age, his wife is old as well and on top of that, she has been barren. They have never had a child. The angels come to him with the good news of a son (Yahya alaihsalam).

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قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لِىۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّقَدۡ بَلَغَنِىَ الۡكِبَرُ وَامۡرَاَتِىۡ عَاقِرٌ‌ؕ قَالَ كَذٰلِكَ اللّٰهُ يَفۡعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ‏

He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" The angel said, "Such is Allah ; He does what He wills." 

(Surah Ale-Imran - 3 Verse 40)

In the same passage 7 verses later, Allah describes Maryam salamunalaiha responding in a very very similar manner when the Angel Gibrael alaihsalam comes to her with the good news of a child (Isa alaihsalam). 

 

قَالَتۡ رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لِىۡ وَلَدٌ وَّلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِىۡ بَشَرٌ ‌ؕ قَالَ كَذٰلِكِ اللّٰهُ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ‌ ؕ اِذَا قَضٰٓى

اَمۡرًا فَاِنَّمَا يَقُوۡلُ لَهٗ كُنۡ فَيَكُوۡنُ‏

She said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allah ; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.

(Surah Ale-Imran - 3 Verse 47)

Point 1

Notice how for Zakariya alaihsalam, Allah used the words 'have a boy' (ghulamun) and for Maryam salamunalaiha, Allah uses the words 'have a child' (waladun). It is perfect speech and perfection in choice of words because for Zakariya alaihsalam being a male, the words 'have a boy' is more appropriate rather than 'having a child'. That is a term normally used for mothers. Due to only her being capable of bearing a child (waladun).

Point 2 

Secondly, Allah chose the word 'does' (yafalu) when Allah addresses the concern of Zakariya alaihsalam that he is very old and his wife is barren. Interestingly for Maryam salamunalaiha, Allah uses the word create. This is slightly more obvious for the fact that Maryam salamunalaiha conceived Prophet Isa alaihsalam without any male intervention. It was a supernatural creation. Hence the word 'create' (yakhluqu - root word khalaq) is used. And incidentally in the same Surah (Surah 3:59), Allah uses the same word 'khalaqa' for Isa alaihsalam:

Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was. 

(Surah Ale-Imran - 3 Verse 59) 

Allah uses the word 'does what he wills' instead of 'creates what he wills' for Zakariya alaihsalam because it is even though a rare possibility of old people to have a child, it is still not beyond the realms of this existence. But for the miraculous birth of Isa alaihsalam, he uses the word 'create'. 

This makes it all the more 'almost impossible' for it to be the work of a group of very intelligent humans, let alone an unlearned/unlettered man.

For it to happen continously in the Quran is nothing short of a miracle.

The Ulitmate knowledge lies with Allah the Most High. Hence ending with the words

'Allah knows best'.

All Guidance is from Allah the Most High.

Inspiration for Quranic literary exploration is from Bro Nouman Ali Khan (may Allah grant him and his family the best in this dunia and the next)

If there is anybody (native Arabic speakers probably) who has more knowledge of these words that have been highlighted, maybe can help us understand this exquisite choice of words from Allah SubhanawaTaala much better. 

If Bro Nouman or anyone who knows Bro Nouman, you do read this post by any chance, let me know if what I've said makes any sense and if you've highlighted this before in any of your works :) 

Anything good from this is from Allah the Most High. Any shortcomings are from the evils of my own self. 

May the Peace/Blessings and Mercy of Allah be on all of you.