Selected Exegesis

The content of the previous verses concerning Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph (a.s.) is news of the unseen, for it was not recorded in any book - although it does appear in the distorted versions of the Torah and Gospels available today - nor did the great Prophet (s.a.w.) know it himself, nor had he heard it from anyone; there was no one among his unlettered people who could teach it to him, nor was he present to witness these events; and knowledge of the unseen is only possible secondarily and through divine information and permission.

The vow of Mary’s mother, Mary’s birth, and God’s gracious acceptance of her provided the circumstances for the family of ʿImrān, the community leaders and the trustees of the temple to compete with each other to win the honour of mentoring and looking after her.

This eagerness and competition led to contention and drawing lots: they cast special arrows or pens with which they used to write the Torah into water, and the lot fell to Zechariah (a.s.).

Zechariah’s guardianship came after the drawing of lots and did not occur in two stages.

The repetition of “you were not with them” is for importance and emphasis of the matter; or because the aforementioned contention and resorting to lots, despite their connection and relationship to each other, are two separate events.