Surah Maryam in English Translation with Explain

Surah Maryam (Chapter 19), which is the 19th chapter of the Qur'an. This Surah is known for narrating the story of Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus), and several other significant stories of prophets, highlighting themes of faith, patience, and Allah's mercy.

Surah Maryam (Chapter 19)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

1.

كٓهِيعٓصٓ
Kāf-Hā-ʾAyn-Ṣād

Translation: Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ain, Sad.
Explanation: These are the Arabic disjointed letters (Huroof Muqattaʿah) that appear at the beginning of some chapters in the Qur'an. Their exact meaning is known only to Allah, and they serve to engage the reader and listener.

2.

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّٓا
Dhikru raḥmatir rabbika ʿabduhū Zakarīyā

Translation: [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah.
Explanation: The Surah begins by mentioning the mercy of Allah towards Prophet Zakariya (Zechariah). He was an elderly prophet who prayed to Allah for a son despite his old age and his wife’s infertility.

3.

إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَاءًۭ خَفِيًّۭا
Idh nādā rabbahū nidāan khafīyyā

Translation: When he called to his Lord in a low voice.
Explanation: Prophet Zakariya made a heartfelt and humble supplication to Allah, calling out to Him quietly and sincerely, showing his trust in Allah’s mercy despite his old age.

4.

قَالَ رَبُّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْٓ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًۭا
Qāla rabbī innī wahana al-ʿaẓmu minnī wa-ishtaʿala ar-raʾsu shaybāw wa-lam ākun bi-duʿā'ika rabbī shaqiyyā

Translation: He said, "My Lord, indeed, my bones have grown weak, and my head has filled with gray, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, disappointed."
Explanation: Zakariya expresses his old age, physical frailty, and his steadfast faith in Allah. He acknowledges his weakness but reassures himself in the belief that his supplication to Allah will not go unanswered.

5.

وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَارِيثَ مِنۢى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا
Wa innī khiftu al-mawārītha minnī wakānat imra'atī ʿāqirā fa-hab lī min ladunka waliyyā

Translation: And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife is barren, so give me from Yourself an heir.
Explanation: Zakariya fears that after his passing, there will be no one to carry on his mission or legacy. He asks Allah for an heir who will continue his work, even though his wife is barren.

6.

يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًۭا
Yarithunī wa yarithu min ālī Yaʿqūba wa-jʿal-hū rabbī raḍiyyā

Translation: Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].
Explanation: Zakariya asks for a son who will inherit his legacy of faith and righteousness, continuing the prophetic lineage from the family of Ya'qub (Jacob), and that he may be a person who is pleasing to Allah.

7.

يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ عَلَمًا اسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَاۖ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًۭا
Yā Zakariyyā inna nubashiruka bighulāmin ʿalāma ismuhu Yaḥyā, lam najʿal lahu min qablu samiyyā

Translation: O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before him this name.
Explanation: Allah gives Zakariya the good news that his prayer has been answered. His son will be named Yahya (John), a name that had not been used by anyone before. This was a miraculous birth due to his wife’s barrenness.

8.

قَالَ رَبُّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا
Qāla rabbī annā yakūnū lī ghulāmun wa-kānat imra'atī ʿāqirā wa-qad balaghtu mina al-kibari ʿitīyā

Translation: He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached extreme old age?"
Explanation: Zakariya is astonished, as he and his wife are beyond the usual age of having children. He wonders how Allah could grant him a son given their circumstances.

9.

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىٰ يَسِيرٌۢ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ شَىْءًۭا
Qāla kathālika qāla rabbuka huwa ʿalayya yasīrān wa-qad khalaqtukum min qablu walam takūnū shay'ā

Translation: He said, "Thus has your Lord said; it is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing."
Explanation: Allah assures Zakariya that His command is not difficult, for He is the Creator of everything, and even if something seems impossible, it is easy for Allah, who created him from nothing.

10.

قَالَ رَبُّۥٓ ءَايَتُكَ أَنْ لَا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍۢ سَوِيًّۭا
Qāla rabbī āyatuka an lā tukallima an-nāsa thalātha layālin sawwiyā

Translation: He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."
Explanation: As a sign from Allah, Zakariya is given the ability to communicate only through gestures for three days and nights. This was a miraculous sign to confirm the divine promise.

11-15. The Birth of Yahya (John)

These verses describe the birth of Yahya (John), the son of Zakariya, who grew up to become a prophet and a devout servant of Allah.

16-40. The Story of Maryam (Mary) and Isa (Jesus)

The Surah continues with the story of Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus). It highlights her miraculous birth and how Allah sent an angel to inform her that she would give birth to a child without a father, an event that was a sign of Allah’s power. She was chosen and purified by Allah, and the miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) is narrated.

41-50.

The narrative continues, explaining that Isa (Jesus) was a servant of Allah, a messenger to the children of Israel, and performed many miracles by the will of Allah. The Surah emphasizes that Isa is not the son of Allah, but a prophet and servant of Allah.

51-58. The Stories of Other Prophets

The Surah recounts the stories of several other prophets, such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Ilyas (Elias), and Ismail (Ishmael), showing their faith, their trials, and their roles as leaders of the faithful.

59-72.

The Surah warns of the consequences of denying faith and following falsehood, while also emphasizing Allah’s mercy towards those who believe and do good deeds.

73-98. The Day of Judgment and Rewards for Believers

The Surah concludes with a reminder of the Day of Judgment, the fate of the disbelievers, and the rewards of Paradise for the righteous, focusing on the themes of eternal reward for those who are devout.

Conclusion of Surah Maryam:

Surah Maryam highlights the miraculous births of Yahya and Isa, the challenges faced by their mothers, and the noble qualities of these great prophets. The Surah reminds the believers of the importance of trust in Allah’s will and power, the significance of divine mercy, and the reality of the Afterlife. It is a chapter that encourages reflection on divine wisdom and guidance, as well as the deep faith exhibited by these prophetic figures.

Surah Maryam in English Translation with Explain