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Surah Mariam: Section Two, Verses 16 and 17
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The Story of Mary:
"16. Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew
from her family to a place in the East.
17. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent
To her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all
Respects"
(See Below for Other translations and Arabic)
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| Ruhanna |
Appeared |
Basharan |
Sawiyya |
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R U H A N N A
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Ruhanna |
Yahya (John) in Egyptian Arabic
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Johanan |
Hebrew of Yahya (John) Commentary # 2461
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Hananan |
Refers to John in verse 19:13 |
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Yuhanna |
Hebrew for John Commentary # 406 by Bashir Ahmad
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Ru'ahh (ruwach) |
Genisis 1: 2, the Hebrew meaning is:
'in which the active force of life is'
'in which the spirit of life is'.
( Transliterated, Genesis 1:2 Wha'arets haytah tohuw wabohuw . Wchoshek`al- pney thowm . Wruwach 'Elohiym mrachepet `al- pneyhamayim. )
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Ruh - breathed by God only into man (C 120)(Ref Needed). The Qur'an no where states that God breathed His Ruh into any being created by Him other than in man. Ruh - hanna, therefore, cannot be an angel. (15: 29; 32: 9; 38: 72)
The superority of man over angels is due to God's 'RUH' having been breathed into man and man only. That is why the angels were commanded to submit to man. (Yusuf Ali commentary #1966)
In 3: 42 Mary was spoken to by angels (malaikatu). There a plurality of them, whereas here, her visitor was a singular being. Ruhanna not malak. Malak is the Arabic word for an angel throughout the Quran. Like Malak-an-Mout - Angel of Death.
Nowhere in the Qur'an Ruhanna is used in reference to an angel.
Appeared (Fatamathala):
Yusuf Ali commentary # 2471 says, 'the angel appeared to Mary in the shape of a man.' Compare his translation with that of Arthur J Arberry.
'We sent Our Ruhanna that presented himself to her, a man without fault.'
Qur'anic word usage reference:
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Mathal: |
17: 89; 25: 23; 30: 27 |
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Shubiha: |
4: 157 |
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Yukhaiylu |
20: 66 |
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The being was of a masculine gender. Yusuf Ali is belaboring the words to be fitted in to the sense of one sentence. That is, as if
'the angel appeared to Mary in the shape of a man.'
But the text is constructed of two sentences, joined by a conjunction and having two verbs.
'We sent Our Ruhanna' and 'he appeared to her.'
Secondly, he seeks to give the impression that it was Gabriel who went to Mary in the impersonation of a man. Were that so, God could not faulted in referring to Ruhanna as 'basharan sawiyya' (a perfect man). An imitation cannot be original or perfect.
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Dictionary Definition
Basharan:
A man; mortal human being; to touch; to have sexual intercourse.
Bashir:
Harbinger; forerunner; precursor, to herald.
Sawiyya:
Unimpaired; intact; in common; jointly; together; equal opposite; well-done; ripen; mature; perfect; in every respect; right, smooth, complete
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Yusuf Ali in his commentary # 2495 to verse 43 where the word recurs has this footnote:
Sawiyyan: right; smooth, even, complete, perfect - hence the derived meanings:
- In 19: 10 - 'in full possession of all the physical senses' in that context, 'not dumb'.
- In 19:17 - 'when the angel appears in the form of a man,' completely like a man. 'A man in all respects.'
Basharan Rasool: 'Say, Holy is my Lord! I am but a mortal, a Messenger.' Qur'an 17: 94; 17: 95
Malak / Malaikatu: 'Say, had there been in the earth angels (malaikatu) walking about in peace and quiet, We would have certainly sent down to them from heaven an Angel (malak) as a Messenger.' 17: 96
Malak kun kareem: 'a noble angel' 12:31
Qur'anic Verses 16 and 17 of Chapter 19
| (16) Arabic |
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| Transliteration |
16. WA- UDHKUR FE AL- KITAAB MARYAM 'IDH INTABADHAT MIN 'AHL -HAA MAKAAN(AN) SHARQEY(AN) |
| Yusuf Ali |
16. Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
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| Pickthall |
16. And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, |
| Shakir |
16 . And mention Marium in the Book when she drew aside from her family to an eastern place |
| Comments |
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| (17) Arabic |
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| Transliteration |
17. FA- ITTAKHADHAT MIN DONI -HIM H.IJAAB(AN) FA- ARSALNAA 'ILAY -HAA ROH. -NAA FA- TAMATHTHALA LA- -HAA BASHAR(AN) SAWEY(AN) |
| Yusuf Ali |
17. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our angel and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. |
| Pickthall |
17. And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man.
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| Shakir |
17 . So she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man. |
| Comments |
Note the word used here, Roohanaa (Ruhana). This word does not translate to being Angel.
Note Also the statement "FA- ITTAKHADHAT MIN DONI -HIM H.IJAAB(AN)", (See 13:16, 21:24, 28:23 for usage). This statement is more of the line "(She) was screened (H.IJAAB) and took for protection (ITTAKHADHAT) from other than them (MIN DONI -HIM) or others besides them".
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Qur'an 15:29
| (29) Arabic |
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| Transliteration |
29. FA- 'IDHAA SAWWAYTU -HU WA- NAFAKHTU FE -HI MIN ROH. -E FA- QAcO LA- -HU SAAJIDEN
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| Yusuf Ali |
29. "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit fall ye down in obeisance unto him." |
| Pickthall |
29. So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him. |
| Shakir |
29 . So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down making obeisance to him. |
| Comments |
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Qur'an 32:9
| (9) Arabic |
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| Transliteration |
9. THUMMA SAWWAA -HU WA- NAFAKHA FE -HI MIN ROH. -HI WA- JAcALA LA- -KUM AS- SAMc WA- AL- ABS.AAR WA- AL- AF'IDAH QALEL(AN) MAA TASHKURON
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| Yusuf Ali |
9. But He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! |
| Pickthall |
9. Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit; and appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts. Small thanks give ye! |
| Shakir |
9 . Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. |
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