The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 20
CH. 19 MARYAM PT. 16 فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْلَى Then he came forth unto his. 12 اِلَيْهِمْ أَنْ سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيَّان people from the chamber and asked them in a low voice "to glorify God morning and evening. 2156 13. 'O Yaḥyā, hold fast theisjljá gave him Book. ' And We upon him. "3:42; 33:43. The commandment enjoining upon Zachariah to abstain from talking and to devote himself fully to the remembrance and glorification of God was a spiritual measure calculated to recuperate his exhausted physical powers. He had not become deprived of his power of speech, as the Gospels seem to suggest, as a punishment for his not believing in the words of God (Luke 1:20-22). See also 3:42. In view of the meaning of the word ↳ given under "Important Words" above, the verse, besides the meaning given in the text, also signifies that Zachariah was commanded by God not to speak to his people for three days and nights while he was without any defect or disease and was in perfect state of health. The very word used in this verse about Zachariah contradicts the Biblical statement of his having been struck dumb. 2156. Important Words: 3 (asked in a low voice) is derived from 3. They say, or i. e. he communicated to him or gave order or made a request by gesture or sign; he talked to him in secret or he talked to him in such a way that اوحى الله اليه ;others may not hear him means, God sent revelation to him. The real sense of 3, (waḥy) which is inf. noun from 3, (waḥā) is to convey one's intention or wish by means of quick signs which may be done by gesture, writing, etc. They say (3 i. e. he did the thing quickly. means, medicine precipitated his death (Lane & Aqrab). See also 5:112. For (chamber) see 3:38. Commentary: When Zachariah was commanded by God not to speak to his people for three consecutive nights, he made up his mind to devote himself fully and God. During this time when he had to completely to the remembrance of be heard only by those very near him. speak to anyone he spoke so low as to 1934 In 3:42 the word has been used to express the same sense, for means to communicate by means of movements of the lips and not to use one's throat. So the Quran repudiates the Biblical suggestion that Zachariah was struck dumb. What actually happened was that he told his people in very low tones that he had been commanded by God to remember and glorify Him and that they should also do the same and not disturb him.