The first section of chapter 3 in the Quran consists of 32 verses and was revealed right after the Battle of Badr, as understood from the content of these verses.
Verse 33 as well as approximately 80 other verses that explain the story of devotion are revealed years later than the first section. The later verses came in the ninth year of the Islamic calendar. The reason for these verses’ revelation was the appointment of a committee of ambassadors from Najran to Madinah. This event must have been the most important event of that year, because the year was known as the “year of ambassadors” (amu’l-wufuud).
Najran is a region in the Arabian Peninsula between Hijaz and Yemen. The inhabitants settled along the migration paths. When the message of Jesus arrived in the region, the people in the region were suffering under oppressive, racist, and theocratic rule. The Jewish dictator at that time tried to stand in front of the message of Jesus, which spread by the efforts of self-sacrificing people. He went to such extremes in this case that his decree is mentioned in chapter 85. He went so far as to order people to be burned alive in trenches.
As time passed, the pure teachings of Jesus were distorted here as in other places, and the principle of oneness of God was lost.
It is here that the history of Christians in Najran is summarized. Although its history is short, Najran was one of the most powerful countries of the area when Medina’s Islamic government was established. The Najran Confederation consisted of 73 regions of settlements, and its army had the capacity of 120,000 men.
During this time Medina’s Islamic government became more and more of a political power in the area within a considerably short period of time and – with the conquest of Mecca – extended its weight even further. No one was courageous enough to stand in front of this new power because they feared that they would suffer a crushing defeat. Meanwhile the Najran leaders, like the other regional powers of the Arabian Peninsula, sent a large committee of ambassadors in order to know this new power more closely and possibly sign a political non-aggression pact.
Sixty people were in this delegation, which occurred in the ninth year of the Islamic calendar.4 Fourteen of these people were from the leading staff. They chose three leaders from amongst their delegation to represent them. These three representatives carried out the discussions with the messenger of God.
Between the messenger and the leaders of the delegation, debates took place in regards to Jesus. The messenger of God narrated to them the miraculous birth of Jesus and initiated thought-provoking questions against the delegation’s defense of the polytheism of trinity by letting them rethink their position.
It is in this environment that the verses consisting of our subject were revealed.
“And (all) such parables We propound unto men, so that they might (learn to) think.” (Chapter 59, verse 21)
Quranic Framework
Chapter 3, verses 33-45:
“Behold, God raised Adam, and Noah, and the House of Abraham, and the House of Imran above all mankind.
(They are spiritually and ethnically) in one line of descent.
And God was all-hearing, all-knowing when the woman of Imran prayed: ‘O my Sustainer! Behold, unto Thee do I vow (the child) that is in, my womb, to be devoted to Thy service. Accept it, then, from me: verily, Thou alone art all-hearing, all-knowing!’
However, when she had given birth to the child, she said: ‘O my Sustainer! Behold, I have given birth to a female’ – while God had been fully aware of what she would give birth to, and (fully aware) that no male child (she might have hoped for) could ever have been like this female – ‘and I have named her Mary. And, verily, I seek Thy protection for her and her offspring against Satan, the accursed.’
And thereupon her Sustainer accepted the female child with goodly acceptance, and caused her to grow up in a splendid way, and placed her in the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her provided with food. He would ask: ‘O Mary, whence came this unto thee?’ She would answer: ‘It is from God; behold God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckoning.’
In that same time and place, Zachariah prayed unto his Lord, saying: ‘O my Sustainer! Bestow upon me (too), out of Thy grace, the gift of goodly offspring; for Thou, indeed, hearest all prayer.’
Thereupon, as he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out unto him: ‘God sends thee the glad tiding of (the birth of) John, who shall confirm the truth of a word from God, and (shall be) outstanding among men, and utterly chaste, and a prophet from among the righteous.’
(Zachariah) exclaimed: ‘O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when old age has already overtaken me, and my wife is barren?’ Answered (the angel): ‘Thus it is: God does what He wills.’
(Zachariah) prayed: ‘O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!’ Said (the angel): ‘Thy sign shall be that for three days thou wilt not speak unto men other than by gestures. And remember thy Sustainer unceasingly, and extol His limitless glory by night and by day.’
And lo! The angels said: ‘O Mary! Behold, God has elected thee and made thee pure, and raised thee above all the women of the world.’
O Mary! Remain thou truly devout unto thy Sustainer, and prostrate thyself in worship, and bow down with those who bow down (before Him).
This account of something that was beyond the reach of thy perception We (now) reveal unto thee: for thou wert not with them when they drew lots as to which of them should be Mary’s guardian, and thou wert not with them when they contended (about it) with one another.
Lo! The angels said: O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, (of a son) who shall become known as the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, of great honor in this world and in the life to come, and (shall be) of those who are drawn near unto God.’ ”
