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Sura 3
Aya 44
44
ذٰلِكَ مِن أَنباءِ الغَيبِ نوحيهِ إِلَيكَ ۚ وَما كُنتَ لَدَيهِم إِذ يُلقونَ أَقلامَهُم أَيُّهُم يَكفُلُ مَريَمَ وَما كُنتَ لَدَيهِم إِذ يَختَصِمونَ

Yusuf Ali

his is part of the tidings of the things unseen1, which We reveal unto thee (O Messenger.) by inspiration: Thou wast not with them when they cast lots with arrows2, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: Nor wast thou with them when they disputed (the point)3.
  • Things unseen: belong to a realm beyond the reach of human perception and therefore it would be unseemly to dispute or speculate about them. (R).
  • Literally, reeds: aqlam. For the Arab custom of casting lots with arrows, see 2:219, n. 241.
  • Christian apocryphal writings mention the contention between the priests as to the honour of taking charge of Mary, and how it was decided by means of rods and reeds in favour of Zakariya.