Maryam 19:16
The verse
And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, — Marmaduke Pickthall
The issue
This text mentions the details of Mary’s distancing herself from her family by going toward an eastern region. Some Islamic commentators have stated that the location is east of Jerusalem. Others believe that she went into seclusion east of her home. The Qur’ān does not indicate the reasons behind Mary’s seclusion and her ability to go into seclusion without drawing attention or the location of her seclusion—near or far from her house. Thus, the text has two ambiguous matters: the reasons for and the place of Mary’s seclusion.
Arabic text of this item
يذكر هذا النص تفصيل ابتعاد مريم عن أهلها صوب منطقة شرقية، وقد قال بعضهم إن المكان يقع شرقي بيت المقدس، وقال آخرون إنها اعتزلت في شرق دارها. والقرآن لا يشير إلى أسباب الاعتزال، وكيف تمكنت من الاعتزال بدون أن تثير الانتباه، سواء أكان بجوار البيت أم بعيداً عنه. ونجد أن النص يحتوي على أمرين مبهمين: مكانُ الاعتزال وسببُه.
Sources cited
- al-Zamakhsharī 4:11
- الزمخشري، الكشاف 4: 11.