Surah Maryam (سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ) — Translation, Meaning & Tafsir
Read Surah Maryam — the 19th chapter of the Quran with 98 verses. Mary. English translation and commentary.
Overview
Maryam (سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ) — "Mary" is the 19th chapter of the Holy Quran. It contains 98 verses and is a Meccan (Makki) surah.
Selected Verses
Verse 1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ كٓهيعٓصٓ
Kaf. Ha. Ya. `Ayn. Sad.
Verse 2
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
AN ACCOUNT of the grace which thy Sustainer bestowed upon His servant Zachariah:
Verse 3
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّۭا
When he called out to his Sustainer in the secrecy of his heart,
Verse 4
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّۭا
he prayed: "O my Sustainer! Feeble have become my bones, and my head glistens with grey hair. But never yet, O my Lord, has my prayer unto Thee remained unanswered.
Verse 5
وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا
"Now, behold, I am afraid of [what] my kinsfolk [will do] after I am gone, for my wife has always been barren. Bestow, then, upon me, out of Thy grace, the gift of a successor
Verse 6
يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَٱجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّۭا
who will be my heir as well as an heir [to the dignity] of the House of Jacob; and make him, O my Sustainer, well-pleasing to Thee!"
Verse 7
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا
[Thereupon the angels called out unto him: "O Zachariah! We bring thee the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son whose name shall be John. [And God says,] `Never have We given this name to anyone before him."
Verse 8
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا
[Zachariah] exclaimed: "O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when my wife has always been barren and I have become utterly infirm through old age?"
Verse 9
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌۭ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًۭٔا
Answered [the angel]: "Thus. it is; [but] thy 'Sustainer says, `This is easy for Me -even as I have created thee aforetime out of nothing.
Verse 10
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍۢ سَوِيًّۭا
[Zachariah] prayed: "O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!" Said [the angel]: "Thy sign shall be that for full three nights [and days] thou wilt not speak unto men.
...and 88 more verses. Read the full surah in your Quran or via a trusted Islamic app.
Key Themes
The surah of Maryam (Mary) covers important Islamic themes including faith, guidance, and the relationship between humanity and Allah. As a Meccan (Makki) surah, it reflects the spiritual and theological context of that period of revelation.
Virtues of Reading This Surah
Regular recitation of the Quran is highly encouraged. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it." — Sahih Al-Bukhari
Reading any portion of the Quran brings immense rewards. Make a habit of reciting Surah Maryam as part of your daily Quran reading.
How to Recite
- Make wudu (ritual purification) before touching the Mushaf
- Begin with "A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim" (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil)
- Begin with Bismillah (except in Surah At-Tawbah)
- Recite with tarteel (measured, deliberate pace)
- Reflect on the meaning as you recite
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When was Surah Maryam revealed? It was revealed during the Meccan (Makki) period of the Prophet's ﷺ mission.
Q: How many verses does Surah Maryam have? It contains 98 ayaat (verses).
Q: What does "Mary" mean? The name "Maryam" translates to "Mary" in English.