Transliteration:( Wa ja'alnab na Maryama wa ummahooo aayatannw wa aawainaahumaaa ilaa rabwatin zaati qaraarinw wa ma'een (section 3) )
"And We made Maryam and her Son [77] a sign and gave them shelter on an elevated land [78] where was a place for abiding and running water before sight."
This verse highlights that Sayyidah Maryam and her son 'Isa (عليهما السلام) were made a divine sign. It affirms that 'Isa (عليه السلام) was born without a father, for had he had one, lineage would have been attributed through him—as the Qur'an commands, “Call them after their fathers” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:5). This is also why Sayyidah Maryam is the only woman named in the Qur’an, showing her unique status.
The elevated land refers to a place known as Nasira, located near Leliya, a famous town in Damascus. Sayyidah Maryam, being persecuted by the Jews, took refuge here and lived with 'Isa (عليه السلام) for twelve years. The land was high above sea level, rich in vegetation, and had abundant flowing water, making it a blessed and peaceful place for shelter and growth.
50. And We made the son of Maryam and his mother as a sign, and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar, and Ma`in.
Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger `Isa bin Maryam, peace be upon them both, and that He made them as a sign for mankind, i.e., definitive proof of His ability to do what He wills. For He created Adam without a father or a mother, He created Hawwa’ from a male without a female, and He created `Isa from a female without a male, but He created the rest of mankind from both male and female.
(and We gave them refuge on high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams.) Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “Ar-Rabwah is a raised portion of land, which is the best place for vegetation to grow.” This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas said,
(Dhat Qarar)”A fertile place.
(and Ma`in) means water running on the surface.” This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah. Mujahid said: “A level hill.” Sa`id bin Jubayr said that
(Dhat Qarar and Ma`in) means that water was flowing gently through it. Mujahid and Qatadah said:
(and Ma`in ) “Running water.” Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib:
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in.) “It is Damascus.” He said; “Something similar was also narrated from `Abdullah bin Salam, Al-Hasan, Zayd bin Aslam and Khalid bin Ma`dan.” Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah from Ibn `Abbas that this Ayah referred to the rivers of Damascus. Layth bin Abi Sulaym narrated from Mujahid that the words;
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah,) referred to `Isa bin Maryam and his mother when they sought refuge in Damascus and the flatlands around it. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abu Hurayrah said:
(on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in.), “It is Ramlah in Palestine.” The most correct opinion on this matter is that which was reported by Al-`Awfi from Ibn `Abbas, who said;
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in.) “Ma`in refers to running water, and is the river of which Allah mentioned:
(your Lord has provided a water stream under you.)”﴿19:24﴾ Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said;
(on a high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams.) refers to Jerusalem. This — and Allah knows best — is the most apparent meaning, because it is mentio- ned in the other Ayah, and parts of the Qur’an explain other parts, so it is more appropriate to interpret it by another Ayah, then the Sahih Hadiths, then other reports.
(23:50) And We made Mary’s son, and his mother, a Sign,[43] and We gave them refuge on a lofty ground, a peaceful site with springs flowing in it.[44]
43. The wording “We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign” is very significant, because it means that neither the son of Mary nor his mother was each a separate sign, but both of them together were a sign. This verse is a clear proof that a son was born to Mary without cohabitation with a man and that Jesus had no father. For further details see (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 45-49); (Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 156), (Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 171); (Surah Maryam, Ayat 16-35) and (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayat 91) and the relevant E.N.s.
In this connection, it should also be noted that the case of the error in regards to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother was different from the error in regard to other Prophets, who were rejected because they were human beings. But the deviation in regard to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother was that the credulous people raised them from the low position of human beings to the high rank of Godhead. On the other hand, those, who went to the other extreme accused Mary of unchastity, although they were witnesses of the miraculous birth of Jesus and had heard him speak in the cradle.
44. Different people have mentioned different places, like Damascus, Ar-Ramlah, Jerusalem and Egypt, in regard to the plateau where Allah gave them shelter. From the Christian traditions it appears that Mary had to leave her home twice after the birth of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), first in the time of Herod when she took him to Egypt and stayed there till Herod’s death, and then in the time of Arichelaus when she took him to Nazareth in Galilee. (Matthew, 2: 13-23). Therefore it cannot be said with certainty to which of these two emigrations the Quran refers here. It is, however, obvious that the place of shelter was a plateau which provided them with all the necessities of life.
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