وَكَهْلًا

5:111.

Important Words:

المھد (cradle) is the noun-infinitive from the verb مھد. They say مھد المكان i.e. he made the place plain, even or smooth for himself. مھد فراشا means, he spread a bed for himself and made it even and smooth. مھد لنفسه خیرا means, he prepared good things for himself. مھد له منزلة سنیة means, he prepared or established for him a high station or position. مھد لنفسه also means, he gained or earned or sought to earn sustenance, etc. for himself. المھد means, a place prepared for a child and made plain, even or smooth that he may sleep in it; a child’s cradle; a bed; a thing spread to lie, recline or sit upon; a piece of plain ground or a smooth expanse (Lane & Aqrab). In its verbal senses the infinitive مھد would also mean, making a thing even and smooth; preparing a thing; preparation; gaining or earning a sus-tenance, etc.

کھلا (of middle age) is the noun-infinitive from کھل i.e. he was or became of middle age اکتھل الرجل means the man attained middle age. اکتھل النبات means, the plant became tall and full grown and blossomed. کھل means, one who is of middle age, or one who is of the age when a person’s hair becomes intermixed with hoariness; or one who is between thirty or thirty-four and 51 years of age (Lane & Aqrab); or one who is between 40 and 51 years of age (Tha‘labi).

Commentary:

It is evident that by the words, he shall speak, the Quran does not mean simple utterance of words; for such speaking is done by all children and all grown up men except the few congenitally dumb. The expression is, therefore, meant to refer to a particular kind of speaking, i.e. speaking wisely or speaking words of wisdom. Similarly, the clause, in the cradle and when of middle age, refers to the two periods of childhood and manhood when Jesus would speak words of wisdom, thus indirectly hinting that he would not die young but would live to a good ripe age. According to Ibn Qayyim, a writer of great eminence, some scholars have denied the crucifixion and (the so-called) ascension of Jesus at the age of 30 or 33 on the ground that Jesus was, according to the Quran, to speak to men when he was a Kahl, i.e. of middle age. This shows that these scholars look upon Tha‘labi’s definition as the correct one.

That Jesus spoke words of wisdom in his childhood has nothing miraculous or supernatural about it. Many intelligent and well brought up children speak like that. Luke supplies an instance of how Jesus spoke in childhood: "And when they had fulfilled the days, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:43-47).

The Quranic reference to the two distinct periods of Jesus’ life may also be taken to hint that his speaking in the latter period was to be of a different nature from that in the former. In the latter period, he was to speak to men as a Prophet of God. Thus, the glad tidings given to Mary consisted in the fact that Jesus was not only destined to be an intelligent child but was also to live to a ripe age as a righteous servant of God.

It should, however, be noted that the expression "in the cradle" does not necessarily mean childhood. The word مھد(cradle) has not been used in the verse literally but only broadly to signify the period of unripe age, i.e. that preceding کھولة or full-grown manhood. In fact, as shown under Important Words, مھد does not originally mean a cradle. That meaning is rather secondary, the primary meaning being the state or period of preparation when one is, as it were, being prepared and made even and smooth for the duties of ripe age. The fact that the Quran has mentioned the two periods, (i.e. "in the cradle" and "middle age") side by side also shows that there is no intervening period between them. The entire period before کھولة (middle age) is that of مھد i.e. a period of preparation; otherwise the verse would become a dispraise rather than praise; for in that case the insinuation would be that Jesus did not speak wisely in the period lying between childhood and middle age.

Finally, it may be noted that, according to the Quran and authentic Hadith, Jesus did not die on the cross at the age of 33 but lived up to a very old age, but of this we would speak later at its proper place.

2:88; 2:254.

3:47.

3:49.

3:50.

5:12.

Commentary:

In the clause, thou didst speak to the people in the cradle and when of middle age, the act of speaking in the cradle signifies speaking words of wisdom and piety in childhood. This sort of speaking on the part of Jesus reflected great credit on his mother, who, herself being wise and pious, brought him up as a wise and pious child. And the speaking of good words in middle age shows that not only was Mary a pious woman, but Jesus, too, was a righteous man so that even when he was of middle age and was no longer under the direct influence of his mother, he spoke words of piety and wisdom to men. See also 3:47 & 3:49, 50, where similar works of Jesus, i.e. the creation of birds and the quickening of the dead, etc. have been discussed.

Protection similar to that alluded to in the latter part of this verse in the words, I restrained the Children of Israel from putting thee to death, was promised to the Holy Prophet as well (5:68). This promise met with a remarkable fulfilment. Though, even at Mecca, his life was in constant danger, at Medina that danger very much increased. The Holy Prophet led many expeditions in person and several attempts were made on his life. At Uhud, he was severely wounded and at Hunain he was left alone among a large host of bloodthirsty archers. Yet amidst all these dangers he remained safe, and after having triumphed over his enemies, passed away peacefully in his house at Medina. The reference in the present verse is to the attempts of the Jews to kill Jesus on the cross, from which—accursed death—God delivered him. The words, I restrained the Children of Israel, should not, however, be understood to mean that Jesus suffered even no persecution at the hands of his enemies. A similar expression has been used with regard to early Muslims in the Quran (5:12), but it is a well-known fact that they had to pass through grievous trials and tribulations. The expression thus only means that the enemy will fail to kill Jesus, whom God will protect from being destroyed.