ভূমিকা

It will drop on you fresh ripe dates." Commentary: The Qur'anic word /sariyya/ means 'a small stream'; and the term /janiyya/ is applied for 'a fruit which is ripe and ready to be picked off '.

Some commentators have said that the caller unto Mary has been Gabriel; but the context of the verses shows that the caller has been Jesus, in a manner that the mother hears his words and believes what he says, and, later with a calm mind, she tells people to ask about her chastity from the child in the cradle. At the time of delivery and after it, women usually need tranquility, water and appropriate food, the things which have been mentioned in these verses.

The food which has been recommended in the Qur'an and by some Islamic tradition for the woman who has already delivered, is fresh ripe dates. Also, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "The first food for the women who have already delivered, should be fresh dates".(1) 1- Al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 22 Hadrat Ali (a.s.) says: "The best food for the pregnant woman is fresh dates, and there is no medical treatment for her better than dates".(1) This is a Divine trial.

The day when Mary was sound, a heavenly food was sent down for her, but today, when she is pregnant and has no assistant, she must shake the palm-tree to get some food. However, the verse says: " Then (a voice) called out unto her from beneath her: 'Grieve not!

Verily your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you'." Some commentators have said that the caller has been Jesus Himself (a.s.), who, from beneath her, called out that she should not be grieved (Grieve not!), and she should not ask for death. She ought to be sure that Allah would protect her from accusation and, by the miracles of Jesus (a.s.), He removes all accusations from her.

One of those miracles was that very spring which was found by one step of Gabriel or that of Jesus, from which she both drunk and expurgated herself.