۞

« will not talk to any human today.’ 1 The first part of Sūrat Maryam (vv. 2–11) relates the story of Zachariah praying to God for an heir, since his wife is barren, and God’s reassuring Zachariah that this would be easy for Him. Zachariah is told that the sign of the accomplishment of this would be that he would be unable to speak for three days and nights. Verse 12 then speaks of the young boy John being commanded by God to hold firmly to the scripture, and in the same verse, we are informed that while still a boy he was granted wisdom. Verse 13, with which Tustarī commences his commentary, relates that John was also granted »