Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Every time Zakariyyah entered the sanctuary to her”

Question:
The brother Abu 'Adil says: I hope the Shaykh will address this noble verse in Surat Maryam, where He (Blessed and Exalted is He) says: Is this food physical or spiritual?

Answer:
This is Maryam (peace be upon her), who withdrew from the men and took a veil to hide herself from them. She would worship her Lord (Mighty and Majestic) and pray. He was her guardian. Zakariyyah was the one who took on her guardianship because she was the daughter of a scholar of the Children of Israel, their scholar and their imam. They drew lots to see who would take guardianship of Maryam, and the lot fell to Zakariyyah because he was with her maternal aunt, so Zakariyyah took her in. Every time Zakariyyah entered the sanctuary, meaning the place of prayer where she prayed, he found sustenance in the form of food and drink with her, and she had not gone out nor sought to earn a living; rather, this was provided for her. That is why he said, “O Maryam, how do you have this?” She said, “It is from Allah.” This is among the miracles of the awliya (close friends of Allah); this is considered one of the miracles of the awliya. Yes.