What is the interpretation of the statement of Allah the Exalted: “And you were not present with them when they cast their pens to determine who would take Maryam in guardianship…”?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. He is inquiring about the noble verse in the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:44]?
The Shaykh : The meaning is that these people drew lots to determine who would take Maryam in guardianship, and they drew lots using pens. I do not know the specific method, but they drew lots in a certain way such that whoever’s lot prevailed would have Maryam in his care.
And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary
وما كنت لديهم إذ يلقون أقلامهم أيهم يكفل مريمThe Shaykh : The meaning is that these people drew lots to determine who would take Maryam in guardianship, and they drew lots using pens. I do not know the specific method, but they drew lots in a certain way such that whoever’s lot prevailed would have Maryam in his care.