Tafseer of Mary · Maryam · 19:73
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?"
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The Exalted says: وَإِذَا تُتْلَى (and when there are recited) to the people آيَاتُنَا (Our verses) which We sent down upon Our Messenger Muḥammad, بَيِّنَاتٍ (as clear proofs) — that is: clear to whoever ponders and reflects upon them, that they are the proofs of that for which Allah made them proofs for His servants — قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا (those who disbelieved (kufr) say) in Allah, His Book, and His verses — they are the Quraysh — لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (to those who believe) and believe in Him — they are the companions of Muḥammad — أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقَامًا (which of the two groups has a better dwelling-place?): by "al-maqām" He means: their dwelling-place, namely their houses and their abodes. وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا (and a fairer assembly?): that is the gathering/assembly — one says: "nadaytu al-qawma anduhum nadwan": when you bring the people together in an assembly. One also says: "he is in the nādin of his people and in their nādin" — with the same meaning. From al-nadī comes the saying of Ḥātim:
"I was summoned among the first of the assembly (al-nadiyy) — and none looked at me with sidelong glances."
The meaning of the words is: and when Our verses are recited to them as clear proofs, those who disbelieved say to those who believe: which of the two groups — us and you — has an ampler life, a more tranquil heart, a better dwelling, a fairer assembly, and a greater throng and following in the assembly — we or you?
In accordance with what we have said about this, the people of tafsīr also spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Bashshār related to us, saying: Muʾammal related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of al-Aʿmash, on the authority of Abū Ẓabyān, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās — concerning his word خَيْرٌ مَقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he said: al-maqām is the dwelling-place; al-nadiyy is the assembly.
Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Ibn Abī ʿAdiyy related to us, on the authority of Shuʿba, on the authority of Sulaymān, on the authority of Abū Ẓabyān, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās — to the same effect.
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās — concerning وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he said: al-maqām is the dwelling; al-nadiyy is the assembly, the affluence and the splendor which they enjoyed. This is like the word of Allah concerning the people of Pharaoh, when He destroyed them and recounted their affair in the Qurʾān: كَمْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ * وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ * وَنَعْمَةٍ كَانُوا فِيهَا فَاكِهِينَ (how many gardens and springs they left behind, and crops and a noble dwelling-place, and affluence in which they lived in delight). Al-maqām is the dwelling and the affluence; al-nadiyy is the assembly and the gathering where they came together. And Allah said in that which He recounted to His Messenger about the affair of Lūṭ: وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ (and you commit the abominable in your assembly); the Arabs call the assembly al-nadī.
ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbdullāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning his word وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he says: a fairer assembly.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us — and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — all on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning the word of Allah أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ (which of the two groups): he said: the Quraysh say this to the companions of Muḥammad. Concerning وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he said: their assemblies — this they also say.
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid — to the same effect.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning his word وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : they saw something rough and meager in the living conditions of the companions of Muḥammad — and then the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah) made the insinuation that you hear. His word وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he says: a fairer assembly.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Maʿmar informed us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning his word أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا : he said: al-nadiyy is the assembly — and he recited the word of Allah the Exalted: فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ (let him summon his assembly): he said: his assembly.
