Overall meaning : Allah tells His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, of the time when the angels brought to Mary the good news of the birth of a son, through a word from Him (that is, he came into existence with Allah’s command to him with the word, ‘Be,’ and he was). His name would be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary (he was directly linked to his mother because he had no father); he would be highly honoured and would hold a superior status with Allah in this world and in the world to come, and would be of those drawn near to Allah. The angels further assured her that He would miraculously speak to people in the cradle in defence of his mother’s honour against the Jewish accusations of a lack of chastity, that he would call people to worship Allah alone and speak to people when grown up as a messenger through what Allah would reveal to him and that he would be among the righteous.
‘Lord,’ she said, ‘how can I bear a child when no man has ever touched me?’ Allah replied, saying that such miraculous incident which is contrary to custom can only be the work of the One to whom belongs the whole command to decide whatever He wills. He creates whatever He wills in whatever manner He wills, and when he decrees a thing, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is, just He wishes it to be.
The angels go on to make mention of the great gifts and favours Allah Almighty would bestow upon His servant and Messenger, Jesus, peace be upon him: That Allah would teach him writing and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; that He would appoint him His messenger to Children of Israel to say to them, ‘I have brought you a sign from your Lord proving that I have been sent by Him. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it, and it will be a living bird by Allah’s permission. I will heal those born blind and the lepers, and bring the dead back to life, by Allah’s permission. I will inform you of the food that you eat and that you store up in your homes without me having seen it or having been informed about it. Surely that will be a sign for you proving that I have come to you with a message from your Lord, if you truly believe in Allah and His signs. And I have come to confirm the Torah which was revealed before me, to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you, and I have brought you a sign confirming the truth of what I have said to you; therefore, fear Allah, and obey me and do as I am calling you. Surely, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; therefore, worship Him alone, for doing so is the straight path that leads you to Allah and His good pleasure.’