Interpretation of Sura Maryam (Mary) - Verses 31-32
31. " And He has made me blessed wherever I may be and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving so long as I live."
32. " And (He has made me) kind to my mother, and He has not made me arrogant unblessed."
Commentary
The existence of Jesus (a.s.) was a blessed thing in which there were a lot of interests, education of others, and its continuation. Hadrat Jesus (a.s.) both lives a long blessed life which lasts until after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s.), and his followers are abundant and are victorious against the infidels.
The origin of good things and blessings are mainly intentions, aims, and innate modes and virtues. Therefore, some people are blessed wherever they may be, as the verse, concerning Jesus, says:
" And He has made me blessed wherever I may be…"
But, some others, because of their spiritual difficulties and their separation from spirituality, are faced with their own evil qualities, and usually they are not useful for others wherever they may be.
By mentioning the word 'mother', Jesus (a.s.) has pointed to the chastity of his mother, Mary, and his lack of father, when he says:
" And (He has made me) kind to my mother, …"
Also, the Qur'an, from the tongue of Jesus, in this verse implies that Allah has made him a blessed being, or a useful being for people, wherever he may be, and He has enjoined him to prayer and almsgiving so long as he is alive. The verse, in this regard, continues saying:
" …and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving so long as I live."
And, by the next verse, Jesus after implaying that Allah made him kind, benevolent, and appreciative unto his mother, adds that He did not make him arrogant and damned. The verse continues saying;
" …and He has not made me arrogant unblessed."
An Islamic tradition indicates that Jesus (a.s.) has said: "My heart is mild and I humble myself to my self." This statement is an indication to this fact that the opposite state of 'being arrogant and unblessed' is these two epithets.
A few traditions about Prayer, Almsgiving, and kindness to Parents:
A. Prayer
1. Imam Baqir (a.s.) said: "Islam has been founded on five things: prayer, almsgiving, Hajj, fasting and the mastership (of Ahl-ul-Bayt)." (Bihar, vol. 82, p. 234)
2. The Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) said: "The most beloved things with Allah are prayer at its time, then kindness to parents, then Holy Struggle in the way of Allah." (Kanz-ul-'Ummal, vol.7, tradition No.18897)
3. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said: "The one who takes his prayer lightly is not of me. No, by Allah, such a person will not reach me by the Houd?, the pool of abundance." (Bihar-ul-'Anwar, vol.82, p. 224)
B. Almsgiving
1. It is narrated from Ali-ibn-Abitalib (a.s.) who said: "The pillars of Islam are three, none of which is useful without the other two. They are: Prayer, almsgiving, and the guardianship (of the Ahl-ul-Bayt)." (Bihar-ul-'Anwar, vol. 68, p.386)
2. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said: "Cure your patients by means of charity (sadaghah), and protect your property by the alms tax (Zakat)."
3. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "One who restrains paying as much as a Qirat (about 2 grams) of the (obligatory) alms tax (Zakat), will die as a Jew or a Christian." (Was'il-ush-Shi'ah, p. 186)
4. Imam Musa-ibn-J?'far (a.s.) said: "Verily the Alms tax has been assigned as a provision for the poor and as a means for the increase of their wealth." (Was'il-ush-Shi'ah, vol. 6 p. 4)
However, communication with Allah (prayer) is not separate from communication with the deprived (almsgiving).
C. Kindness to the Parents
1. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "The best deeds are: prayer in its time, kindness to parents, and Holy Struggle in the way of Allah." (Bihar-ul-'Anwar, vol. 74, p. 85)
2. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said: "One who obeys the command of Allah regarding parents, two doors of the Paradise will be opened for him; and if he obeys (the command of Allah regarding) one of them, then one door will be opened (to him)." (Kanz-ul-'Ummal, vol. 16, p. 467)
3. The holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) in a tradition has said: "He who obeys his parents and His Lord, will be in the highest position (of Heaven in Hereafter)." (Kanz-ul-'Ummal, vol. 6, p. 468)
4. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said: "The person who pleases his parents, has pleased Allah; and the one who discontents his parents, has discontented Allah." (Kanz-ul-'Ummal, vol. 16, p. 470)
5. The Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) said: "The person who likes his lifetime to be prolonged and his sustenance to be increased, then he should be kind to his parents and visit his kin." (Kanz-ul-'Ummal, vol. 16, p. 475)
Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Maryam" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"