[His saying, the Exalted: "And Zakariyya took responsibility for her."]

[The first interpretation]

3438 - Hajjaj b. Hamzah narrated to us, Shababah reported to us, Warqa' reported to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid, regarding His saying: "And Zakariyya took responsibility for her," he said: He cast lots with them using his pen.

Abu Muhammad [Ibn Abi Hatim] said: It was reported from Qatadah that he said: They cast lots over Maryam to see which of them would take responsibility for her.

The second interpretation:

3439 - My father narrated to us, Ahmad b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported to us, 'Abd Allah b. Abi Ja'far reported to us, from his father, from al-Rabi' regarding His saying: "And Zakariyya took responsibility for her," he says: He took her into his care.

The third interpretation:

3440 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr b. Hammad b. Abi Talhah reported to us, Asbat reported to us, from al-Suddi, who said: Zakariyya was the most virtuous among them at that time, and he was their prophet, and the sister of Maryam was his wife. When they brought her, they cast lots over her. Zakariyya said to them: "I am more entitled to her than you; her sister is my wife," but they refused. So they went out to the Jordan River and threw in the pens with which they used to write, to see whose pen would remain upright so that he would take responsibility for her. The pens floated, but the pen of Zakariyya stood upright on its end as if it were in mud. He took the young girl, and that is His saying, the Exalted: "And Zakariyya took responsibility for her."

3441 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan reported to us, Salamah reported to us, who said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said regarding His saying: "And Zakariyya took responsibility for her" - [this occurred] after her father and mother [had passed away], reminding her of her orphanhood.

His saying, the Exalted: "Every time Zakariyya entered the prayer chamber (Mihrab) upon her."

3442 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr b. Hammad reported to us, Asbat reported to us, from al-Suddi regarding His saying: "Every time Zakariyya entered the prayer chamber (Mihrab) upon her," he said: Zakariyya had placed her with him in his house, and he was in the Mihrab.

His saying, the Exalted: "He found with her provision."

3443 - Muhammad b. Musa b. Salim al-Qashani al-Muqri' narrated to us, Zuhayr b. 'Abbad reported to us, Abu Sulayman al-Nasibi, meaning Dawud, reported to us, from Malik b. Mighwal, from Ibrahim b. al-Muhajir regarding His saying: "He found with her provision," meaning: Maryam.