"Then the angels called out to him"—Gabriel called out to him—"as he stood praying in the sanctuary, that Allah gives you glad tidings of John, confirming a Word from Allah"—meaning: Jesus, peace be upon him—"and a master and a chaste one"—meaning: John, according to Qatadah's interpretation; Allah kept him alive through faith. The 'master' (sayyid) is the one of excellent character, and the 'chaste one' (hasur) is he who does not approach women; that is, he was restrained from them.
Muhammad said: The root of 'hasr' (chastity/restraint) is 'habs' (confinement). [Verses 40-43]
﴿فنادته الْمَلَائِكَة﴾ ناداه جِبْرِيل ﴿وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَى مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ﴾ يَعْنِي: عِيسَى عليه السلام ﴿وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا﴾ يَعْنِي: يحيى؛ فِي تَفْسِير قَتَادَة؛ أَحْيَاهُ اللَّه بِالْإِيمَان، وَالسَّيِّد: الحَسَن الْخلق، والحصور: الَّذِي لَا يَأْتِي النِّسَاء أَي حصر عَنْهُن.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: وأصل الْحصْر: الْحَبْس. [آيَة ٤٠ - ٤٣]
