And the second aspect:

3506 - 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: "their pens" he says: their staffs.

His saying, the Exalted: "as to which of them should be responsible for Mary."

3507 - My father narrated to us, Ahmad b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported to us, 'Abd Allah b. Abi Ja'far al-Razi reported to us, from his father, from al-Rabi' regarding His saying: "as to which of them should be responsible for Mary," al-Rabi' said: They cast their pens, they cast them in the direction of the water's current, so the staff of Zakariya faced the current of the water, and he won the lot against them and took charge of her.

His saying, the Exalted: "And you were not with them."

3508 - Musa b. Abi Musa narrated to us, Harun b. Hatim reported to us, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Hammad reported to us, Asbat reported to us, from al-Suddi, from Abu Malik regarding His saying: "with them" means: in their presence.

3509 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan reported to us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said: "And you were not with them," meaning: you were not with them.

His saying, the Exalted: "when they were disputing."

3510 - Musa b. Harun al-Tusi reported to us in what he wrote to me, al-Husayn b. Muhammad al-Marwudhi reported to us, Shayban reported to us, from Qatadah regarding His saying: "And you were not with them when they were disputing," he said: She was the daughter of their leader and master, so the Children of Israel competed over her, and they drew lots over her as to which of them should be responsible for her.

3511 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan reported to us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said: "And you were not with them when they were disputing," meaning: you were not with them when they were disputing over her. He is informing him of the hidden things they concealed from him of the knowledge they possessed, to verify his prophethood, and it is an argument against them because he brought them that which they had concealed.

His saying, the Exalted: "When the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings.'"

3512 - al-Hasan b. Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq reported to us, Ma'mar reported to us, from Qatadah regarding: "indeed Allah gives you glad tidings," he said: The angels spoke to her directly about that.