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dhālika min ʾanbāʾi l-ghaybi nūḥīhi ʾilayka wa-mā kunta ladayhim ʾidh yulqūna ʾaqlāmahum ʾayyuhum yakfulu maryama wa-mā kunta ladayhim ʾidh yakhtaṣimūna
These accounts are from the Unseen, which We reveal to you, and you were not with them when they were casting lots [to see] which of them would take charge of Mary’s care, nor were you with them when they were contending.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah 'Ali-Imran, Verse 44
44. "This is of the news of the Unseen which we reveal to you; and you were not with them when they did cast (their lots with) their pens as to which of them should have the charge of Mary; and you were not with them (to see) when they were quarrelling (among themselves)."
This verse points to another part of the story of Mary. It denotes that: O' Muhammad! what Was expressed for you about the story of Mary and Zachariah is from among the news of Unseen revealed to you:
This is revealed to you because these stories in this form, which are proper and free from any superstition, and whose reference is merely heavenly revelation of the Qur'an, are not found in any of the former revealed Books, those which have been distorted later. Then, it continues saying that when they throwing their pens into water to cast their lots in order to decide who should have the charge of Mary, you were not present therein with them. And also, when the scholars of the Israelite were quarrelling among themselves to obtain the honour of her guardianship, you were not with them. So, We informed you of all of them by means of revelation.
It is understood from this verse and the verses of Surah As-Safat, No 37, about Yunus (Jonah) that when a problem comes forth which is not soluble, or when there is an endless dispute with quarrelling that no way is found to put an end to it, and it is impossible to unite that knot, casting a lot can be applied.