The birth of Prophet Jesus (PBUH) from the womb of Mary (PBUH) without a father is an extraordinary event. This occurred directly by the command of Allah. Based on this, Allah has regarded both Mary (PBUH) and the son of Mary (PBUH) as a sign. It is stated in Surah Al-Mu’minun:
وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَاُمَّهٗ٘ اٰيَةً....
And We similarly made the son of Mary and his mother also a great sign (23:50)
In Surah Al-Anbiya, these two personalities are referred to with the words āyatan lil ‘ālamīna (a sign for the worlds). It is stated:
وَالَّتِيْ٘ اَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيْهَا مِنْ رُّوْحِنَا وَجَعَلْنٰهَا وَابْنَهَا٘ اٰيَةً لِّلْعٰلَمِيْنَ.
And on that woman also who had kept herself chaste. So, We blew into her Our Spirit and made her and her son [Jesus] a sign for the people of the world. (21:91)
In Surah Maryam, this incident is detailed. While stating the purpose of this initiative, it is said: Wa li-naj‘alhu āyatan linnās wa rahmah min-nā, meaning the purpose is that Allah the Almighty may make Jesus (PBUH) a sign for the people and a mercy from Himself. It is said:
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتٰبِ مَرْيَمَ اِذِ انْتَبَذَتْ مِنْ اَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا. فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِنْ دُوْنِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَاَرْسَلْنَا٘ اِلَيْهَا رُوْحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا. قَالَتْ اِنِّيْ٘ اَعُوْذُ بِالرَّحْمٰنِ مِنْكَ اِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا. قَالَ اِنَّمَا٘ اَنَا رَسُوْلُ رَبِّكِ لِاَهَبَ لَكِ غُلٰمًا زَكِيًّا. قَالَتْ اَنّٰي يَكُوْنُ لِيْ غُلٰمٌ وَّلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِيْ بَشَرٌ وَّلَمْ اَكُ بَغِيًّا. قَالَ كَذٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَلِنَجْعَلَهٗ٘ اٰيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَكَانَ اَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا.
Mention [now] in this Book the name of Mary, when she had left her family and had stationed herself in isolation on the eastern side [of the Temple], and had kept herself in seclusion from them. Then We sent to her Our angel and he appeared before her in the form of a full-grown man. [When] Mary [saw him,] she said: “I seek refuge from you with the Merciful God, if you fear him.” He said: “I have been sent only by your Lord and have been sent that I grant you a noble son.” Mary said: “How can a boy be born to me; neither has a man touched me nor have I ever been of loose character?” He said: “This is what will happen. Your Lord says: ‘This is very easy for Me. We shall do this so that he be Our messenger and so that We make him a sign for people and a mercy from Us. And this has been decreed.’” (19: 16-21)
It is clear from this explanation that the birth of Jesus (PBUH) without a father was an extraordinary event, which Allah manifested as a sign. For this purpose, Allah deviated from the general law of birth and issued His command directly, establishing the fetus in the womb with His word Kun (Be), and infused His spirit into it. This command was similar to the one He issued for the creation of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them). This sign will remain evident as proof of human creation and its reoccurrence till the end of the world. Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi writes:
The miraculous birth of Jesus (PBUH) is a significant sign of the Day of Judgment. The greatest doubt that the ignorant have regarding the Day of Judgment is how people can be resurrected without any means. The existence of Jesus (PBUH) is the answer to this doubt, demonstrating that everything comes into existence by Allah’s command Kun (Be). Jesus (PBUH) came into existence through this very command. It is on this basis that he is referred to as Kalimatullah in both the Bible and the Qur’an. (Tadabbur-e-Qur’an 645/4)
The speaking of Jesus (PBUH) in the cradle is a continuation of this verse. It is narrated in Surah Maryam that by Allah’s command, Mary (PBUH) conceived and moved away from her area. When the time of birth approached, an angel of Allah came, provided reassurance, and a spring was made to flow for her. She was then instructed to return to her people with the newborn. If they posed any questions or objections, she was to indicate that she had vowed silence. Accordingly, she returned. When people saw her with the child, they started to cast aspersions on her chastity, at which point she pointed towards the child. The people questioned how they could speak to someone who is a newborn and has not yet reached the age to speak. At this, the child began to speak. The Qur’an states:
قَالَ اِنِّيْ عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ اٰتٰىنِيَ الْكِتٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِيْ نَبِيًّا. وَّجَعَلَنِيْ مُبٰرَكًا اَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُ وَاَوْصٰنِيْ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَالزَّكٰوةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا. وَّبَرًّاۣ بِوَالِدَتِيْ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِيْ جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا. وَالسَّلٰمُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُّ وَيَوْمَ اَمُوْتُ وَيَوْمَ اُبْعَثُ حَيًّا.
The child spoke: “I am a servant of God. He has bestowed the Book on me and made me a prophet and made me a fountainhead of blessings wherever I be. He has directed me to be diligent in the prayer and in zakah as long as I am alive and made me obedient to my mother; not someone who is rebellious and wretched. And [glad tidings of] peace are on me the day I was born and the day I shall die and the day I shall be raised to life.” (19:30-33)
Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi, commenting on this situation, writes:
When the trial of Mary (PBUH) reached this point and she proved to be one hundred percent successful at every stage, it was time for Allah Almighty to announce what His attributes are for any servant who succeeds in His trial. It was essential for Mary (PBUH), who was placed in a test, to emerge with full honor and dignity, that the child in her lap should testify to her chastity and his own eminence so that there would remain no room for anyone to utter a word thereafter. (Tadabbur-e-Qur’an 4/647-648)