The question raised is about the announciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary:
In Surah Al ʿImran (3:42, 3:45), the Qur’an mentions that angels spoke to her.
In Surah Maryam (19:17–21), only one angel is mentioned.
This contradiction was explained in Tafsir Jalalayn and Tafsir Ar Razi.
Verses from Surah Al ʿImran (3:42–47):
3:42 ˹Remember˺ when the angels said, “O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you over all women of the world.
3:43 O Mary! Be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself ˹in prayer˺ and bow along with those who bow down.”
3:44 This is news of the unseen that We reveal to you ˹O Prophet˺. You were not with them when they cast lots to decide who would be Mary’s guardian, nor were you there when they argued about it.
3:45 ˹Remember˺ when the angels said, “O Mary! Allah gives you good news of a Word from Him—his name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those nearest ˹to Allah˺.
3:46 And he will speak to people in ˹his˺ infancy and adulthood and will be one of the righteous.”
3:47 Mary wondered, “My Lord! How can I have a child when no man has ever touched me?” The angel replied, “So will it be! Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, ‘Be!’ And it is!
Verses from Surah Maryam (19:17–21):
19:17 She withdrew from her family to a place in the east,
19:18 and screened herself off from them. Then We sent to her Our angel, ˹Gabriel,˺ appearing before her as a man, perfectly formed.
19:19 She appealed, “I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! ˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.”
19:20 He replied, “I am only a messenger from your Lord, ˹sent˺ to bless you with a pure son.”
19:21 She wondered, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor am I unchaste?” He replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so We will make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us. It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed.’”
Translation: The apparent meaning of His saying: “When the angels said” suggests that it was a group, but what is well known is that the one who called out was Jibril, peace be upon him. We have already explained that earlier. As for the glad tidings, we have mentioned its interpretation in Surat al-Baqara in His saying: “And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds.”
Tafsir Ar Razi (8/52)
Translation: When Zakariyya saw that and realised that the One who is able to bring something at a time outside its usual time is able to bring a child in old age—and his family line had already ended—Zakariyya called upon his Lord. When he entered the prayer chamber in the middle of the night for prayer, he said, “My Lord, grant me from You a good offspring”—a righteous child. “You are the Hearer,” meaning: the One who answers supplication.
Then the angels called out to him—meaning: Jibril, while he was standing praying in the prayer chamber, meaning: the masjid, “That,” meaning: that—(and there is a reading with a kasrah, meaning ‘saying’)—“Allah gives you glad tidings,” with the verb read both in the intensive and light form, “of Yahya, confirming a word from Allah,” meaning: confirming ‘Isa, that he is the spirit of Allah. He was called a word because he was created by the word “Be.” “And a leader,” meaning: someone followed. “And chaste,” meaning: refraining from women. “And a prophet from among the righteous.”
Tafsir Al Jalalayn by Al-Mahalli and As-Suyuti Pg 55
