فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿۲۷﴾ فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ ﴿۲۸﴾ فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ ﴿۲۹﴾ قَالُوا كَذَلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿۳۰﴾

﴾27﴿ Faqarrabahooo ilaihim qaala alaa taakuloon
﴾28﴿ Fa awjasa minhum khee fatan qaaloo laa takhaf wa bashsharoohu bighulaamin 'aleem
﴾29﴿ Fa aqbalatim ra-atuhoo fee sarratin fasakkat wajhahaa wa qaalat 'ajoozun 'aqeem
﴾30﴿ Qaaloo kazaaliki qaala Rabbuki innahoo huwal hakeemul 'aleem

﴾27﴿ So he brought it near to them and said, Will you not eat
﴾28﴿ So he concealed a fear of them in his heart. They said, "Do not be afraid," and gave him glad tidings of a knowledgeable son
﴾29﴿ Then his wife came forward facing the group of angels, struck her face with her hand, and said, I am a barren old woman
﴾30﴿ They said, Thus it will be. Your Lord has said so; indeed, He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing over all things

[28] (فَأَوْجَسَ) — This refers to a state of the heart — meaning, a feeling of fear quietly arose in the heart of Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him).
Question: The angels do not know the thoughts of the heart, so how did they know he was afraid?
Answer 1: As mentioned in Surah Ḥijr (15:52), Ibrāhīm himself verbally expressed his fear: "إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ" — “Indeed, we are afraid of you.”
Answer 2: The angels may have understood from his facial expressions, body language, or other external signs — through firasah (insight and perceptiveness).
This shows how inner emotions can often be detected through outer behaviors, even without direct revelation.
[29] It becomes clear from this verse and context that Sayyidah Sārah (the wife of Ibrāhīm, peace be upon him) was standing behind a veil, serving modestly and respectfully, thinking that the guests were non-maḥram men.
When she heard the good news and realized that these were angels, she came forward.
This is supported by Surah Hūd (11:71), where it is also indicated that she was behind the curtain, and upon hearing the news of the destruction of the people of Lūṭ, she became pleased, and then the glad tidings for herself were given — which surprised her greatly.
(فِي صَرَّةٍ) — There are two interpretations:
1. A spontaneous cry or exclamation out of shock or astonishment.
2. A group or gathering — meaning she came forward among the group of angels.
The first meaning is more commonly accepted in this context — she cried out due to extreme surprise.
(فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا) — This describes a reaction common among women in moments of shock or amazement:
Ṣakkah refers to striking with a flat object — here, it means she struck her own face with her open palm or fingers.
Wajh here refers to one side of the face or the forehead.
This was a natural reaction of amazement, not an act of grief or mourning.
(عَقِيمٌ) — Refers to a woman who is unable to bear children either:
1. Because she has reached such an old age that childbearing is no longer possible according to custom.
2. Or she has never conceived from the beginning until death — as mentioned in Surah Ash-Shūrā (42:50).
Thus, her amazement was justified — she had been barren for life, yet was now given glad tidings of a child.
[30] This verse serves as a consolation (tasliyat) for the astonishment of Sayyidah Sārah (the wife of Ibrāhīm, peace be upon him).
When she expressed surprise and wonder upon receiving the glad tidings of a child in old age while being barren, the angels comforted her, reminding her that:
This promise was not strange or difficult for Allah, for He is All-Wise and All-Knowing — His decree is based on perfect wisdom, and nothing is beyond His power.
This gentle reassurance helped ease her shock and strengthen her faith in the divine will.