Empty, devoid of reason. The meaning is that when she heard of him falling into the hands of Pharaoh, her mind was overwhelmed by the extreme fear and astonishment that struck her. This is similar to His saying, 'And their hearts are empty,' meaning hollow, without reason in them. From this is the verse of Hassan: 'So convey to Abu Sufyan from me... for you are hollow, empty of substance.' This has been explained in verses in the second part on page 563, so refer to it if you wish, the corrector said. This is because the hearts are the centers of reason. Do you not see His saying, 'So they will have hearts by which they understand'? This is supported by the reading of one who recited: 'empty.' And it was recited: 'hollow,' meaning devoid, from their saying: 'I seek refuge in Allah from the emptiness of the vessel and the hollowness of the void.' The emptiness of the vessel means its being empty, the source of 'emptied' in the masculine form, meaning: it is empty. The hollowness of the void means its being empty from the covering, the source of 'hollowed' in the masculine form, meaning: it is empty. And 'empty' is from their saying: 'Their blood was spilled among them,' meaning: it was wasted, signifying that her heart was rendered void and gone, and she remained without a heart due to the intensity of what had befallen her. She was about to reveal that he was her son, for she could not contain herself from joy and happiness at what she heard, had it not been for Our binding her heart with the inspiration of patience, just as one binds something that is slipping away so that it settles and becomes assured, to be among the believers, those who affirm the promise of Allah, which is His saying: 'Indeed, We will return him to you.' It may be said: 'And her heart became empty of worry,' when she heard that Pharaoh had taken him in and adopted him. She was almost to reveal that he was her son, for she could not control herself from joy and happiness at what she heard, had it not been for Our calming her heart and settling her anxiety that arose from the intensity of joy and delight, to be among the believers who are confident in the promise of Allah, not in Pharaoh's adoption and his kindness. And it was recited: 'Musa,' with the hamzah: the diacritic mark placed in the position of the waw - which is the mim - as if it were in it, thus it was pronounced as it is pronounced in the waw of 'Qusiyyah,' follow his track and pursue his news. And it was recited: 'and she saw,' with a kasrah - it is said: 'I saw him from a side and from a distance,' meaning: from afar. And it was recited: 'from the side,' and 'from a side.' The side means the side. It is said: 'He sat beside him and next to him,' meaning: she looked at him, leaning aside, cunningly. And they did not perceive that she was his sister, and her name was Maryam.