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)."

commentary:
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 of the news of the unseen which we 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.

"... and you were not with them (to see) when they were quarrelling
(among themselves)."

it is understood from this verse and the verses of sura 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.