Juz 16: Al-Kahf 75 to Ṭā Hā
Section 6 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. Story of Zakariyya and Yahya
The surah begins with the touching account of Prophet Zakariyya (peace be upon him), presenting a beautiful model of how to supplicate to Allah (swt):
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا
“When he called his Lord with a secret call.”
Zakariyya's call to Allah exemplifies the ideal supplication - private, sincere, and heartfelt. He was approximately 120 years old, and his wife was around 98 years old and barren. From a worldly perspective, having children seemed impossible. Yet it was precisely at this moment of apparent impossibility that Zakariyya turned to Allah with complete hope and submission.
His supplication contains several elements that serve as a model for effective dua:
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا
“He said, 'My Lord, my bones have grown feeble and my head is glistening with grey hair, and I have never been unhappy in my prayer to You, my Lord.'”
First, he acknowledges his weakness and inability, mentioning his advanced age and physical frailty. Second, he expresses his past positive relationship with Allah (swt) - "I have never been unhappy in my prayer to You" - reflecting confidence that Allah has always answered him. Third, he presents his concern about who would carry on the prophetic mission after him:
وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا
“And I fear my relatives after me, while my wife is barren, so grant me from Yourself an heir.”
His concern was not merely for personal satisfaction but for the continuation of religious guidance among his people. He sought a righteous heir who would inherit from him and from the family of Yaqub (Jacob), and who would be pleasing to Allah (swt).
Allah's response came swiftly:
يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا
“O Zakariyya, We give you the good news of a boy whose name is Yahya. We have never created anyone before him with this name.”
Zakariyya expressed his astonishment:
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا
“He said, 'My Lord, how shall I have a son while my wife is barren and I have reached such an extreme old age?'”
Allah (swt) responded that this was easy for Him, reminding Zakariyya of the original creation from nothing:
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا
“He said, 'So it is; your Lord says: It is easy for Me, and I did create you before, when you were nothing.'”
Zakariyya then asked for a sign, and Allah (swt) responded:
قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّا
“He said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not (be able to) speak to the people for three (consecutive) nights, even though you will be sound in health.”” (19:10)