Grant Me a Good Offspring

When Zakariyyā (peace be upon him) saw this karāmah, this miracle, happening to Maryam, he himself desired something from Allah. See, Zakariyyā at the time was old; ishtaʿala al-raʾsu shaybā — his hair was grey. And his wife was barren; she was infertile; she would not give birth — plus she was old, so it is even more complicated. And they had no children.

When Zakariyyā saw that Maryam is receiving rizq at a time that is different — because she is getting the rizq of summer in winter, and of winter in summer — when he saw that the time is different, he made a duʿāʾ to Allah (swt) to give him rizq even though the time has passed. And the rizq Zakariyyā wanted from Allah (swt) is a righteous son. With Maryam it was a different time; with him it was past time. So he decided he is going to ask Allah (swt) to give him this rizq.

And Allah (swt), immediately — the following ayah, after Zakariyyā visited Maryam and saw this rizq, the following ayah was: hunālika daʿā Zakariyyā rabbah — then, so when he saw what is happening to Maryam, then he made duʿāʾ himself and said: rabbi hab lī min ladunka dhurriyyatan ṭayyibatan innaka samīʿu al-duʿāʾ.

Allah (swt) says: at that time, Zakariyyā invoked his Lord, saying: O my Lord, grant me from You a good offspring; You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation — You hear what I say. Zakariyyā (peace be upon him) — notice here — did not say: O Allah, give me offspring, as such; but he said righteous. He said righteous. He does not just want to have a child; he wants to have a righteous child. And he made that duʿāʾ to Allah (swt).