A Call Made in Secret

The first prophet treated is Zakariyyā (peace be upon him), and the opening words deserve attention:

This is an account of the mercy of your Lord towards His servant, Zakariyyā. It would have been possible to say "His prophet"; the word chosen is "His servant" — for it is when a servant conducts himself as a servant that he becomes entitled to the greatest reward from Allah.

The next verse repays close reading:

He called upon his Lord with a call made in secret. The occasion is known: it was when he saw Maryam (peace be upon her) with the fruits, and recognised that his Lord had revived this longing in him.

What he then says to Allah amounts to an instruction in how a duʿāʾ is to be made — particularly for those who cannot have children, or cannot have a son, a matter that weighs heavily upon many; and equally for anyone who desires something in life that remains out of reach.