Who Is Prophet Zachariah?
من هو زكريا عليه السلام؟
He was a prophet, and the lineage of our master Zachariah (peace be upon him) goes back to Yaqoub (Jacob), son of Ishaq (Isaac). He was the guardian of Mary, daughter of Imran, the mother of Jesus (peace be upon him).
(So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing, entrusting her to the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He exclaimed, "O Mary! Where did this come from?" She replied, "It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.") (Al-Imran 3:37)
هو نبيٌّ، وينتهي نسب سيدنا زكريا عليه السلام إلى يعقوب بن إسحاق. وكان يكفل مريم ابنة عمران، والدة عيسى عليه السلام.
(فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّـهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ) آل عمران 3: 37
1. A Prophet Descended from Yaqoub | نبيٌّ من نسل يعقوب
Zachariah's lineage traces back to Yaqoub (Jacob), son of Ishaq (Isaac), placing him within the same prophetic family line explored elsewhere in Surah Ali 'Imran, the surah named for Mary's own father's family.
يعود نسب زكريا إلى يعقوب بن إسحاق، مما يضعه ضمن الخط النبوي نفسه الذي تتناوله سورة آل عمران، وهي السورة المسماة باسم أسرة والد مريم نفسه.
2. Chosen as Mary's Guardian by Casting Lots | اختيارٌ لكفالة مريم بالقُرعة
Zachariah did not simply volunteer for the role; the Quran records that several men cast lots to decide who would be responsible for Mary, a scene described as news of the unseen revealed directly to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who had not been present when they cast their lots (Al-Imran 3:44). Zachariah was the one chosen.
لم يتطوع زكريا لهذا الدور من تلقاء نفسه؛ إذ يسجل القرآن أن رجالًا عدة اقترعوا لتحديد من يكفل مريم، وهو مشهدٌ وُصف بأنه من أنباء الغيب التي أُوحيت مباشرة إلى النبي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولم يكن حاضرًا حين ألقوا أقلامهم (آل عمران 3: 44). وكان زكريا هو من وقع عليه الاختيار.
وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَامَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ (آل عمران 3: 44)3. Provisions No Human Hand Had Brought | رزقٌ لم تأتِ به يدٌ بشرية
The detail that most defines Zachariah's guardianship is his own repeated surprise: entering Mary's sanctuary and finding provisions he had not brought her himself, prompting his direct question, "O Mary! Where did this come from?" Her answer, "It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit," is what moved Zachariah to make his own request for a child right there, as the next verse begins, "Then and there Zachariah prayed to his Lord" (3:38). His prayer is covered in Zachariah's prayer in his old age, and his reasons in why Zachariah wanted a son so badly.
أكثر ما يميز كفالة زكريا هو دهشته المتكررة: دخوله محراب مريم فيجد عندها رزقًا لم يأتِ به هو بنفسه، فسأل مباشرة: "يا مريم أنى لك هذا؟" وجوابها، أن الرزق من عند الله الذي يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب، دفع زكريا إلى طلب الولد لنفسه في الموضع نفسه، كما تبدأ الآية التالية (آل عمران 3: 38) بقوله تعالى: "هنالك دعا زكريا ربه"، وهو موضوع الصفحات التالية.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Who was Prophet Zachariah?
A prophet descended from Yaqoub (Jacob) son of Ishaq (Isaac), and the chosen guardian of Mary.
How was Zachariah chosen to be Mary's guardian?
Several men cast lots to decide who would be responsible for her, and Zachariah was the one selected.
What did Zachariah find when he visited Mary in the sanctuary?
Provisions he had not brought her himself, which she told him came from Allah.