Why Did Zachariah Want a Son So Badly, Despite His Age and His Wife's Barrenness?
لماذا أراد زكريا ولدًا رغم كبر سنه وعقم زوجته؟
He feared that his cousins would squander the affairs of this world after him.
(And I am concerned about ˹the faith of˺ my relatives after me, since my wife is barren. So grant me, by Your grace, an heir, who will inherit ˹prophethood˺ from me and the family of Jacob, and make him, O Lord, pleasing ˹to You˺!) (Maryam 19:5-6)
خشي من أبناء عمومته أن يضيّعوا الدنيا بعده.
(وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا ﴿٥﴾ يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا) مريم 19: 5-6
1. Fear for the Religion, Not for Wealth | خوفٌ على الدين لا على المال
Zachariah's own concern, named directly in the ayah, was his relatives after him, not an anxiety about property or personal legacy. Ibn Kathir explains that he feared they would treat the people badly after him, so he asked Allah for a son who would be a prophet after him and lead them by his prophethood.
كان قلق زكريا المُصرَّح به في الآية منصبًا على أبناء عمومته من بعده، لا على قلقٍ بشأن المال أو الإرث الشخصي. ويبين ابن كثير أنه خشي أن يتصرفوا من بعده في الناس تصرفًا سيئًا، فسأل الله ولدًا يكون نبيًا من بعده ليسوسهم بنبوته.
2. An Heir to Prophethood, Not Property | وليٌّ للنبوة لا للمال
Ibn Kathir reads the word "inherit" in his request as inheriting prophethood, not material wealth, and supports this with the hadith in the Two Sahihs: "We (the Prophets) do not leave behind inheritance; whatever we leave behind is charity." The full text of his prayer, recorded across three surahs, sets this single verse within its complete context, and his own lineage back to Yaqoub (peace be upon him) is covered in who Prophet Zachariah was.
يحمل ابن كثير كلمة "يرثني" على إرث النبوة لا المال، ويستدل لذلك بالحديث في الصحيحين: "لا نورث، ما تركنا فهو صدقة".
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why did Zachariah want a son despite his old age?
He feared his relatives would lead the people astray after his death without a righteous heir to guide them.
What did Zachariah mean by an heir who would "inherit" from him?
Ibn Kathir reads it as inheriting prophethood, not material wealth, citing the hadith that prophets leave no inheritance.