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 had relatives whom he feared would lead the people astray after he died.
(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 Yaqoub, and make him, O Lord, pleasing to You.) (Maryam 19:5-6)
خشي من أبناء عمومته أن يضيّعوا الدين بعده.
(وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا 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. As a prophet, his real worry was that without a righteous heir to carry his mission forward, those same relatives might mislead the people once he was no longer present to guide them.
كان قلق زكريا المُصرَّح به في الآية منصبًا على أبناء عمومته من بعده، لا على قلقٍ بشأن المال أو الإرث الشخصي. فبوصفه نبيًا، كان همه الحقيقي أنه دون وليٍّ صالح يحمل رسالته، قد يُضل هؤلاء الأقارب أنفسهم الناس بعد غيابه عن هدايتهم.
2. An Heir to Prophethood, Not Property | وليٌّ للنبوة لا للمال
The word "inherit" in his request is read by most commentators as inheriting prophethood and religious knowledge specifically, since Zachariah's own line traced back to Yaqoub, rather than material wealth a prophet would have little reason to fear losing. Ibn Kathir 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.
تُفسَّر كلمة "يرثني" عند أغلب المفسرين بأنها إرث النبوة والعلم الديني تحديدًا، إذ يعود نسب زكريا نفسه إلى يعقوب، لا المال المادي الذي قلّ أن يخشى نبيٌّ فقدانه. ويستدل ابن كثير 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?
Most commentators read this as inheriting prophethood and religious knowledge, not material wealth.