How Did Zachariah Ask for a Child in Old Age When His Wife Was Barren?
كيف دعا زكريا عليه السلام ربه أن يرزقه ولدًا على كبره وامرأته عاقر؟
"And remember when Zachariah cried out to his Lord, 'My Lord! Do not leave me childless, though You are the Best of Successors.' So We answered his prayer, granted him John, and made his wife fertile" (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:89-90).
رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ ﴿٨٩﴾ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ (سورة الأنبياء: 89-90).
1. A Prayer Rooted in Trust, Not Desperation | دعاءُ واثقٍ لا يائس
Zakariya's prayer does not open with a complaint about his old age or his wife's condition. He addresses Allah directly as "the Best of Successors," acknowledging that even without a child, Allah's plan would still be good, after asking for what he hoped for. This framing is a model for how a believer should ask Allah for something while still submitting to His wisdom regardless of the outcome; Zakariya also asked Allah for a sign that the son would come.
لم يبدأ زكريا عليه السلام دعاءه بالشكوى من كبر سنه أو حال امرأته، بل سأل ربه ما يرجوه، ثم أثنى عليه بقوله: (وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ) (الأنبياء 21: 89)، مقرًّا بأن تدبير الله خير ولو لم يُرزق الولد. وفي ذلك قدوة للمؤمن في أن يسأل ربه مع التسليم لحكمته أيًّا كانت العاقبة. وقد سأل زكريا ربه كذلك آيةً على مجيء الولد.
2. Grouped Among Prophets Who Cried Out in Hardship | في جملة أنبياءٍ نادوا ربهم في الشدة
Surah Al-Anbiya places Zakariya's prayer immediately alongside the accounts of other Prophets who cried out to Allah in difficult circumstances and were answered, including Ayoub (peace be upon him) in his illness and Yunus (peace be upon him) inside the whale, covered in Which Prophet Was Swallowed by a Whale? The surah presents these accounts together as a consistent pattern: sincere prayer in hardship, followed by Allah's response.
وجاء دعاء زكريا في سورة الأنبياء مع أخبار أنبياء آخرين نادوا ربهم في الشدائد فاستجاب لهم، ومنهم أيوب عليه السلام في مرضه، ويونس عليه السلام في بطن الحوت، كما بيّنا في جواب: من النبي الذي التقمه الحوت ثم نجّاه الله؟ وفي جمع هذه الأخبار في سياق واحد إبرازٌ لنسقٍ يتكرر فيها: دعاء صادق في الشدة، تعقبه إجابة من الله.
3. A Son Who Became a Prophet in His Own Right | ولدٌ صار نبيًّا
The child Zakariya prayed for, Yahya (John), was not only born but went on to be granted Prophethood himself, one of the 25 Prophets named directly in the Quran, covered in How Many Prophets and Messengers Were Mentioned in the Quran? Allah's answer to Zakariya's prayer extended far beyond simply providing an heir.
ولم يقتصر الأمر على أن وُلد يحيى عليه السلام لزكريا، بل آتاه الله النبوة، وهو أحد الأنبياء الخمسة والعشرين المسمَّين في القرآن، كما بيّنا في جواب: كم عدد الأنبياء والرسل الذين ذُكروا في القرآن الكريم؟ فتجاوزت إجابة دعاء زكريا مجرد رزقه وارثًا.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What did Zakariya pray for?
He asked Allah not to leave him without an heir (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:89-90), despite his old age and his wife's barrenness, which Surah Maryam 19:4-8 describes.
What was Zakariya's son named?
Yahya (John), who was later granted Prophethood himself.
Which other prophets are grouped with Zakariya in Surah Al-Anbiya's prayers?
Ayoub (Job) and Yunus (Jonah), among others, whose prayers in hardship were also answered.