Al-Anbiyaa 21:90 · The Prophets · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"We answered him––We gave him John, and cured his wife of barrenness- they were always keen to do good deeds. They called upon Us out of longing and awe, and humbled themselves before Us."

Pickthall (classic)+

"Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive unto Us."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya: We cured his wife's (Barrenness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works; they used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

Zakariyya and Yahya

Allah tells us of His servant Zakariyya, who asked Allah to grant him a son who would be a Prophet after him. The story has already been given in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah `Imran. Here an abbreviated version is given.

إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ

(when he cried to his Lord) means, in secret, hiding it from his people.

رَبِّ لاَ تَذَرْنِى فَرْداً

(O My Lord! Leave me not single,) means, with no child and no heir to stand among the people after me.

وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَرِثِينَ

(though You are the Best of the inheritors.) This is a supplication and form of praise befitting the topic. Allah says:

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَى وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ

(So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife for him.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "She was barren and never had a child, then she gave birth."

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ يُسَارِعُونَ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ

(Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds,) means, acts of worship and acts of obedience towards Allah.

وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَباً وَرَهَباً

(and they used to call on Us with hope and fear,) Ath-Thawri said, "Hoping for that (reward) which is with Us and fearing that (punishment) which is with Us."

وَكَانُواْ لَنَا خـشِعِينَ

(and they were Khashi`in before Us.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that this means, sincerely believing in that which was revealed by Allah. Mujahid said: "Truly believing." Abu Al-`Aliyah said: "Fearing." Abu Sinan said: "Khushu` means the fear which should never leave our hearts." It was also reported from Mujahid that the Khashi`in are those who are humble." Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said, "The Khashi`in are those who humble themselves before Allah." All of these suggestions are close in meaning.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

Аллах одарил Закарию праведным сыном - пророком Йахьей, равных которому Он не создавал прежде. Для этого Он сделал супругу Закарии способной к деторождению. Она была бесплодной, но Аллах исцелил ее ради Закарии. Это свидетельствует о том, какую пользу человек извлекает от близости с праведным человеком. Праведный муж приносит много добра своей супруге. Что же касается конкретно семьи пророка Закарии, то результатом их союза стало рождение пророка Йахьи. После упоминания о нескольких пророках и посланниках в отдельности Всевышний Аллах похвалил их всех вместе и сказал, что все они проявляли усердие в добрых делах. Они спешили делать добро и совершали его в самые славные часы. При этом они совершали благодеяния самым совершенным образом, и если им предоставлялась возможность сделать доброе дело, то они не упускали такой возможности. Они взывали к Аллаху со страхом и надеждой, молили Его одарить их благополучием при жизни на земле и после смерти, а также искали защиты от всего, что может причинить вред в обоих мирах. Они стремились к добру и не были в числе беспечных рабов. Наряду с этим они были смиренны перед Ним и покорны Ему, что свидетельствует о том, насколько прекрасно они сумели познать Его.