Aal-i-Imraan 3:39

"So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allāh gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allāh and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.""

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth

When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own. By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair. His wife was an old women who was barren. Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret,

رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ

(O my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka,) from You,

ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً

(A good offspring) meaning, a righteous offspring,

إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَآءِ

(You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation.) Allah said,

فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى الْمِحْرَابِ

(Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab,) meaning, the angels spoke to him directly while he was secluded, standing in prayer at his place of worship. Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Zakariyya,

أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَـى

(Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, ) of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya. Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya (literally, `he lives') because Allah filled his life with faith.

Allah said next,

مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(believing in the Word from Allah) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah,

مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(believing in the Word from Allah) means, "Believing in `Isa, son of Maryam."

Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Allah's statement,

وَسَيِّدًا

(And Sayyidan) means, a wise man. Ibn `Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, "The noble, wise and pious man." Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih. `Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety. `Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man. Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah.

Allah's statement,

وَحَصُورًا

(And Hasuran) does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations. This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them, for Zakariyya said in his supplication for the benefit of Yahya,

هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً

(Grant me from You, a good offspring), meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best.

Allah's statement,

وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ

(A Prophet, from among the righteous) delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be born. This good news was even better than the news of Yahya's birth. In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa,

إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَـعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

(Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers.) 28:7

When Zakariyya heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age. He said,

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ

("O my Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old, and my wife is barren" (He) said...) meaning the angel said,

كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ

("Thus Allah does what He wills.") meaning, this is Allah's matter, He is so Mighty that nothing escapes His power, nor is anything beyond His ability.

قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً

(He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me") meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come,

قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا

((Allah) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals.") meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute. In another Ayah, Allah said,

ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً

(For three nights, though having no bodily defect.) 19:10

Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition,

وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ

(And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning. )

We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam (chapter 19), Allah willing.

Йахье надлежало подтвердить правдивость слова от Аллаха, имя которому было Иса, сын Марьям. Пророчество о пришествии благородного пророка Йахьи включало в себя пророчество о пришествии мессии Исы, сына Марьям, и подтверждало истинность его послания. Слово от Аллаха, которым Всемогущий Аллах почтил Ису, сына Марьям, было величественным. Оно относилось к числу повелений, посредством которых Аллах создает творения. Всевышний сказал: «Воистину, Иса (Иисус) перед Аллахом подобен Адаму. Он сотворил его из праха, а затем сказал ему: “Будь!” - и тот возник» (3:59). Йахье было суждено стать одним из благородных посланников, достичь вершины праведности и вырасти воздержанным мужчиной. Существует мнение, что слово «хасур» означает «человек, который не имеет детей и не испытывает влечения к женщинам». Согласно другому толкованию, оно означает «непорочный человек, который избегает грехов и воздерживается от страстного влечения, которое может причинить вред». Последнее толкование является наиболее подходящим.

Commentary

1. The expression, کَلِمَۃ اللہ 'a word of Allah' refers to Sayyidna 'Isa (علیہ السلام) . This term is used for him because he was created, in an unusual manner, simply by the will and command of Allah - without a paternal linkage.

2. The second quality of Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) has been described by the word, حَصُورً 'hasur' translated here as 'abstinent'. It means that he was very particular about keeping himself shielded from temptations, that is, from things one habitually enjoys. When we say one abstains from enjoyments of life, the statement includes abstinence even from fulfilling the desires of things allowed, for example, good food, good dress and marital life and things like these. Since the quality of abstinence has been mentioned here in a positive frame of reference, it obviously seems to suggest that this is the better way, although ahadith prove the higher merit of living in the bond of marriage. In this situation, the considered opinion is that one whose condition is similar to that of Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) and who is so absorbed in the thought of his life-to-come that he feels no need to have a wife nor has the time and frame of mind to fulfil the rights of his wife and children, then, for such a person this is the better choice. It is because of this particular reason that ahadith which describe the merit of marriage come up with a restrictive clause as well, that is, مَنِ استطاع منکم الباءَۃ which means that one who can marry and is capable of fulfilling the due rights of his wife, should marry, for this is better for him; otherwise, he is not ad-vised to marry. (Bayern al-Qur'n)

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth