وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ 89
Translations
And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while You are the best of inheritors."
Transliteration
Wa Zakariyyā idh nādā rabbahu rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa anta khayru al-wārithīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts Prophet Zachariah's supplication to Allah, beseeching Him not to leave him without an heir, acknowledging that Allah is the best of inheritors. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that Zachariah feared his lineage would end and worried about the continuation of prophetic knowledge and guidance after him. His prayer reflects both personal concern and concern for the preservation of divine guidance, and demonstrates the permissibility of making such earnest requests to Allah while acknowledging His perfect wisdom and sovereignty.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiyā, which chronicles stories of various prophets. The passage illustrates Zachariah's advanced age (he and his wife were both elderly) and his heartfelt plea for offspring. This is thematically connected to the broader Meccan context of reminding believers of God's power to fulfill seemingly impossible requests through the examples of the prophets.
Related Hadiths
The story of Zachariah and John (Yahya) is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (2:23:468) where the Prophet Muhammad mentioned the glad tidings given to Zachariah. Additionally, Muslim traditions emphasize the power of sincere supplication (du'ā) as exemplified by Zachariah's prayer, connecting to hadiths on the efficacy of du'ā in Tirmidhi and other collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that it is noble to make sincere, heartfelt supplications to Allah while acknowledging His complete authority and wisdom, and that even in seemingly impossible circumstances, we should never lose hope in Allah's ability to grant what we earnestly and sincerely seek. It reminds us that our concerns about the future should drive us to turn to Allah with humility and trust rather than despair.
Related Ayahs
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.
وَأَرَادُوا۟ بِهِۦ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ
And they intended for him a plan [i.e., harm], but We made them the greatest losers.
وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds [i.e., peoples].
مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they believe?