هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ 38
Translations
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
Transliteration
Hunalika da'a Zakariyyā rabbahu qāla rabbi hab lī min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibatan innaka samī'u ad-du'ā'
Tafsir (Explanation)
At that moment (when Zachariah witnessed the miraculous provision for Mary), Zachariah called upon his Lord, supplicating: 'My Lord, grant me from You righteous offspring, indeed You are the Hearer of supplications.' This ayah demonstrates Zachariah's faith and hope despite his advanced age and his wife's infertility. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Zachariah's dua was answered with the birth of Yahya (John the Baptist), demonstrating Allah's power to grant children even in seemingly impossible circumstances, and highlighting the importance of sincere supplication combined with faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Mary's story in Surah Ali 'Imran (3:37), where Zachariah witnessed the miraculous provision of fruit to Mary in her sanctuary. This sight rekindled his hope and prompted his supplication for offspring despite his old age. The context emphasizes divine provision and the power of sincere dua as a means of receiving blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Nothing is more honored by Allah the Most High than supplication' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3371). Additionally, Surah Maryam (19:4-6) provides the fuller account of Zachariah's dua and Allah's response with the glad tidings of Yahya.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere dua backed by faith is a means of receiving Allah's blessings, and that no circumstance is too difficult for Allah to resolve. It reminds us to turn to Allah in supplication for righteous children and good progeny, maintaining hope and trust even when worldly means seem exhausted.
Related Ayahs
أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allāh like one who brings upon himself the anger of Allāh and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And their words were not but that they said, "Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allāh," but it is not from Allāh. And they speak untruth about Allāh while they know.