قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ 40
Translations
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He [the angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He does what He wills."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbi anna yakunu li ghulaamun wa qad balaghani al-kibaru wa imra'ati 'aqirun qala kadhalika Allahu yaf'alu ma yasha'u
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the supplication of Zakariyyah (Zechariah) expressing amazement at how he could have a son given his advanced age and his wife's barrenness. Allah's response—'Thus does Allah do what He wills'—affirms that divine power transcends natural limitations and human assumptions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's absolute sovereignty (qadr) and ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible for those who place their trust in Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Ali 'Imran (3:33-41), which recounts the story of Zakariyyah's prayer for an heir and the glad tidings of the birth of Yahya (John the Baptist). The context is Zakariyyah's expression of human doubt despite his deep faith, serving as a teaching moment about Divine power and the nature of miracles.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3206): The Prophet Muhammad mentioned that Zakariyyah called upon Allah with supplication when he felt lonely and aged. Additionally, hadith collections record that the Prophet said Yahya was one of the best of people, emphasizing the blessing of this child born against natural expectation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's power is unlimited and operates beyond natural causality; when facing seemingly impossible circumstances, one should never lose hope but rather increase in faith and supplication, trusting that Allah accomplishes what He wills for those whom He chooses.
Related Ayahs
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allāh has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast?
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ
O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ
Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.
يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
He selects for His mercy whom He wills. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.