قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًا ۗ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَـٰرِ 41
Translations
He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbi ij'al li ayatan qala ayatuka alla tukalima an-nasa thalathata ayyamin illa ramzan wadhkur rabbaka kathiran wa sabbih bil-'ashiyyi wal-ibkar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Zechariah's supplication to Allah for a sign of glad tidings regarding the birth of John (Yahya), and Allah's response that his sign will be the inability to speak to people for three days except by gesture, during which he should remember and glorify his Lord abundantly. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this silence as a test of patience and an opportunity for continuous remembrance of Allah, with the three-day period symbolizing a complete trial and the restoration of his speech being a sign of Allah's mercy and the coming birth of his son.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Ali 'Imran detailing the story of Zechariah and the birth of John the Baptist. It follows Zechariah's prayer in the mihrab (prayer niche) when he was advanced in age and childless. The context is Zechariah's request for a miraculous sign to confirm Allah's promise of offspring, which was answered with this unique sign combining affliction and blessing.
Related Hadiths
While no direct hadith specifically addresses this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths about the virtue of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and Surah Ali 'Imran 3:41 is often cited in discussions of tasbeeh (glorification) as mentioned in the ayah itself. The story of Zechariah is referenced in Jami' at-Tirmidhi regarding the blessings of supplication.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that divine trials often come intertwined with blessings, and that periods of difficulty are opportunities to increase remembrance of Allah and strengthen our connection with Him—the silence imposed on Zechariah was not mere punishment but a gift for spiritual elevation and confirmation of faith.