وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا 5
Translations
And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir
Transliteration
Wa-inni khiftu al-mawali min waraai wa kanat imraati 'aqiran fahab li min ladunka waliyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Zachariah expresses his fear that his relatives (mawali) will misuse or squander his inheritance after his death, and because his wife is barren (aqir), he supplicates to Allah to grant him a righteous heir (waliyy). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this dua reflects Zachariah's concern not merely for material inheritance but for the preservation of true knowledge and prophethood within his lineage, demonstrating that his primary concern was spiritual legacy rather than worldly wealth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Zachariah's supplication in Surah Maryam, which was revealed in Mecca and focuses on stories of righteous servants of Allah and their miracles. The context depicts Zachariah's private prayer in the mihrab (prayer niche) when he witnessed the miraculous provision given to Maryam (Mary), which inspired his hope in Allah's ability to grant him a child despite advanced age and his wife's barrenness.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (2468) mentions that Prophet Zachariah's invocation was answered with the birth of Yahya (John), demonstrating Allah's response to sincere supplication. Additionally, Surah Maryam 19:10-11 itself contains Zachariah's interaction with the angels, confirming the acceptance of his dua.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere supplication rooted in genuine spiritual concerns—such as preserving Islamic knowledge and righteousness—can move mountains and transform impossible circumstances into miracles. It reminds us that true inheritance lies not in wealth but in righteous character and knowledge, and that Allah's help comes to those who trust Him completely despite their human limitations.