قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًٔا 9
Translations
[An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'"
Transliteration
Qala kadhalika qala rabbuka huwa alayya hayyinun wa qad khalaqtuka min qablu wa lam taku shay'an
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah's angel Gabriel responds to Zachariah's question about how he can have a son in old age by affirming that what seems difficult to humans is easy for Allah, and He reminds Zachariah that Allah created him from nothing before. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah demonstrates Allah's absolute power and sovereignty—just as He brought Zachariah into existence from non-existence, He can easily grant him a son despite his advanced age and his wife's barrenness. This divine reminder serves to strengthen Zachariah's faith and resolve his doubt.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Zachariah's supplication for an heir, revealed in Mecca. It occurs within Surah Maryam's broader theme of miraculous births and divine mercy, specifically after Zachariah expresses his concern about the possibility of having a child given his old age (19:8). The surah emphasizes that nothing is impossible for Allah when it comes to fulfilling the needs of His faithful servants.
Related Hadiths
The theme of Allah's absolute power relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Nothing is difficult for Allah; indeed, the word 'difficult' and 'easy' are both relative to Allah's will.' This reflects the Quranic principle that Allah's power transcends human limitations and expectations.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, we should remember that Allah's power is unlimited and that what appears difficult to human perception is easy for the Divine. This ayah teaches believers to strengthen their faith by reflecting on Allah's creation of them from nothing, which should provide confidence that He can fulfill any righteous supplication.
Related Ayahs
لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَـٰمًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
They will not hear therein any ill speech - only [greetings of] peace - and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَـٰثًا وَرِءْيًا
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًٔا
[Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?