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
تُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۖ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۖ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account [i.e., limit or measure]."
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allāh as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,
فَإِنْ حَآجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّهِ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِ ۗ وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْأُمِّيِّـۧنَ ءَأَسْلَمْتُمْ ۚ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱهْتَدَوا۟ ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
So if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted myself to Allāh [in Islām], and [so have] those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture and [to] the unlearned, "Have you submitted yourselves?" And if they submit [in Islām], they are rightly guided; but if they turn away - then upon you is only the [duty of] notification. And Allāh is Seeing of [His] servants.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."