يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَٱجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا 6
Translations
Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."
Transliteration
Yarithuni wa yarith min āli Ya'qūb, waj'alhu Rabb raḍiyyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet Zachariah (Zakariyyā) continues his supplication to Allah, asking that his son inherit from him both materially and spiritually, and inherit from the family of Jacob (Yaʿqūb) the prophetic knowledge and righteousness. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'inherit' here means to inherit prophethood, knowledge, and piety—spiritual inheritance being paramount. Zachariah's final request is that Allah make his son 'raḍiyyā' (pleasing, acceptable, or one who is pleased with Allah's decree), indicating a profound hope that his son will be righteous and beloved by Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Zachariah's du'ā' (supplication) in Surah Maryam, which opens with his prayer for offspring despite his advanced age and his wife's barrenness. The surah contextualizes this as a narrative of divine mercy toward the prophets; Zachariah's request reflects the spiritual legacy he wishes to pass on—not merely wealth, but prophetic guidance and closeness to Allah. This prayer was answered with the birth of Yaḥyā (John the Baptist).
Related Hadiths
The concept of righteous progeny as a continuing reward is reflected in the hadith: 'When a person dies, all their deeds cease except three: a continuing sadaqah (charity), knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who makes du'ā' for them' (Sahih Muslim 1631). Additionally, the importance of spiritual inheritance is emphasized in various aḥādīth about seeking beneficial knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the greatest inheritance we can leave behind is not material wealth but spiritual legacy—knowledge of Islam, piety, and righteousness—and that we should earnestly supplicate to Allah for children who are pleasing to Him and continue the work of calling others to truth.
Related Ayahs
وَيَزِيدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ هُدًى ۗ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا
And Allāh increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allāh] in the 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.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.