Surah Al Imran ayat 38 Tafsir Quran 3:38

﴿هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ﴾
[ آل عمران: 38]

3:38 At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."

Then when Zachariah had seen this and realised that the One with power to bring something about in other than its natural time is able to bring about a child in old age and with those of his family line all deceased Zachariah prayed to his Lord when he entered the sanctuary to pray in the middle of the night saying ‘Lord bestow upon me from You a goodly offspring a righteous son verily You are the Hearer of You are the One Who answers supplication’.

There and then did Zakariya pray and beseech Allah, his Creator; he said: O Allah, my Creator, may I make a humble request to You to bestow on me from Your grace a pious posterity, You are AL-Sami’ so You hear the prayer

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own.
By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair.
His wife was an old women who was barren.
Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret, رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ( O my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka, ) from You, ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( A good offspring ) meaning, a righteous offspring, إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَآءِ ( You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation. ) Allah said, فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى الْمِحْرَابِ ( Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, ) meaning, the angels spoke to him directly while he was secluded, standing in prayer at his place of worship.
Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Zakariyya, أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَـى ( Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, ) of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya.
Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya ( literally, `he lives' ) because Allah filled his life with faith. Allah said next, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) means, "Believing in `Isa, son of Maryam." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Allah's statement, وَسَيِّدًا ( And Sayyidan ) means, a wise man.
Ibn `Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, "The noble, wise and pious man." Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih.
`Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety.
`Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man.
Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah. Allah's statement, وَحَصُورًا ( And Hasuran ) does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations.
This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them, for Zakariyya said in his supplication for the benefit of Yahya, هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( Grant me from You, a good offspring ), meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement, وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( A Prophet, from among the righteous ) delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be born.
This good news was even better than the news of Yahya's birth.
In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa, إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَـعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ( Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers. ) 28:7 When Zakariyya heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age.
He said, قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ ( "O my Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old, and my wife is barren" (He ) said...) meaning the angel said, كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ( "Thus Allah does what He wills." ) meaning, this is Allah's matter, He is so Mighty that nothing escapes His power, nor is anything beyond His ability. قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً ( He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me" ) meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come, قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا ( (Allah ) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals.") meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute.
In another Ayah, Allah said, ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً ( For three nights, though having no bodily defect. ) 19:10 Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition, وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ ( And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him ) in the afternoon and in the morning.
) We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam ( chapter 19 ), Allah willing.

(3:38) Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: 'O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all Prayers.' *37

At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, meaning

*37).
Until then Zechariah had no issue.
The sight of this pious young girl made him yearn for a child just as virtuous and devout.
When he saw that God sent food to her, by dint of His limitless power, he felt hopeful that God might also bless him with issue, despite his old age.

 

The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own.
By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair.
His wife was an old women who was barren.
Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret, رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ( O my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka, ) from You, ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( A good offspring ) meaning, a righteous offspring, إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَآءِ ( You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation. ) Allah said, فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى الْمِحْرَابِ ( Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, ) meaning, the angels spoke to him directly while he was secluded, standing in prayer at his place of worship.
Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Zakariyya, أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَـى ( Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, ) of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya.
Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya ( literally, `he lives' ) because Allah filled his life with faith. Allah said next, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Sha`tha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah, مُصَدِّقاً بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( believing in the Word from Allah ) means, "Believing in `Isa, son of Maryam." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Allah's statement, وَسَيِّدًا ( And Sayyidan ) means, a wise man.
Ibn `Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, "The noble, wise and pious man." Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih.
`Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety.
`Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man.
Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah. Allah's statement, وَحَصُورًا ( And Hasuran ) does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations.
This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them, for Zakariyya said in his supplication for the benefit of Yahya, هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ( Grant me from You, a good offspring ), meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement, وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( A Prophet, from among the righteous ) delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be born.
This good news was even better than the news of Yahya's birth.
In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa, إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَـعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ( Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers. ) 28:7 When Zakariyya heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age.
He said, قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ ( "O my Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old, and my wife is barren" (He ) said...) meaning the angel said, كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ( "Thus Allah does what He wills." ) meaning, this is Allah's matter, He is so Mighty that nothing escapes His power, nor is anything beyond His ability. قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً ( He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me" ) meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come, قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا ( (Allah ) said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except by signals.") meaning, you will not be able to speak except with signals, although you are not mute.
In another Ayah, Allah said, ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً ( For three nights, though having no bodily defect. ) 19:10 Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition, وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ ( And remember your Lord much and glorify (Him ) in the afternoon and in the morning.
) We will elaborate more on this subject in the beginning of Surah Maryam ( chapter 19 ), Allah willing.

( Then ) at that point ( Zachariah prayed unto ) and wished from ( his Lord and said: My Lord! Bestow upon me of Thy bounty ) from You ( goodly offspring ) a righteous child. ( Lo! Thou art the Hearer of Prayer ) You are the One Who answers prayers.

At that time Zakariya (Zachariya) invoked his Lord, saying: "O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation."

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