Everyone in Sūrat Maryam · 1 of 11The sūrah opens with his secret prayer (19:2-6).
About
An aged prophet and guardian of Maryam who prayed for an heir. Allah answered with the glad tidings of Yaḥyā, a sign of His power over what seems impossible.
The name
Guardian of Maryam (3:37)
Source: Qur'an
The story, as the Qurʼan tells it
- The beginningThe guardian of Maryam, who found provision with her in her chamber and asked where it came from.
3:37
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍۢ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًۭا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًۭا ۖ قَالَ يَٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
- The callThere he prayed in secret: 'My Lord, my bones have weakened and my head is white with age — grant me an heir from Yourself.'
19:2-6
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
3:38
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
- The signThe angels announced Yaḥyā, a name never given before; his sign was three nights unable to speak though sound.
19:7-10
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا
3:39-41
فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
- The test'How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached extreme old age?'
19:8
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا
3:40
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
- The outcomeAllah answered him and cured his wife; the Qurʼan says they used to hasten to good deeds and call on Him in hope and fear.
21:89-90
وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
The lesson'Never, my Lord, have I been unblest in my prayer to You' — the prayer of one who has never been refused. 19:4
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّۭا
Duʿāʾ — in their own words
Zakariyyā praying for a child in old age · 21:89رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
Rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa-anta khayru l-wārithīn
My Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors.
Zakariyyā in the chamber of Maryam · 3:38رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
Rabbi hab lī min ladunka dhurriyyatan ṭayyibah, innaka samīʿu d-duʿāʾ
My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. You are the Hearer of supplication.
Relationships
SonHis son, granted in old age
WardMaryam, under his care
Key appearances
Tap a reference to read the āyah — Arabic with English beneath.