Surah 21:90

"We responded to him, and granted him John, and set his wife right for him. Surely they were quick in the (doing of) good deeds, and they used to call on Us in hope and fear, and humble (themselves) before Us."

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (51)

Zakariyya and Yahya Verses 21:89-90

Show Full Scripture Context (21:89-90) — 2 Verses

Verse 89

وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرۡنِي فَرۡدٗا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثِينَ

And Zachariah – when he called out to his Lord: ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone, when You are the best of inheritors.’

Verse 90

فَٱسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبۡنَا لَهُۥ يَحۡيَىٰ وَأَصۡلَحۡنَا لَهُۥ زَوۡجَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِي ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبٗا وَرَهَبٗاۖ وَكَانُواْ لَنَا خَٰشِعِينَ

We responded to him, and granted him John, and set his wife right for him. Surely they were quick in the (doing of) good deeds, and they used to call on Us in hope and fear, and humble (themselves) before Us.

Allah tells us of His servant Zakariyya, who asked Allah to grant him a son who would be a Prophet after him. The story has already been given in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah ‘Imran. Here an abbreviated version is given.

{when he cried to his Lord} means, in secret, hiding it from his people.

{O My Lord! Leave me not single,} means, with no child and no heir to stand among the people after me.

Quoted Scripture

"though You are the Best of the inheritors."

This is a supplication and form of praise befitting the topic. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture

"So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife for him."

Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid and Said bin Jubayr said: “She was barren and never had a child, then she gave birth.”

Quoted Scripture

"Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds,"

means, acts of worship and acts of obedience towards Allah.

Quoted Scripture

"and they used to call on Us with hope and fear,"

Ath-Thawri said, “Hoping for that (reward) which is with Us and fearing that (punishment) which is with Us.”

{and they were Khashi'in before Us.} ‘Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn ‘Abbas that this means, sincerely believing in that which was revealed by Allah. Mujahid said: “Truly believing.” Abu Al-‘Aliyah said: “Fearing.” Abu Sinan said: “Khushu‘ means the fear which should never leave our hearts.” It was also reported from Mujahid that the KhashVin are those who are humble.” Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said, “The KhashVin are those who humble themselves before Allah.” All of these suggestions are close in meaning.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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