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,
40 my Lord! Grant me from Ladunka,} from You,
4A good offspring ^ meaning, a righteous offspring,
iYou are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation Allah said,
iThen the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrdb,}
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,
iAllah gives you glad tidings ofYaliya
of a child from your offspring, his name is Yahya. Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya (literally, lie lives’) because Allah filled his life with faith.* 1 *
Allah said next,
ibelievittg in the Word from Allah} Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, and also Al-Hasan, Qatadah, ‘Ikrimah, Mujahid, Abu Ash-Shatha, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabl‘ bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, and several others said that the Ayah,
^believing in the Word from Allah } means, “Believing in Isa, son of Maryam. " ,11
Abu Al-‘Aliyah, Ar-Rabl‘ bin Anas, Qatadah and Said bin Jubayr said that Allah’s statement,
iAnd Sayyidan } means, a wise man. 121 Ibn ‘Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, “The noble, wise and pious man.” 131 Said bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqth, ‘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,
4 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,
iGrant me from You, a good offspring}, meaning, grant me a son who will have offspring, and Allah knows best.
Allah’s statement,
4A Prophet, from among the righteous} delivers more good news of sending Yahya as Prophet after the good news that he will be bom. This good news was even better than the news of Yahya’s birth. In a similar statement, Allah said to the mother of Musa,
4 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,
4"0 my Lord! How can I have a son when 1 am very old, and my wife is barren?” (He) said...} meaning the angel said,
4”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.
4He said : ”0 my Lord! Make a sign for me”}
meaning make a sign that alerts me that the child will come,
4(Alldh) 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,
4For three nights, tlwugh having no bodily defect.} [19:10]
Allah then commanded Zakariyya to supplicate, thank and praise Him often in that condition,
4And 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.