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Prophet 22 of 25

The Story of Prophet Zakariya

An old man who prayed in secret for an heir, and was given Yahya.

Zakariya's story is told at the opening of Surah Maryam and in Surah Al Imran. It is the story of a quiet prayer answered beyond expectation, and of the sign of silence he was given.

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ

Surah Maryam 19:2
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Chapter 1 of 4

A secret call

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Zakariya called to his Lord in secret. He said his bones had weakened and his head was white with age, but he had never been disappointed in calling on his Lord. He feared for what his relatives would do after him, and his wife was barren, so he asked for an heir from Allah who would inherit from him and from the family of Yaqub and be pleasing to his Lord.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Maryam 19:2–6

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ ﴿2﴾ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّۭا ﴿3﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّۭا ﴿4﴾ وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا ﴿5﴾ يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَٱجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّۭا ﴿6﴾

(2) [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah (3) When he called to his Lord a private supplication. (4) He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. (5) And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir (6) Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."

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Surah Al-Anbiya 21:89

وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ

And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors."

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Chapter 2 of 4

The good news of Yahya

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Allah gave him good news of a boy named Yahya, a name given to no one before. Zakariya asked how he could have a boy when his wife was barren and he had reached extreme old age. The answer was: so it will be; your Lord says it is easy for Me, and I created you before when you were nothing. In Surah Al Imran, the angels call to him while he stands praying in the chamber, announcing Yahya as a confirmer of a word from Allah, honourable, chaste, and a prophet from the righteous.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Maryam 19:7–9

يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا ﴿7﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا ﴿8﴾ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌۭ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًۭٔا ﴿9﴾

(7) [He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name." (8) He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?" (9) [An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' "

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Surah Al-Imran 3:38–40

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ﴿38﴾ فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿39﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ﴿40﴾

(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." (39) So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous." (40) He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" The angel said, "Such is Allah; He does what He wills."

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Chapter 3 of 4

The sign of silence

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Zakariya asked for a sign. He was told that his sign would be that he would not speak to people for three nights, though sound of body. He came out to his people from the chamber and signalled to them to glorify Allah morning and evening.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Maryam 19:10–11

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍۢ سَوِيًّۭا ﴿10﴾ فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا ﴿11﴾

(10) [Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound." (11) So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.

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Surah Al-Imran 3:41

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًۭا ۗ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًۭا وَسَبِّحْ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَٰرِ

He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He Said, "Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning."

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Chapter 4 of 4

In the care of Maryam

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Zakariya was also the guardian of Maryam. Whenever he entered her prayer chamber he found provision with her, and asked where it came from; she said it was from Allah, who provides for whom He wills without account. It was there that he called upon his Lord for offspring.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Al-Imran 3:37–38

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 ﴿37﴾ هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ﴿38﴾

(37) So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account." (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."

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Where is this story mentioned?

Passages about Zakariya in the Quran

Opening passage, rendered from the stored text:

  1. Surah Maryam19:2

    ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ

    [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah

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The story of Zakariya

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