In the Qur’an, Prophet Zakariya (Zachariah, peace be upon him) is mentioned primarily about his piety, supplication for a righteous child, and his role as the guardian of Maryam (Mary, peace be upon her).
Surah Ali ‘Imran (Chapter 3: Verses 37-41)
Arabic Text: 37. فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلۡمِحۡرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزۡقٗاۖ قَالَ يَٰمَرۡيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَٰذَاۖ قَالَتۡ هُوَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرۡزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ۬
- هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةٗ طَيِّبَةًۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
- فَنَادَتۡهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٞ يُصَلِّي فِي ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحۡيَىٰ مُصَدِّقَۢا بِكَلِمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدٗا وَحَصُورٗا وَنَبِيّٗا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
- قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـٰمٞ وَقَدۡ بَلَغَنِيَ ٱلۡكِبَرُ وَٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرٞۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفۡعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
- قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّيٓ ءَايَةٗۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمۡزٗاۗ وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرٗا وَسَبِّحۡ بِٱلۡعَشِيِّ وَٱلۡإِبۡكَٰرِ
English Translation: 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 Zakariya. Every time Zakariya 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.”
- At that, Zakariya called upon his Lord, saying, “My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.”
- So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, “Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of Yahya (John), confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.”
- 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.”
- He said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not 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.”
Surah Maryam (Chapter 19: Verses 2-15)
Arabic Text: 2. ذِكۡرُ رَحۡمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبۡدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
- إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيّٗا
- قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ ٱلۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّي وَٱشۡتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأۡسُ شَيۡبٗا وَلَمۡ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّٗا
- وَإِنِّي خِفۡتُ ٱلۡمَوَٰلِيَ مِن وَرَآءِي وَكَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرٗا فَهَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيّٗا
- يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنۡ ءَالِ يَعۡقُوبَۖ وَٱجۡعَلۡهُ رَبِّ رَضِيّٗا
- يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ ٱسۡمُهُۥ يَحۡيَىٰ لَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ سَمِيّٗا
- قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَـٰمٞ وَكَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرٗا وَقَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ ٱلۡكِبَرِ عِتِيّٗا
- قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٞ وَقَدۡ خَلَقۡتُكَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَلَمۡ تَكُ شَيۡـٔٗا
- قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّيٓ ءَايَةٗۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَ لَيَالٖ سَوِيّٗا
- فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكۡرَةٗ وَعَشِيّٗا
- يَٰيَحۡيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٖۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمَ صَبِيّٗا
- وَحَنَانٗا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةٗۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيّٗا
- وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ وَلَمۡ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيّٗا
- وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡهِ يَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوۡمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوۡمَ يُبۡعَثُ حَيّٗا
English Translation: 2. [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariya
- When he called to his Lord a private supplication.
- 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.
- And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir
- Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Ya’qub. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].”
- [He was told], “O Zakariya, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.”
- He said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?”
- [An angel] said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'”
- [Zakariya] 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.”
- So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.
- [Allah] said, “O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination.” And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy
- And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah
- And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.
- And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.
Prophet Zakariya (Zachariah, peace be upon him) is regarded as a pious, noble prophet in Islam. His life and story are mentioned in the Qur’an primarily in two Surahs: Surah Ali ‘Imran (Chapter 3) and Surah Maryam (Chapter 19). His story is closely tied to the miraculous birth of his son, Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist, peace be upon him), as well as his guardianship of Maryam (Mary, peace be upon her), the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him).
Zakariya’s (PBUH) story is one of unwavering faith, devotion to Allah, and patience in the face of difficulty. The lessons from his life emphasize the power of sincere supplication, the importance of trust in Allah’s wisdom, and His ability to make the impossible happen.
Prophet Zakariya’s (PBUH) Role as Guardian of Maryam (PBUH)
Prophet Zakariya (PBUH) belonged to the priestly class of Israelites, descended from Prophet Harun (Aaron, peace be upon him), the brother of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him). He was a respected and devout man who lived a life dedicated to serving Allah in the temple of Jerusalem. According to Islamic tradition, he was the husband of Isabel (or Elizabeth), who was related to Hannah, the mother of Maryam (Mary, peace be upon her).
Maryam’s (PBUH) parents, especially her mother, had dedicated her to the service of Allah before her birth. When Maryam (PBUH) was born, a question arose about who would take responsibility for her care. As her mother had promised her to Allah’s service, the priests of the temple, including Zakariya (PBUH), were concerned with who would be her guardian.
The Qur’an mentions how the priests cast lots to decide who would be entrusted with Maryam’s (PBUH) upbringing. Zakariya (PBUH) was chosen as her guardian, which was seen as a great honor. He looked after her and ensured that she was raised with great piety and devotion. Maryam (PBUH) grew up in seclusion, spending her time in prayer and worship within a special chamber in the temple.
One of the miraculous signs of Maryam’s (PBUH) closeness to Allah was that Zakariya (PBUH) would find provisions with her whenever he visited her chamber. He would ask her, “Where did this come from?” to which she would reply, “It is from Allah; indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account” (Qur’an, 3:37).
Zakariya’s (PBUH) Supplication for a Child
Despite his position as a righteous prophet and his close connection with the divine, Zakariya (PBUH) and his wife were facing a personal challenge. Zakariya (PBUH) was old, and his wife was barren. They had no children, which weighed heavily on him because he feared for the future of his people and worried about who would carry on the legacy of guiding the Israelites.
Seeing the miraculous provision Allah had granted to Maryam (PBUH), Zakariya’s (PBUH) faith was further strengthened. Although he was advanced in age, and his wife had been barren for many years, Zakariya (PBUH) turned to Allah in sincere supplication. His prayer was intimate and filled with humility. In Surah Maryam (19:4-5), Zakariya (PBUH) is recorded as saying:
“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. And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir.”
Zakariya (PBUH) asked Allah for a righteous child who would carry on the prophetic tradition and guide his people in the path of righteousness. His deep concern was not for personal gain but for the continuity of moral and spiritual leadership in his community.
Allah Answers Zakariya’s (PBUH) Prayer
In response to his heartfelt supplication, Allah sent angels to Zakariya (PBUH) with the good news. They announced that he would have a son named Yahya (John, peace be upon him), who would be a noble prophet. This joyous news was given to Zakariya (PBUH) while he was praying in the temple:
“So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, ‘Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of Yahya, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.'” (Qur’an, 3:39)
Prophet Zakariya (PBUH) was both overjoyed and astonished. He could not comprehend how this miracle could occur, given that he was very old and his wife had been barren for many years. In response to his amazement, Allah reminded Zakariya (PBUH) of His power, saying that such a thing was easy for Him:
“He said, ‘My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren, and I have reached extreme old age?’ [An angel] said, ‘Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, “It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.”‘” (Qur’an, 19:8-9)
Despite his initial surprise, Zakariya (PBUH) accepted this glad news with faith. However, he asked Allah for a sign as confirmation that the promise would indeed come true. Allah told him that his sign would be that he would not be able to speak to the people for three days, except through gestures. Even though his ability to speak would be temporarily taken away, he was instructed to continue glorifying and remembering Allah during this period:
“He said, ‘My Lord, make for me a sign.’ He said, ‘Your sign is that you will not 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.'” (Qur’an, 3:41)
The Birth and Mission of Yahya (John, Peace Be Upon Him)
In due course, Prophet Zakariya’s (PBUH) wife conceived, and she gave birth to a son named Yahya (PBUH). This was a miraculous event, as it occurred when both parents were well beyond the typical age for bearing children. Yahya (PBUH) was no ordinary child; Allah had chosen him to be a prophet from a young age, and he was granted wisdom, compassion, and piety.
Yahya (PBUH) grew up to be a righteous and devout prophet. The Qur’an describes Yahya (PBUH) as being kind to his parents, pious, pure, and never rebellious or arrogant. Allah granted him special qualities, and Yahya (PBUH) was known for his ascetic lifestyle, his abstention from worldly desires, and his unwavering devotion to Allah.
In Surah Maryam (19:12-15), Allah says:
“O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination.” And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy. And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah. And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.”
Yahya’s (PBUH) mission was closely linked to the coming of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), and he played an important role in preparing the people for Isa’s message.
Also, read the Story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah) (Pbuh)