Zakariyya (Zechariah) — زَكَرِيَّا
زکریا علیہ السلام
Also known as: Zechariah
Path — Straight Path | صراط مستقیم
Reason: Prophet who prayed for an heir in old age with full certainty of Allah’s power; dua answered with Yahya
Story — English
Prophet and guardian of Maryam in the temple. When he saw miraculous provision appearing for her, he was inspired to ask Allah for an heir despite his old age and barren wife. His private dua (19:3-6): ‘My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white hair, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy… so grant me from Yourself an heir.’ The angel gave him the news of Yahya. He asked for a sign — he was made mute for three days/nights as the sign. He kept worshipping in gratitude.
کہانی — اردو
مریم کے کفیل نبی۔ مریم کا غیبی رزق دیکھا تو ولی کی دعا مانگی۔ بڑھاپے اور بانجھ بیوی کے باوجود امید نہ چھوڑی۔ رات کو چپکے سے دعا کی (19:3-6)۔ یحییٰ کی خبر ملی۔ نشانی مانگی — تین دن/رات گونگے ہو گئے۔
Lessons from the Quran
- Asking the impossible from the One to Whom nothing is impossible
- Praying in private, by night — the sincerest dua
- Never losing hope despite old age, barren wife, and apparent impossibility
- Signs of faith: asking for a sign not from doubt but from wanting to increase in certainty
- Witnessing a miracle (Maryam’s food) often unlocks the courage to ask for your own miracle