Hazrat Zakariya was one of the prophets of the Israelites (children of Israel) and a worshiper at “Bait al-Muqqadas.” He was also the husband of Maryam’s aunt.
When Hazrat Maryam was assigned to serve at Bait Al-Muqqadas, her guardianship was entrusted to Hazrat Zakariya, ensuring that she was always engaged in worship and service in Bait Al-Muqqadas. But she used to spend the days of her menstruation in Hazrat Zakaria’s house.
Acceptance of Hazrat Maryam
Allah (S.W.T) accepted Hazrat Maryam for an important task and that too under the supervision of Hazrat Zakaria where he says«فتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِیا»؛: “Allah accepted her (Maryam) in a good way (from his mother to serve Allah’s house and worship in it instead of a son) and brought her up well and appointed Zakaria as his guardian.”
Allah entrusted the guardianship of Maryam to Zakaria, so that Maryam would learn useful knowledge and good deeds from him, and also because Zakaria was the husband of Maryam’s aunt.
The surprising thing that Hazrat Zakaria was faced with was that whenever he came to Hazrat Maryam, he found fruits out of season in front of her. The Holy Quran says about this: «كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَیهَا زَكَرِیا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ یا مَرْیمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَٰذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ یرْزُقُ مَن یشَاءُ بِغَیرِ حِسَابٍ] ؛ Whenever Zakaria entered his house of worship, he found food in front of her; He said: O Maryam! Where did this come to you [Maryam] said: This comes from Allah, verily Allah gives sustenance to whomever he wills without reckoning.
“Mihrab” means a booth and a high place. And whenever Zakaria entered there, he would find summer fruit in winter and winter fruit in summer, and this indicates the dignity of the saints.
This event indicates the complete wisdom of Allah that Maryam should be prepared for that great miracle (the birth of Jesus without a father) and a background would be created for her, in such a way that she would be certain, Allah who can bear fruit out of season. May he take care of her, he is able to take care of her fatherless children in the future.
Getting to know Hazrat Yahya peace be upon him
When Hazrat Zakaria saw the full power of Allah in creating fruit out of season in the presence of Hazrat Maryam, because of the effect of his faith on him, he began to pray and asked Allah Almighty for a child in his old age, and Allah answered his prayer, and gave Hazrat Yahya to them.
All these extraordinary events laid the groundwork for a great event in the “Children of Israel” so that they would not be surprised by the miraculous birth of Jesus and consider it a sign of divine signs, and his birth without a father would not cause the Children of Israel to deny his mission. Because denial and disobedience to the prophets was one of their distinctive characteristics.
Allah wanted to make them understand that the one who is able to take care of a child in his old age is also able to give birth to a child without a father.
Hazrat Zakaria’s prayer
When Hazrat Zakaria sees the state of Hazrat Maryam, he hopes more for the grace, favor and power of Allah Almighty and prays like this: «هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِیا رَبَّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِی مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّیةً طَیبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِیعُ الدُّعَاءِ ٣٨ فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ یصَلِّی فِی الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ یبَشِّرُكَ بِیحْیىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَسَیدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِیا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِینَ ٣٩]؛ At that time, Hazrat Zakaria asked Allah (S.W.T) and said: O my Lord! Grant me a pure generation from your side, every mirror hears your prayers [his prayer was accepted at this time] so the angels called him, while he was standing praying in the place of worship, (the angels said:) every mirror of Allah gives good news. To [a child named] Yahya (whose characteristics are) that he will confirm a word from Allah (Jesus) and be a leader and dislike women and a prophet from among the righteous.”
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