Story chaptersMaryam’s upbringing and Zakariyya’s care
01Maryam’s upbringing and Zakariyya’s care
Imran’s wife asked her Lord to accept the child she carried as dedicated to worship and service. When she gave birth to a girl, she named her Maryam and sought Allah’s protection for her and her descendants from Satan.
Allah accepted Maryam graciously and caused her to grow well. Her mother’s intention was not lost because the child differed from her expectation. Righteous upbringing combines Allah’s gift with parents’ prayers and effort.
Those seeking the honour of caring for Maryam cast lots with their pens, and Zakariyya became her guardian. The Quran establishes the guardianship and drawing of lots without requiring us to invent details about the water or movement of the pens.
When Zakariyya entered her sanctuary, he found provision and asked where it came from. She explained that it was from Allah, who provides without measure to whom He wills.
The angels told Maryam that Allah had chosen and purified her, and chosen her above the women of the worlds. They called her to devotion, prostration and prayer.
She is established as a truthful, chosen and pure servant. Scholars differed over whether the angels’ communication amounted to prophethood; the majority did not consider her a prophet. That scholarly question should not become a source of hostility.
02Zakariyya’s prayer and the promise of Yahya
Zakariyya spoke of his weakened bones and grey hair, but did not turn age into despair. He recalled his Lord’s generosity in answering prayer.
Concerned for those who would carry religious responsibility after him, and with a wife who had been unable to bear children, he asked for a pleasing successor to inherit from him and Yaqub’s family. Most commentators understood this inheritance as knowledge, prophethood and religious guidance.
The good news came while he stood praying in the sanctuary: Yahya would be born, confirming a word from Allah, noble, chaste and a righteous prophet.
Zakariyya wondered at having a child in these circumstances, without doubting Allah’s power. He was reminded that Allah does what He wills and had created him when he had been nothing.
He requested a sign. It was that he would be unable to speak to people for three nights while otherwise sound; Surah Al Imran describes three days except by gesture. These accounts refer to the nights with their days.
He came out from the sanctuary and signalled to his people to glorify Allah morning and evening. The sign of good news became a call to shared remembrance.