Zakariya (زكريا): Guardian of Maryam

An old man's quiet prayer in the middle of the night, answered with a son.

وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا

And I have never been disappointed in calling on You, my Lord. Quran 19:4

His story

Zakariya was the guardian of Maryam. Whenever he visited her in the prayer room he found food with her. "Where is this from?" "It is from Allah. Allah provides for whom He wills without measure" 3:37.

In that very place he prayed for a child 3:38. He prayed quietly 19:3. His bones were weak, his hair was white, his wife could not have children, and he said: "I have never been disappointed in calling on You, my Lord" 19:4-5.

He was given Yahya, a name never given to anyone before 19:7. The Prophet ﷺ said: Zakariya was a carpenter Muslim 2379.

Moments

01
Maryam's food
Zakariya was guardian of young Maryam. Every time he entered her prayer niche, he found provision with her. "Maryam, where does this come from?" She said: "It is from Allah. Allah provides for whom He wills without account." Right there, seeing what Allah can do, he called upon his Lord for a child.
Quran 3:37-38
02
A quiet call
He called his Lord "a private call": "My Lord, my bones have weakened and my head has filled with white, and I have never been disappointed in my prayer to You." He prayed in secret, quietly, an old man to his Lord: "Do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors." Allah answered him and gave him Yahya.
Quran 19:2-6 Quran 21:89-90
03
Three nights of silence
Astonished at the good news, he asked for a sign. "Your sign is that you will not speak to people for three nights, though you are well." He came out of the prayer niche and signalled to his people: glorify Allah morning and evening.
Quran 19:10-11

What he did when…

When you are waiting for a child

Old, white-haired, with a wife who had never had children, Zakariya still asked, quietly, in the night: "Do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors." He reminded himself that he had never been disappointed in prayer before. And Allah answered him.

Quran 21:89-90 Quran 19:4-6

At work

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Zakariya was a carpenter." A prophet whose prayers Allah answered, and who earned his living with his hands.

Sahih Muslim 2379

His words, for you to keep

رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ

My Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors. Quran 21:89

If your child carries this name

زكريا Zakariya

Zakariya is a name of hope that does not expire.