Zechariah was the guardian and mentor of Mary. In Jerusalem, noble and righteous individuals from the Children of Israel were chosen to care for the Temple and manage its affairs. Due to his piety, righteousness, and virtuous deeds, Zechariah was an exalted prophet of God.
وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَۖ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“And Zechariah and John, and Jesus and Elias, all were among the righteous.”
(S: 6, V: 85)
By profession, Zechariah was a carpenter. When Hannah, the mother of Mary, was blessed with a daughter, she fulfilled her vow by dedicating the child to the Temple. To appoint a guardian for the blessed child, lots were cast, and the name of Zechariah came forth. His wife Elisabeth and Hannah were sisters, which made Zechariah Mary’s uncle as well. Since he had no children because his wife was barren, he welcomed the guardianship of Mary even more lovingly.
Zechariah was one hundred and twenty years old. One day, during his usual visit to Mary’s chamber, he saw out-of-season fruits placed before her. He asked about them, and she replied that they were bestowed through the grace of her Lord. Witnessing this divine favour, Zechariah longed for a child. He prayed to God, asking for a virtuous and righteous son, saying that God hears the prayers of those in need.
Like every man, Zechariah wished for a son who could carry his name and inherit his mission of preaching God’s message and guiding the people of Israel after him.
God heard his prayer.
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا
“This is a recital of the Mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah, when he called upon his Lord in secret and said:
‘My Lord, my bones have weakened and my head glistens with grey, yet never have I been disappointed in my prayer to You.’”
(S: 19, V: 2–4)
An angel appeared and gave him the glad tidings of a son, instructing him to name him Yahya (John). Zechariah was overjoyed, yet asked, “How shall I have a son while my wife is barren and I have grown old?”
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا
“He said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son when my wife is barren and I am old?’
God said, ‘So it will be. Your Lord says: It is easy for Me. I created you before, when you were nothing.’”
(S: 19, V: 8–9)
Zechariah asked God for a sign that the glad tidings were about to be fulfilled. God told him that he would not speak to anyone for three days except by gestures and that during this time, he should engage in the remembrance of God.
قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً
قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
(S: 19, V: 10–11)
Additional verses describe this moment:
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ
(S: 3, V: 38–39)
وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ
(S: 21, V: 89–90)
Zechariah continued to preach righteousness. However, some among his people, misled by evil, turned against him and plotted to kill him. Eventually, they convinced the king of Judah to order his execution. One day, while he was kneeling beside the altar in the Temple, they ambushed and stoned him to death.
“The time is near when you will be questioned for the blood of the righteous, from Abel to Zechariah, whom you killed between the altar and the Temple.”
(Gospel of Barnabas)
Point to note
Infertility can exist in both men and women. It is generally categorized into two types:
Primary infertility
The reproductive organs exist but are incomplete or defective, such as blockage of fallopian tubes or spermatic ducts, or absence of sperm or ova.
Secondary infertility
Low sperm count, infection in reproductive ducts, irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal imbalance due to aging, or shrinking of reproductive organs.
In the story of Zechariah, God says:
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ
“So We heard him, granted him Yahya, and cured his wife for him.”
(S: 21, V: 90)
This means God not only granted him a son, but also cured his wife’s infertility and revitalized Zechariah’s reproductive capacity.
Law of Influencing Transformation
The law of influencing transformation is that when the mind becomes completely focused on one single thought and “certainty” reaches completion within the heart, then the “desire” or the “will” manifests in outward reality. When certainty prevails within a person instead of doubt, Allah surely accepts such prayers.
Prophets of God are those chosen individuals whose faith remains absolute in every word they speak and every action they perform. Therefore, when Zechariah prayed to God for a son, God accepted his prayer, gave him the glad tidings of a child, and informed him of a sign that he would not be able to speak for three days and three nights. This sign required him to focus even more deeply on God, his Lord.
When Zechariah observed this sign, he immersed himself further in worship and signaled to his followers to remain engaged in the remembrance of God.
For three days and nights, meaning four thousand three hundred and twenty minutes, Prophet Zakariyya remained silent, and his mind stayed focused only on the thought that Allah will bless him with a son. This means that for four thousand three hundred and twenty minutes his mind kept repeating with certainty that he was going to become a father. Through this repetition and worship, warmth and vitality emerged even in his old body, and his inactive reproductive system was restored.
When we continue doing something consistently, we achieve success because certainty itself is a powerful form of energy. Within every human being, the soul is working. Without the soul, the body has no value or existence. The soul is the command of Allah (Amr-e-Rabb) When certainty becomes complete and the mind becomes firmly focused on a single point, the command of Allah begins to operate within the person and whatever will exists in that person, it is carried out according to the law of Allah.