Surah Maryam Part 3 – Learning to Supplicate with Zakariyyah (alayhi salam)
Surah Maryam begins with a story about a special dua that was made by Zakariyyah(alayhi salam). Zakariyyah (alayhi salam) had reached old age but he had no children. He prayed to Allah to grant him an offspring. There were no visible means for his desire to come to life, however, Allah (swt) accepted his supplication and gave him the tidings of a righteous son.
What was so special about Zakariyyah’s prayer that it got answered? What made his dua reach the heavens? What do we lack in our prayers? In what manner should we make a dua so that it is answered? Let’s discover in light of the introductory passage of Surah Maryam. Today, let’s learn to supplicate with one of our dear teachers, Zakariyyah (alayhi salam).
Allah(swt) narrates in Surah Maryam:
كهيعص – ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّآ – إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَآءً خَفِيّاً – قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْباً وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّاً – وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِىَ مِن وَرَآئِى وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنْكَ وَلِيّاً – يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيّاً
Kaf Ha Ya 'Ain Sad. (This is) a reminder of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariyya. When he called his Lord (with) a call in secret. He said: “My Lord! Indeed my bones have grown feeble, and my head has filled with grey hair, and I have never been unblessed in my invocation to You, O my Lord! And verily, I fear the successors after me, and my wife is barren. So give me from Yourself an heir. Who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Ya'qub. And make him, my Lord, one with whom You are well-pleased!”
(Surah Maryam, Verses 1 – 6)
Do you call upon Allah?
The first lesson we gain from Zakariyyah (alayhi salam) is to call upon Allah. He is the only one who listens to each of us, no matter what language we speak and what time of the day or night it is. Not only does He listen, He pays heed – even to the tiniest whispers and indescribable secrets of our heart. Can we find any listener better than the All-Hearing? Moreover, He is the Only One capable of fulfilling whatever we desire. He is the All-Powerful! But unlike any worldly king, no intercessors or intermediaries hinder our path to Him. He is just a Dua away!
Who would then be so naïve to ignore Him and turn to others beside Him? Why in His presence should someone head to saints and shrines for their needs? If we keep asking favors from people they become annoyed, but that All-Loving Creator is displeased only when one does not call upon Him. The more we pray to Him, the more we turn to Him for our tiniest needs, the more He loves us and we increase in our love for Him. Why then be stingy in supplications!
So, whenever you need something or a desire takes root in your heart, even if it be as little as wanting to eat a chocolate, make it a practice of calling first upon Allah. Ask Allah to grant it to you. He has all the means to do so! Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has instructed us:
“Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, until he asks Him for salt, and asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.” (Tirmidhi; Hasan)
When Zakariyyah (alayhi salam) wanted something, even though it was something apparently impossible, he simply reached out to Allah.
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