Sūrat Maryam

Meccan (except for verses 58 and 71, which are Medinan). 98 Verses (revealed after Sūrat Fāṭir).

{Kāf-Hā-Yā-ʿAyn-Ṣād}

{A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant, Zechariah}

{When he called upon his Lord, a private call}

{Kāf-Hā-Yā-ʿAyn-Ṣād} Hamza read the hā with a fatḥa and the yā with a kasra. ʿĀṣim read both with kasra. Al-Ḥasan read both with ḍamma.

{A mention of the mercy of your Lord} Al-Ḥasan read: "This which is recited from the Qur'an is a mention of the mercy of your Lord." It was also read as an imperative: "Mention!"

He observed the practice of God in concealing his supplication, for public and private are equal before God. Concealment was more appropriate, as it is further from showing off (riyāʾ) and more conducive to sincerity (ikhlāṣ).

It is narrated from Al-Ḥasan that it was a call devoid of showing off. Or, he concealed it so as not to be blamed for seeking a child in his old age and senility. Or, he kept it secret from his kinsmen whom he feared. Or, his voice was faint due to his weakness and old age, as it is said in the description of an old man: "His voice is faint, and his hearing is intermittent."

There is disagreement regarding the age of Zechariah (peace be upon him): it is said to be sixty, sixty-five, seventy, seventy-five, or eighty-five.

{He said: "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has flared with white hair, and never have I been, in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy."}