ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ ﲼ ﲽ ﲾ ﲿ ﳀ
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.
Tafsir
Verse range: 21:89-90
"And Zakariya, when he called..."
He asked his Lord to grant him a child to inherit from him, so that he would not be left alone without an heir. Then, he surrendered his affair to God, saying: "And You are the best of inheritors," meaning: If You do not grant me one to inherit from me, I do not mind, for You are the best of inheritors.
"And We rectified his wife for him": This means We made her capable of bearing children after she had been barren. It is also said that it means We improved her character, as she had been ill-tempered.
"Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds": The pronoun refers to the aforementioned prophets (peace be upon them). It means they did not deserve to have their requests answered except because they hastened toward the doors of goodness and were swift in attaining them, just as those who are eager and diligent in their affairs do.
"And they would call upon Us with hope and fear": It is read as raghban and rahaban with a quiescent middle letter. It is like the Almighty’s saying: "He fears the Hereafter and hopes for the mercy of his Lord" (Az-Zumar: 9).
"And they were humble to Us": Al-Hasan said: "Submissive to the command of God." Mujahid said: "Humility is the constant fear in the heart." Others said: "Humble/modest." Al-A'mash was asked about this, and he said: "I asked Ibrahim, and he said: 'Do you not know?' I said: 'Benefit me.' He said: 'It is between him and God; when he lets down his curtain and closes his door, let God see goodness from him. Perhaps you think it means eating coarse food, wearing coarse clothing, and bowing one's head.'"
"And she who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our spirit and made her and her son a sign for the worlds."
