Zakariya, peace be upon him, was the husband of the Virgin Mary’s sister, may God be pleased with her. He sponsored Mary, who was born an orphan. When she grew up, while he was checking on her and taking care of her during her worshiping in the chamber, he found unseasoned fruit with her. So, he asked her where you got this from and she replied: It is from God. Allah says in al Imran Surah { Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account.”}
The moment of being weak
One time, he entered upon Maryam and found that she had some fruits that were not available because they were out of season. He asked her and realised that they were from the generosity of God Almighty. Then he felt his moment of weakness and his urgent need for God Who has the whole omnipotence to give him a good son who would inherit his rule and prophethood.
{Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account.”}
Despite of being old man and his wife was barren, he does trust in Allah. Allah says in Maryam Surah { A mention of the mercy of your Lord towards His servant Zechariah. When he called on his Lord, a call in seclusion. He said, “My Lord, my bones have become feeble, and my head is aflame with gray, and never, Lord, have I been disappointed in my prayer to you. “And I fear for my relatives after me, and my wife is barren. So grant me, from Your Presence, an heir. Who will inherit me and inherit from the House of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing.”}
The good news
Allah answered the call of the Prophet Zechariah. While he was praying in the sanctuary, the angels gave him the good news that God would bless him with a son who believed in God and would be a prophet and a master. Then the Prophet Zechariah, peace be upon him, felt the wonders of God’s ability to fulfill his wish, which seemed almost impossible because he was old and his wife was barren. Then he asked his God to give him a sign, and Allah told him the sign is that you will not speak with people for three days { And he came out to his people, from the sanctuary, and signaled to them to praise morning and evening.} (Maryam verse11)
Characteristics of the Prophet Yahya “John”
He was the first one who is named Yahya. God gave him wisdom when he was very young; so, he didn’t even play with kids. His characteristic was compassion for his family, purity of character, transcendence of shortcomings, and kindness to his parents, and he was not tyrannical or disobedient. 12. “O, John! Hold firmly to the Scripture!” And We gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah says in Maryam Surah {And sympathy from Us, and purity; and he was devout. And kind to his parents; and he was not a disobedient bully. And peace upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive.}
He taught his companions five things that he was learnt from his God. First to worship Allah with no partner, second to pray for God. Third, he asked them to fast, fourth, to pay charity, and finally to remember and praise Allah.
Both Zakariya and Yahya were pious prophets of Allah sent to people of Israel and were killed by them. It was said that Zakariya was killed when he hid inside some tree through saw. And Yahya was killed by sword and got his head cut to please some adulteress of the king who wanted to marry her but Yahya advised him not to do that because she was his uterine relative. So, both of them were killed for God’s sake and may God have mercy on them.
References
islamweb.netالمكتبة الإسلامية