Day 167 · Surah Maryam Verses 1-11

Maryam 1–11

This surah opens with cut letters whose meaning is not interpreted by scholars, then enters Zakaria's supplication which is answered with the birth of Yahya though he was old and his wife barren.

• The first verse consists of five cut letters; their meaning was never explained by the Messenger or the Companions, so most scholars dare not interpret it.
• Zakaria pleads for offspring that would inherit his wealth and inherit prophethood, though he was already old and gray and his wife was barren.
• His supplication was answered with a son named Yahya, and his amazement was answered that this is easy for Allah who had previously created him from nothing.
• The sign Zakaria asked for was that he would not speak to his people for three nights, then he came out from his place of worship signaling them to glorify Allah morning and evening.
• The wisdom is that supplication is power called by the Messenger as the weapon of believers, and designing a generation to continue monotheism is the duty of every parent.

Verse 1 of surah Maryam begins with 5 Arabic letters (Hijaa'iyyah), namely kaf, ha, ya, ain and sad. In the Qur'an there are 29 surahs that begin with combinations of letters like this. No one knows their meaning except only Allah. The Messenger did not ever explain what they meant. Neither did the Companions of the Messenger to whom the Qur'an was first sent down ever explain what their meaning was. Therefore, most scholars dare not interpret it. They only say: Allah alone knows what it means.

Verses 2-11 explain a very interesting story, namely the Prophet Zakaria. The Prophet Zakaria was one of Allah's servants who was beloved by Him. This is proven by his supplication for offspring who would inherit his wealth and inherit prophethood from the family of Yakub was answered by Allah though he was already very old with white hairs in his head, and even his wife was barren.

Allah answered Zakaria's supplication by giving him a son named Yahya. As a human being Zakaria was amazed to see his barren wife become pregnant. Allah answered him: It is easy for your Creator. Did I not create you before when you were nothing O Zakaria?

So Zakaria was very sure of Allah's word. Nevertheless he asked Allah to give him a sign that he would have offspring. Allah explained the sign was that Zakaria would not speak to his people for three nights. Then he came out from the mihrab (his place of worship) while signaling to his people to glorify Allah in the morning and evening.

The wisdom we can draw from the life experience of the Prophet Zakaria is:

1. The Prophet Zakaria is one of the servants who received Allah's affection resulting in good offspring and inheriting prophethood.
2. Supplication to Allah is power that can produce miracles, such as changing an old man into a productive one again and an old barren woman into fertile so she can give birth to a child normally like other young women. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah called supplication the weapon of a believer. On another occasion he called it the mind of worship.
3. Designing a generation to continue the mission of affirming the Oneness of Allah is the duty of every parent.

Source: Mushaf Tadabbur, Fathuddin Ja'far

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