The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 15
PT. 16 MARYAM CH. 19 شَقِيًّان Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee; 2149A وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِنْ وَرَاءِى And I fear my relations after. 6 me, and "my wife is barren. bGrant me, therefore, successor from Thyself, 2150 a 7. That he may be heir to me and heir to the House of Jacob. And make him, my Lord well- pleasing to Thee. '2151 وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيَّان يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيَّان a3:41; 21:91. 3:39; 21:90. 3:39. such 2149A. Commentary: Besides the rendering given in the text the words by 5, may mean, "since Thou hast called me and hast made me a Prophet and Thy blessings and favours have covered me, I have never been unsuccessful in achieving my object. " 2150. Important Words: a one immediately without anyone intervening between them ¿ means, a friend; beloved one, helper, master; successor or inheritor etc. (Aqrab). See also 2:108. Commentary: عق barren is derived from) عاقراً They say i. e. he wounded him; he wounded him much. means, he ت cut the feet of the camel. means, he cut the upper part of the palm-tree so that it dried up and ceased to yield fruit. means, the woman became barren. 36 is used both for man and woman and applied to a woman means, barren; that does not conceive or has ceased to conceive; and applied to a man it means, barren; that has no offspring born to him. (Lane & Aqrab). W, (successor) is derived from They say i. e. he helped the man; he made friends with him; he loved him. means, he followed 1929 In view of the different meanings of the word ✓ (successor) given under "Important Words" above, Zachariah's prayer was for such a son as should prove his true successor and should propagate his mission and inherit the spiritual blessings that God had bestowed on the House of Israel. 2151. Commentary: The prayer of Zachariah is complete in every respect and possesses all the ingredients of a successful prayer. A successful prayer should be offered with fervour and in humility. The supplicant should confess his own weakness and helplessness. He should have firm faith in the power of God to accept his prayers. Zachariah's prayer fulfils all these conditions. He prays to God in words full of extreme pathos. He