The family of Prophet Zakariyya عليه السلام:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Qur’aan, the story of Zakariyya عليه السلام has already been mentioned in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah aal-`Imraan. Here, in Surah al-Anbiyaa’, a summarized version is given:

﴿وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ﴾

{And (remember) Zakariyya, when he cried to his Lord: “O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors.” * So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him. Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 89-90]

There are many, many benefits in these 2 verses, a few of them are:

1. One learns perfect Tawheed from the lives and teachings of the Prophets and Messengers عليهم الصلاة والسلام.

2. Allaah نعالى mentioned the stories about the Prophets and Messengers to teach us Obedience, Patience and Worship, in the times of ease and in the times of difficulties.

3. The Prophets and Messengers call and depend only on Allaah تعالى for all their needs.

4. A successful house is that which is built upon Taqwaa and Obedience to Allaah. Disobedience and sins are what break the families.

5. The family of Zakariyyah عليه السلام used to hasten on to do good deeds.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes his wife and she prays, and if she refuses he sprinkles water in her face. And may Allaah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, then she wakes her husband and prays, and if he refuses she sprinkles water in his face.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (1308, 1450), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1610) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (1336) and graded as “Hasan Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

6. They would worship Allaah with hope and fear. Hoping for the reward from Allaah for their good deeds and fearing His punishment for their shortcomings.

7. They would humble themselves before Allaah and not be arrogant.