(89–90) “And remember Zechariah, when he called upon his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone, though You are the best of inheritors.’ So We answered him, granted him John, and restored his wife to fertility. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds, call upon Us with hope and fear, and humble themselves before Us.”

That is: Remember Our servant and messenger Zechariah, extolling him and making known his merits and virtues. Among them is this tremendous merit, which embodies his sincere concern for creation and Allah’s mercy toward him: “He called upon his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone.’” That is, he said:

“My Lord, my bones have grown frail and my head is ablaze with grey, yet never, my Lord, have I been disappointed in my prayer to You. I fear my relatives after me, and my wife is barren, so grant me from Yourself an heir who will inherit from me and from the house of Jacob, and make him, my Lord, pleasing to You.”

From these verses, we learn that when he said, “My Lord, do not leave me alone,” his life was drawing to an end and he feared that no one after him would take his place in calling people to Allah and sincerely guiding Allah’s servants. He feared that he would remain alone in his time, leaving no successor to stand beside him and assist him in the work he had undertaken. “Though You are the best of inheritors”—that is, the best of those who remain and the best to succeed me in goodness. You are more merciful to Your servants than I am, but I desire something by which my heart will be reassured, my soul will find rest, and its reward will accrue in my scales.

“So We answered him and granted him John,” the noble prophet for whom Allah had never before made a namesake.

“And We restored his wife to fertility.” She had previously been barren, and her womb was not fit to bear a child, so Allah made it fit for pregnancy for the sake of His prophet Zechariah. This is one of the benefits of righteous companionship: a righteous companion is a source of blessing to his companion. Thus both parents shared in the gift of John.

After mentioning each of these prophets and messengers individually, Allah praised them all together, saying: “Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds.” That is, they would promptly undertake them, perform them at the most virtuous times, and complete them in the fitting and proper manner. Whenever a virtuous deed lay within their ability, they would seize the opportunity to perform it.

“And call upon Us with hope and fear.” That is, they would ask Us for desirable things that bring well-being in this world and the Hereafter, and seek refuge in Us from fearful things that bring harm in both. They themselves were filled with hope and fear—not heedless, distracted, or presumptuous.

“And humble themselves before Us.” That is, they were submissive, self-effacing, and earnest in supplication. This was due to the perfection of their knowledge of their Lord.