their wealth. Rather, if inheritance applied to them, it would be their children and other heirs who inherited their wealth. Moreover, a prophet does not seek (1) a child to inherit his wealth. For if his estate could be inherited, the wealth would necessarily pass to someone else, whether a son or anyone else. Thus, if his purpose in seeking a child were that the child should inherit his wealth, his purpose would merely be to ensure that no one other than the child inherited it (2).

This is not something that even the most miserly and avaricious person would intend concerning the one to whom his wealth would pass. If the child already existed and he intended to give the wealth to him rather than to anyone else, the objective would be to give it to the child. But if he had no child and wanted one only so that the child alone might take possession (3) of the wealth, the true objective would be to prevent those others from taking it, while seeking the child would be merely secondary. Such a motive would be reprehensible (4) even in a person of the least intelligence and religious commitment.

Moreover, Zechariah—peace be upon him—was not known (5) to possess any wealth; rather, he was a carpenter. His son John—peace be upon him—was among the most ascetic of people.

Moreover, he said:

“Indeed, I fear my relatives after me.”

[Surah Maryam: 5]

It is well known that he did not fear that they would take (6) his wealth [after him] (7) when he died, for this is not something to be feared (8).