Al-Anbiya 21:90

<h2>Zakariyya and Yahya</h2><p>Allah tells us of His servant Zakariyya, who asked Allah to grant him a son who would be a Prophet after him. The story has already been given in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah `Imran. Here an abbreviated version is given.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ</div><p>(when he cried to his Lord) means, in secret, hiding it from his people.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">رَبِّ لاَ تَذَرْنِى فَرْداً</div><p>(O My Lord! Leave me not single,) means, with no child and no heir to stand among the people after me.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَرِثِينَ</div><p>(though You are the Best of the inheritors.) This is a supplication and form of praise befitting the topic. Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَى وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ</div><p>(So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife for him.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "She was barren and never had a child, then she gave birth."</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ يُسَارِعُونَ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ</div><p>(Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds,) means, acts of worship and acts of obedience towards Allah.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَباً وَرَهَباً</div><p>(and they used to call on Us with hope and fear,) Ath-Thawri …

Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive unto Us.

So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya: We cured his wife's (Barrenness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works; they used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us.

So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya (John), 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.

So We answered him, and gave him John. And We cured his wife for him. They used to vie in doing righteous deeds, and used to call on Us in love and awe, and they used to humble themselves to Us.