سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 89
وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ ﴿89﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) Zakariyyâ (Zachariah), when he cried to his Lord: "O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَزَكَرِيَّآ
wazakariyyā
And Zakariya
إِذْ
idh
when
نَادَىٰ
nādā
he called
رَبَّهُۥ
rabbahu
(to) his Lord
رَبِّ
rabbi
My Lord
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تَذَرْنِى
tadharnī
leave me
فَرْدًۭا
fardan
alone
وَأَنتَ
wa-anta
while You
خَيْرُ
khayru
(are) [the] Best
ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
l-wārithīna
(of) the inheritors
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 89) ➊ {وَ زَكَرِيَّاۤ اِذْ نَادٰى رَبَّهٗ … :} This is the ninth story mentioned in this Surah; for its details, see Surah Aal-e-Imran (39 to 41) and Surah Maryam (1 to 15).
➋ { وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ :} An heir is one who becomes the owner of someone’s property after the owner’s death. The real heir of all is Allah Almighty Himself, as He said: «{ اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ الْاَرْضَ وَ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا }» [ مریم : ۴۰ ] “Indeed, We, We alone will be the inheritors of the earth and all who are upon it.” Zakariya (peace be upon him) requested Allah to grant him an heir to his knowledge and prophethood, using Allah’s attribute {’’ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ ‘‘} as a means. In the supplications mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah, the attribute of Allah is mentioned according to the context of each supplication, as Ayub (peace be upon him) said {’’ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ ‘‘} and Yunus (peace be upon him) said {’’ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ سُبْحٰنَكَ ‘‘}. Some commentators have explained this phrase as: I am asking You to grant me an heir, but the true heir is only You; even if You do not grant me children, You will still surely take care of Your religion after me. (Qurtubi)
➋ { وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ :} An heir is one who becomes the owner of someone’s property after the owner’s death. The real heir of all is Allah Almighty Himself, as He said: «{ اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ الْاَرْضَ وَ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا }» [ مریم : ۴۰ ] “Indeed, We, We alone will be the inheritors of the earth and all who are upon it.” Zakariya (peace be upon him) requested Allah to grant him an heir to his knowledge and prophethood, using Allah’s attribute {’’ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ ‘‘} as a means. In the supplications mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah, the attribute of Allah is mentioned according to the context of each supplication, as Ayub (peace be upon him) said {’’ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ ‘‘} and Yunus (peace be upon him) said {’’ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ سُبْحٰنَكَ ‘‘}. Some commentators have explained this phrase as: I am asking You to grant me an heir, but the true heir is only You; even if You do not grant me children, You will still surely take care of Your religion after me. (Qurtubi)
