[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariyya. When he called to his Lord privately. He said,
Rabbi innee wahana al’athmuminnee washta’ala arra/su shayban walam akun bidu’a-ika rabbi shaqiyya
“My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and white [hair] has filled my head, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, disappointed.
Wa-innee khiftu almawaliya min wara-ee wakanati imraatee ‘aqiran fahab lee min ladunka waliyya
And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir.
Yarithunee wayarithu min ali ya’qooba waj’alhu rabbi radiyya
Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Yaqub. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].”
[He was told],”O Zakariyya, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya. We have not assigned this name to anyone before.” [Zakariyya] said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?” [An angel] said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'” [Zakariyya] said,
Rabbi ij’al lee ayatan
“My Lord, make for me a sign.”
He said, “Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [despite being of] sound [health].” So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to glorify [Allah] in the morning and evening.