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.

[إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ]

(when he cried to his Lord) means, in secret, hiding it from his people.

[رَبِّ لاَ تَذَرْنِى فَرْداً]

(O My Lord! Leave me not single,) means, with no child and no heir to stand among the people after me.

[وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَرِثِينَ]

(though You are the Best of the inheritors.) This is a supplication and form of praise befitting the topic. Allah says:

[فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَى وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ]

(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.''

[إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ يُسَارِعُونَ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ]

(Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds,) means, acts of worship and acts of obedience towards Allah.

[وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَباً وَرَهَباً]

(and they used to call on Us with hope and fear,) Ath-Thawri said, "Hoping for that (reward) which is with Us and fearing that (punishment) which is with Us.''

[وَكَانُواْ لَنَا خـشِعِينَ]

(and they were Khashi`in before Us.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that this means, sincerely believing in that which was revealed by Allah. Mujahid said: "Truly believing.'' Abu Al-`Aliyah said: "Fearing.'' Abu Sinan said: "Khushu` means the fear which should never leave our hearts.'' It was also reported from Mujahid that the Khashi`in are those who are humble.'' Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said, "The Khashi`in are those who humble themselves before Allah.'' All of these suggestions are close in meaning.

[وَالَّتِى أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِن رُّوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَـهَا وَابْنَهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـلَمِينَ ]

(91. And she who guarded her chastity, We breathed into her through Our Ruh, and We made her and her son a sign for nations.)