The Story of Zechariah (peace be upon him) in the Quran and the Doctrinal Lessons Derived from Them

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the theological issues presented in the story of the Prophet of Allah, Zakariya (peace be upon him), and to analyze them within the framework of the various domains of Islamic creed. It examined key issues of Tawḥīd, primarily the issue of Duʿāʾ (supplication) in the context of Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah, along with the associated theological rulings and Islamic etiquettes, as well as issues of Tawḥīd Al-Rubūbiyyah and Al-Asmāʾ wa Al-Ṣifāt, concerning the affirmation of Allah’s attributes, actions, names, and qualities in a manner befitting His majesty. The study also discussed the domain of Prophethood and verified the nature of Zakariya’s (peace be upon him) inheritance, affirming that it was an inheritance of prophethood, knowledge, and religion, not wealth, in addition to examining certain issues of Qadar (Divine Decree) embedded in the story. The research adopted the inductive and descriptive analytical approach, based on tracing the Qur’anic texts related to the story of Zakariya (peace be upon him), collecting them, and conducting a theological analytical study in accordance with the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah. The study concluded that the effect of 'Tawḥīd' is manifested in the servant’s behavior, as exemplified by Zakariya (peace be upon him), who turned to his Lord in supplication with certainty of being answered despite natural impediments such as infertility, old age, and physical frailty. The findings also emphasized the obligation not to despair of Allah’s mercy and the certainty of His absolute power, and indicated that belief in Allah’s names and attributes, such as Al-Samʿ (All-Hearing), cultivates love for Allah, submission to Him, and utter dependence upon Him, with the conviction that Allah hears even the hidden supplication and responds to the distressed. The academic significance of this research lies in its examination of the story of Zakariya (peace be upon him) from a theological perspective, and its deduction of several precise theological issues that have not been independently addressed in previous studies, despite their theological and educational importance.