He said: "O Lord, give me a token." "Though sound," He answered, "you will not talk to any one for three nights running."
He said, “My Lord, give me a sign”; He said, “Your token is that you will not speak to people for three nights, although in proper health.”
He said, 'Lord, appoint to me some sign.' Said He, 'Thy sign is that thou shall not speak to men, though being without fault, three nights.'
[Zachariah] prayed: "O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!" Said [the angel]: "Thy sign shall be that for full three nights [and days] thou wilt not speak unto men.
He said: my Lord appoint for me a sign. Allah said: thy sign is that thou shalt not speak unto mankind for three nights, while sound.
[Zakariya (Zachariah)] said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign." He said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect."
He said, “My Lord, give me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights straight.”
Zechariah said: "Lord, grant me a Sign." Said He: "Your Sign is that you shall not be able to speak to people for three nights, though you will be otherwise sound."
He [Zakariyya] said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign." He said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect."
He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights.
He said, ‘My Lord! Appoint a sign for me.’ He said, ‘Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three complete nights.’
He (Zachariah) said: 'Lord, make for me a sign' He replied: 'Your sign is that you shall not speak to people for three nights being without fault'
[Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."
Zachariah asked, " Lord, show me evidence (if this is a heavenly news)." The Lord said, "The evidence for it is that you must not speak (to any mortal) though you are in good health for three nights (and days)."
He said: My Lord! give me a sign. He said: Your sign is that you will not be able to speak to the people three nights while in sound health.
Q<u>a</u>la rabbi ijAAal lee <u>a</u>yatan q<u>a</u>la <u>a</u>yatuka all<u>a</u> tukallima a<b>l</b>nn<u>a</u>sa thal<u>a</u>tha lay<u>a</u>lin sawiyy<u>a</u><b>n</b>
He said, "My Lord, grant me a sign!" He said, "Your sign will be that you will not speak to anyone for three successive days and nights, although sound in body."
(Zakariya) said: "O my Lord! give me a Sign." "Thy Sign," was the answer, "Shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb."
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا
Zechariah (peace be upon him) said: “My Lord, give me a sign I can feel content with and which will show that the glad tiding given to me by the angels has been attained”. He said: “Your sign of having attained what you were given glad tidings of is that you will not be able to speak to people for three days, not due to any illness, but rather you will be sound and well”.
Zechariah (peace be upon him) said: “My Lord, give me a sign I can feel content with and which will show that the glad tiding given to me by the angels has been attained”. He said: “Your sign of having attained what you were given glad tidings of is that you will not be able to speak to people for three days, not due to any illness, but rather you will be sound and well”.
<p>سَوِيًّا means healthy. This word has been added here to denote that Sayyidna Zakariyya's (علیہ السلام) loss of speech for three days was not due to any illness, for during this entire period of three days he could utter words of prayer and supplication. This special condition was a miracle and a sign from Allah Ta’ ala about his wife's pregnancy.</p>
سَوِيًّا means healthy. This word has been added here to denote that Sayyidna Zakariyya's (علیہ السلام) loss of speech for three days was not due to any illness, for during this entire period of three days he could utter words of prayer and supplication. This special condition was a miracle and a sign from Allah Ta’ ala about his wife's pregnancy.
<h2 class="title">The Sign of the Pregnancy</h2><p>Allah, the Exalted, informed about Zakariyya that he said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً</div><p>(He (Zakariyya) said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign.") "Give me a sign and a proof of the existence of that which You have promised me, so that my soul will be at rest and my heart will be at ease with Your promise." Similarly Ibrahim said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى</div><p>(My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead. He (Allah) said: "Do you not believe" He said: "Yes (I believe), but to put my heart at ease.")2:260 Then Allah says,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ</div><p>(He said: "Your sign is...") meaning, "Your sign will be..."</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً</div><p>(that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect.) Meaning, `your tongue will be prevented from speaking for three nights while you are healthy and fit, without any sickness or illness.' Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Wahb, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others said, "His tongue was arrested without any sickness or illness." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "He used to recite and glorify Allah, but he was not able to speak to his people except by gestures. " Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً</div><p>(three nights, though having no bodily defect.) "The nights were consecutive." However, the first statement that is reported from him and the majority is more correct. This Ayah is similar to what Allah, the Exalted, said in Surah Al `Imran,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ </div><p>(He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me." (Allah) said "Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much, and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning.)3:41 This is a proof that he did not speak to his people for these three nights and their days as well.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِلاَّ رَمْزًا</div><p>(except with signals.) Meaning, with bodily gestures, this is why Allah says in this noble Ayah,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ</div><p>(Then he came out to his people from the Mihrab) referring to the place where he was given the good news of the child.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ</div><p>(he indicated to them by signs) Meaning he made a gesture to them that was subtle and swift.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيّاً</div><p>(to glorify Allah in the morning and in the afternoon.) That they should be agreeable to what he was commanded to do during these three days, to increase in his deeds and gratitude to Allah for what He had given him. Mujahid said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ</div><p>(he indicated to them by signs) "He made a gesture." Wahb and Qatadah said the same.</p>
The Sign of the PregnancyAllah, the Exalted, informed about Zakariyya that he said,قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً(He (Zakariyya) said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign.") "Give me a sign and a proof of the existence of that which You have promised me, so that my soul will be at rest and my heart will be at ease with Your promise." Similarly Ibrahim said,رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى(My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead. He (Allah) said: "Do you not believe" He said: "Yes (I believe), but to put my heart at ease.")2:260 Then Allah says,قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ(He said: "Your sign is...") meaning, "Your sign will be..."أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً(that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect.) Meaning, `your tongue will be prevented from speaking for three nights while you are healthy and fit, without any sickness or illness.' Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Wahb, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others said, "His tongue was arrested without any sickness or illness." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "He used to recite and glorify Allah, but he was not able to speak to his people except by gestures. " Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said,ثَلَـثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيّاً(three nights, though having no bodily defect.) "The nights were consecutive." However, the first statement that is reported from him and the majority is more correct. This Ayah is similar to what Allah, the Exalted, said in Surah Al `Imran,قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّى ءَايَةً قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلاَّ تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلاَّ رَمْزًا وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِىِّ وَالإِبْكَـرِ (He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me." (Allah) said "Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much, and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning.)3:41 This is a proof that he did not speak to his people for these three nights and their days as well.إِلاَّ رَمْزًا(except with signals.) Meaning, with bodily gestures, this is why Allah says in this noble Ayah,فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ(Then he came out to his people from the Mihrab) referring to the place where he was given the good news of the child.فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ(he indicated to them by signs) Meaning he made a gesture to them that was subtle and swift.أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيّاً(to glorify Allah in the morning and in the afternoon.) That they should be agreeable to what he was commanded to do during these three days, to increase in his deeds and gratitude to Allah for what He had given him. Mujahid said,فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ(he indicated to them by signs) "He made a gesture." Wahb and Qatadah said the same.