Guardian of Mary · Father of John, Answered in Old Age
زكريا
Zakariyya (Zechariah) is a prophet of the children of Israel, guardian of Maryam and father of Yahya (John). Very old and without descendants, he prayed to God in secret for an heir — and was answered against all hope.
Zakariyya had charge of Maryam in the sanctuary. Seeing that she received her sustenance by God's grace, his heart filled with hope.
Having grown very old, his bones weakened, his hair white, his wife being barren, he called upon his Lord in a secret prayer, fearing he would have no one to continue his mission after him. He asked for an heir who would be pleasing to God.
God then announced to him the birth of a son, Yahya — a name no one had borne before him. Astonished, Zakariyya asked how this could be, given his great age and his wife's barrenness. He was told that this was easy for God. As a sign, he remained three days unable to speak to people, save by gesture, while glorifying God.
Zakariyya teaches that one must never despair of God's mercy: He answers those who invoke Him with sincerity, even when all human hope seems extinguished.
يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا
« Zacharie ! Nous t’annonçons la naissance d’un fils qui sera appelé Jean. Nul jusqu’ici n’a porté ce nom que Nous avons choisi pour cet enfant. »
19:7