Zechariah's son was going to be a heir to what?

Let's study the Qur'aan. The best amongst us are the ones who learn the Qur'aan and teach it. There is nothing more noble than learning the Kalaam of Allaah. 

 

Look at the [translation of the] following Verses of the Glorious Qur'aan. Zechariah is supplicating for a son. Can you pick out why he is supplicating for a son?

 

[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah


When he called to his Lord a private supplication.


He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.


And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir


Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."

[Qur'aan 19:2-6]

 

He is supplicating for a son so the son can be a heir who will inherit. But Zechariah was an Apostle. Read the following hadith.

 

Narrated `Aisha:

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Our (Apostles') property should not be inherited, and whatever we leave, is to be spent in charity."

[Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith No. 6727]

 

As you can see, the Apostles' property is not to be inherited. They only leave behind knowledge which is inherited. So, what did Zechariah want his son to be a heir of when we take the above mentioned narration into consideration and read the Qur'aanic Verse in context?

 

Zechariah wanted a son who would inherit his Prophethood. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) made it clear that the Apostles' property should not be inherited. Then why was Zechariah supplicating for a son who could inherit?

 

He wanted him to inherit his Prophethood and knowledge.

 

Reference(s):

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Volume 6 Page 19