Dua of Prophet Zakariyya
3 Lessons in Hopeful Prayer
Prophet Zakariyya (AS) was an old man, his hair gone grey and his wife unable to bear children, yet he never stopped hoping in Allah. The dua of Prophet Zakariyya is his heartfelt plea for righteous offspring, made in old age when human means offered no hope, trusting that Allah, the Hearer of supplication, could grant what seemed impossible. Allah answered him with the glad tidings of a son, Yahya (AS), showing that no door is ever closed to the one who turns to Allah in hope.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab lī min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka samī‘ud-du‘ā.
“My Lord, grant me from Yourself good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.”
This guide explains the dua of Prophet Zakariyya, the hope behind it, and three lessons in hopeful prayer, so that the believer waiting for something that seems beyond reach may turn to Allah as Zakariyya (AS) did, never losing hope in the One who hears every supplication and grants what no one else can.
The Story Behind the Dua of Prophet Zakariyya
The dua of Prophet Zakariyya (AS) comes from Surah Aal-Imran. Zakariyya (AS) had grown old, his bones had weakened, and his head had turned white, while his wife had been unable to bear children all her life. By every human measure, the hope of a child was gone. Yet when he witnessed the miraculous provision Allah gave to Maryam, his heart was moved to ask, and he turned to Allah with this humble prayer for righteous offspring, affirming that Allah hears every supplication.
This dua is a masterpiece of hopeful prayer. Zakariyya (AS) asked for offspring that would be tayyib, good and pure, not just any child but a righteous one, showing that his deepest concern was for piety and goodness. He sought this from Allah alone, from His bounty, and sealed his prayer by affirming that Allah is the Hearer of supplication, the One who can grant what all worldly means declare impossible. Allah answered with the good news of Yahya (AS), a prophet.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibatan innaka sami‘ud-du‘a’
My Lord grant me good offspring You hear all prayer
Three Lessons in Hopeful Prayer
The dua of Prophet Zakariyya teaches the believer to pray with hope when means run out. These three lessons flow from his prayer.
- Never lose hope in Allah, who can grant what all worldly means declare impossible.
- Ask for what is good and pure, seeking righteousness in what you pray for, as he did.
- Trust that Allah hears, sealing your prayer with certainty that He is the Hearer of supplication.
Praying with Hope When Means Run Out
When every human means had failed, an old prophet turned to Allah in hope, and was given a son who became a prophet. The dua of Prophet Zakariyya teaches the believer never to lose hope in Allah, to ask for what is good and pure, and to trust that He hears every supplication. By following his example, the believer waiting for something beyond reach turns to Allah with hope, certain that the One who granted Zakariyya (AS) a child in old age can grant them what no one else can.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua of Prophet Ibrahim for righteous descendants, and the dua for children. Together they teach the believer to pray with hope, trusting Allah to grant what seems impossible.
When every means had failed, an old prophet hoped in Allah and was granted a son. Learn the Quranic duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on Instagram for a reminder never to lose hope in Allah, and on Threads where readers share how this prayer renews their hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua of Prophet Zakariyya (AS) is Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami‘ud-du‘a, my Lord, grant me good offspring; indeed You are the Hearer of supplication. It is in Surah Aal-Imran.
Say it when hoping for righteous children, or when waiting for anything that seems beyond reach, never losing hope in Allah. It is a model of hopeful prayer when means run out.
He was old and his wife could not bear children, yet seeing the provision Allah gave Maryam moved him to ask for righteous offspring, trusting Allah to grant the impossible. Allah answered with Yahya (AS).
He asked for offspring that would be good and pure, not just any child but a righteous one, showing his deepest concern was for piety. He sought it from the bounty of Allah alone.
It teaches never losing hope in Allah, who can grant what worldly means declare impossible, and trusting that He hears every supplication. No door is closed to the one who turns to Allah in hope.
The dua of Prophet Ibrahim seeks righteous descendants, and the dua for children seeks the blessing of offspring. Together with the dua of Prophet Zakariyya, they teach hopeful prayer to Allah.