to.’ Then such time came upon them that the reply would be, ‘Trade with whomsoever you like to but do not trade with so and so.’ Then the time came upon them in which the reply would be, ‘Do not trade with anyone except so and so.’ Now I fear for such time to come where such people will also depart.

After mentioning this saying, Sayyiduna Imam Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: What that saint was scared of, it has now happened (i.e. such people have now departed this world). (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, pp. 111)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Some highlights of the life of Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم

Dear Islamic sisters! We were listening about Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام. Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was the Imam [leader] of all his contemporary scholars and worshippers of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas. He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was the uncle of the blessed mother of Sayyiduna ‘Isa, Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Allah Almighty blessed him with the rank of Nubuwwah. (‘Ajaaib-ul-Quran ma’ Gharaib-ul-Quran, 65, 66; summarised)

Let us listen to his parable of making Du’a for offspring:

It is narrated that wives of Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and Sayyiduna ‘Imran رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ were real sisters [i.e. Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and Sayyiduna ‘Imran رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had the same father-in-law]. The name of the wife of Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was Aeesha [اِیشا], whereas the name of the wife of Sayyiduna ‘Imran رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was Hannah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Sayyidatuna Hannah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا remained childless for a very long time, to the extent that she became old and felt hopeless. One day, Sayyidatuna Hannah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا saw a sparrow under the shade of a tree who was feeding its baby sparrow. Seeing this rose the urge of having offspring in her heart and she supplicated in the court of Allah Almighty that ‘O Allah Almighty! If You bless me with offspring, I will make him the servant of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas and will present him for this very service.’