Everyone placed their pens in water. Sayyiduna Zakariyya’s pen started flowing in the opposite direction of the water. So this is how Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا came under his guardianship. (Tafseer Kabeer, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 44, vol. 3, pp. 219; Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 1, pp. 473)

Upbringing of Sayyidatuna Maryam and heavenly fruits

Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا kept growing very fast compared to the other children. Allah Almighty blessed her with immense dignity. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا would get unseasonal fruits that would come from the Heaven. Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا was not breastfed by any woman. When Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would go to Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, then he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would find unseasonal fruits there. Once, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام questioned Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, ‘Where do you get these fruits from?’ Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا replied, ‘It is from Allah Almighty.’ Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا spoke these words at the time when she was still being brought up in the cradle. When Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام saw this, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام thought to himself that the One Who is providing Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا with unseasonal fruits and dry fruits without any apparent means, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will bless my wife with a new health and bless me with a son in this old age after my hopes for offspring have died. With this thought in his mind, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام made Du’a for pure offspring right there, i.e. in the arch of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, by shutting the doors. (Tafseer Khaazin, Aal-e-‘Imran, Taht-al-Ayah: 37, vol. 1, pp. 246)

When he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام supplicated for offspring, he was 120 years old at that time and his wife was 98 years old. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 1, pp. 470)

The event of him making Du’a in the arch of Maryam has been mentioned in the Glorious Quran. Therefore, Allah Almighty states in part 3, Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, Ayah No. 38 and 39:

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِیَّا رَبَّهٗۚ-قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِیْ مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّیَّةً طَیِّبَةًۚ-اِنَّكَ سَمِیْعُ الدُّعَآءِ(۳۸) فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةُ وَ هُوَ قَآىٕمٌ یُّصَلِّیْ فِی الْمِحْرَابِۙ-اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یُبَشِّرُكَ بِیَحْیٰى مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ سَیِّدًا