Surah Maryam 19:2
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ · Meccan · Verse 2 of 98
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
Translation
This is an account of your Lord’s grace towards His servant, Zachariah,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wisdom
This verse opens Surah Maryam by immediately setting a profound tone: "A mention of your Lord's mercy to His servant Zakariyya." (Surah 19:2, ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ). Here, Allah Himself is speaking, addressing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), introducing the upcoming narrative as a profound "mention of mercy." It is not just a historical account, but a source of deep wisdom.
A Powerful Introduction
The very first statement after the mysterious letters "Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad" is about mercy. This signals to us that the story of Prophet Zakariyya, which unfolds in the verses to come, is essentially a story of divine favor and compassion. As al-Saadi notes, Allah is about to recount this story in detail to His Prophet, highlighting Zakariyya's righteous deeds and beautiful virtues. It is a preface to a powerful demonstration of Allah's attributes.
Lessons for Reflection
This introductory phrase itself carries significant general lessons. Al-Muyassar and al-Saadi both emphasize that the story contains "عبرة للمعتبرين," meaning a lesson for those who reflect, and "أسوة للمقتدين," an example for those who follow. It invites us to consider how Allah's mercy manifests in the lives of His devoted servants.
This verse teaches us a fundamental principle: Allah's mercy is real, active, and extended to those who serve Him sincerely. It reminds us that stories of faith, even ancient ones, are timeless mirrors for our own lives. We are encouraged to observe *how* Allah's mercy unfolds, even in seemingly impossible situations, as will be clear in Zakariyya's narrative. This should deepen our love for Allah, increase our remembrance of Him, and strengthen our absolute faith in His wondrous power, as al-Munir highlights.
Your Spiritual Response
The "mention of mercy" is an invitation to hope. What challenges are you facing that seem insurmountable? This verse prompts you to bring those challenges to Allah, just as Zakariyya did. It encourages a spiritual response of greater reliance on Allah's boundless compassion and power. A practical application is to consciously remember and reflect on instances of Allah's mercy in your own life, cultivating a heart filled with gratitude and a confident expectation of His ongoing grace.
Sources: al-Qurtubi (al-Jami li-Ahkam), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Saadi (Taysir al-Karim), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Maryam 19:2 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Maryam 19:2 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.