Is it true regarding the wife of Nabi Zakariyya (‘alayhis salam) that she was rude and had ill manners initially then Allah rectified her?
Answer
Allah Ta’ala said in the Quran:
‘We answered his [Nabi Zakariyya’s] call and blessed him with Yahya and we rectified for him his wife.’
(Surah Ambiya, Ayah: 90)
There are two explanations to the part that says: ‘we rectified for him his wife’
1. Most of the Commentators state that she was barren and could not bear children. Allah Ta’ala rectified that and she was later able to conceive their son Yahya.
2. Some have mentioned that she was rude and had bad character, and that this verse is referring to Allah Ta’ala rectifying that fault and she later developed good character.
Although the first explanation is more popular, ‘Allamah Qurtubi (rahimahullah) states that both the explanations are possible; and that she was rectified in both ways mentioned by the commentators.
(Tafsir Qurtubi, Surah Ambiya, Ayah: 90. Also see Tafsirs: Baghawi, Ibn Kathir, Ruhul Ma’ani and Ma’ariful Quran of Moulana Idris Kandehlawi, Surah Ambiya, Ayah: 90)
Note: I have heard some scholars prescribe the recital of this part of the verse for improving the character of one’s wife. This is probably based on the second explanation cited above.
The words to recite are:
وأَصْلَحْنا لَه زَوجَه
wa aslahna lahu zawjah
We rectified for him his wife.
This should be recited frequently, for the desired results.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar