Ala-Maududi
(19:2) This is an account[1] of the mercy of your Lord to His servant
Zechariah[2]
1. For comparison please see the story of Zachariah as given in (Surah Aal-Imran, ayat 34-57) and the
E.Ns thereof.
2. In order to understand the position held by Zachariah, a descendant of Prophet Aaron, one
should be acquainted with the system of priesthood among the children of Israel.
After the conquest of Palestine, the entire land was divided among the 12 tribes of the
descendants of Prophet Jacob as inheritance, and the 13th tribe, the Levites, was entrusted with
religious services and duties. Even among the Levites, the house that was separated to sanctify
the most holy things, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his
name forever was the house of Prophet Aaron. The other Levites were not allowed to enter the
Temple. Their duty was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in
the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and to offer all burnt
sacrifices unto the Lord in the Sabbaths, in the new moon, and on the set festivals. The
descendants of Aaron were divided into 24 families, who came to serve the house of the Lord by
turns. One of these families was of Abiah whose chief was Zachariah. Thus it was Zachariah’s
duty to go into the house on his family’s turn and burn incense before the Lord. (For details,
see 1 Chronicles, chapters 23, 24).
