Yusuf tried out for the school soccer team three times and got rejected every time. He's ready to quit - what's the point of asking if the answer is always no? Baba tells him about Prophet Zakariyah, an old man with white hair and weak bones who made dua for a child year after year after year. When he saw Allah provide out-of-season fruit for young Maryam, his hope surged - and he made one final, beautiful prayer. Allah answered with a son named Yahya, a name never given before. A story about the power of dua, persistence in prayer, and trusting that Allah's timing is always perfect.

The lesson: Never stop making dua. Even if the answer is slow, even if everyone says it’s impossible, Allah always hears every prayer.

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Sources: 19:2–11 (Zakariyah’s secret prayer; old age; glad tidings of Yahya; the sign of three nights of silence); 3:38–41 (Zakariyah prays for good offspring after visiting Maryam; angels announce Yahya; three days without speech); Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir, Ch. 25 (Zakariyah’s old age, visiting Maryam, finding out-of-season fruit, the inspiration to make dua)

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.