Surah Al Anbiya Tafseer

Allah says:

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَى وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ

So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife for him.

Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said:

"She was barren and never had a child, then she gave birth."

...

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ

Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds,

means, acts of worship and acts of obedience towards Allah.

...

وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا

and they used to call on Us with hope and fear,

Ath-Thawri said,

"Hoping for that (reward) which is with Us and fearing that (punishment) which is with Us."

...

وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ

and they were Khashi`in before Us.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas that;

this means, sincerely believing in that which was revealed by Allah.

Mujahid said:

"Truly believing."

Abu Al-`Aliyah said:

"Fearing."

Abu Sinan said:

"Khushu` means the fear which should never leave our hearts."

It was also reported from Mujahid that;

"the Khashi`in are those who are humble."

Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said,

"The Khashi`in are those who humble themselves before Allah."

All of these suggestions are close in meaning.