prophet

John

يَحْيَىٰ

John (Yahya in Arabic) is a profoundly revered prophet in Islam, known for his exemplary piety and unique spiritual stature. He was the son of Prophet Zechariah, and his birth was a miraculous glad tiding given by angels to his elderly parents. Allah announced, [O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John]. This event signified Allah's immense power and grace. From a young age, Allah blessed John with profound wisdom and understanding, commanding him, [O John, take the Scripture with determination. And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy]. He was characterized by immense purity, deep affection, and an unwavering devotion to Allah. The Quran highlights his noble qualities, stating he had [affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah]. John's life embodies righteousness and dutifulness, not only to Allah but also to his parents, making him a significant role model for believers. He is counted among the righteous prophets, alongside figures like [Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous].

Quran 8 verses

فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Fanaadat hul malaaa'ikatu wa huwa qaaa'imuny yusallee fil Mihraabi annal laaha yubashshiruka bi Yahyaa musaddiqam bi Kalimatim minal laahi wa saiyidanw wa hasooranw wa Nabiyyam minas saaliheen

So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous."

وہ ابھی عبادت گاہ میں کھڑے نماز ہی پڑھ رہے تھے کہ فرشتوں نے آواز دی کہ (زکریا) خدا تمہیں یحییٰ کی بشارت دیتا ہے جو خدا کے فیض یعنی (عیسیٰ) کی تصدیق کریں گے اور سردار ہوں گے اور عورتوں سے رغبت نہ رکھنے والے اور (خدا کے) پیغمبر (یعنی) نیکو کاروں میں ہوں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary 1. The expression, کَلِمَۃ اللہ 'a word of Allah' refers to Sayyidna 'Isa (علیہ السلام) . This term is used for him because he was created, in an unusual manner, simply by the will and command of Allah - without a paternal linkage. 2. The second quality of Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) has...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And the angels namely Gabriel called to him standing in the sanctuary in the temple at worship that anna means bi-anna; a variant reading has inna implying a direct speech statement ‘God gives you good tidings read yubashshiruka or yubshiruka of John who shall confirm a Word being from God namely Je...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth When Zakariyya saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own. By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones...

وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ كُلٌّ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Wa Zakariyyaa wa Yahyaa wa 'Eesaa wa Illyaasa kullum minas saaliheen

And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous.

اور زکریا اور یحییٰ اور عیسیٰ اور الیاس کو بھی۔ یہ سب نیکوکار تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the six verses (84-89) appearing after that, there is a list of seventeen blessed prophets, some of whom are the forefathers of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) while most are his progeny, with some being his brothers or nephews. On the one hand, described in these verses is their being Divinely gu...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And Zachariah and his son John and Jesus son of Mary — this shows that the term ‘seed’ dhurriyya can include offspring from the female side — and Elias the paternal nephew of Aaron brother of Moses; all of them were of the righteous.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Ibrahim Receives the News of Ishaq and Ya`qub During His Old Age Allah states that after Ibrahim became old and he, and his wife, Sarah, lost hope of having children, He gave them Ishaq. The angels came to Ibrahim on their way to the people of Prophet Lut (to destroy them) and they delivered the goo...

يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا

Yaa Zakariyyaaa innaa nubashshiruka bighulaami nismuhoo Yahyaa lam naj'al lahoo min qablu samiyyaa

[He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."

اے زکریا ہم تم کو ایک لڑکے کی بشارت دیتے ہیں جس کا نام یحییٰ ہے۔ اس سے پہلے ہم نے اس نام کا کوئی شخص پیدا نہیں کیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: لم نجعَل لَّہ مِن قَبلُ سَمِیاً "We did not create any one before him of the same name." - 19:7. The word سَمِی means "person having the same name." It also means "similar." If the first meaning is adopted here then it would suggest that no one else had the name Yahya before him. This fact also sugg...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God exalted be He in responding to his request for a son that will be the incarnation of His mercy says ‘O Zachariah! Indeed We give you good tidings of a boy who will inherit in the way that you have requested — whose name is John. Never before have We made anyone his namesake’ that is never has th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The acceptance of His Supplication This statement implies what is not mentioned, that his supplication was answered. It was said to him, يزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـمٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى ((Allah said:) "O Zakariyya! Verily, We give you the glad tidings of a son, whose name will be Yahya...") ...

يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا

Yaa Yahyaa khuzil Kitaaba biquwwatinw wa aatainaahul hukma saiyyaa

[Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy

اے یحییٰ (ہماری) کتاب کو زور سے پکڑے رہو۔ اور ہم نے ان کو لڑکپن میں دانائی عطا فرمائی تھی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: سَوِيًّا means healthy. This word has been added here to denote that Sayyidna Zakariyya's (علیہ السلام) loss of speech for three days was not due to any illness, for during this entire period of three days he could utter words of prayer and supplication. This special condition was a miracle and a si...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And two years after his birth God exalted be He said to him ‘O John! Hold on to the Scripture namely the Torah firmly’ earnestly. And We gave him judgement prophethood while still a child a three-year old;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to r...

وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةً وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا

Wa hanaanam mil ladunnaa wa zakaatanw wa kaana taqiyyaa

And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah

اور اپنے پاس شفقت اور پاکیزگی دی تھی۔ اور پرہیزگار تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: حَنَانًا Literal meaning of this word is soft heartedness, compassion and mercy, and these qualities were specially granted to Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) .
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and compassion a mercy for mankind from Us from Our presence and purity a charity for them and he was God-fearing — it is related that he never committed a sin nor contemplated committing one;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to r...

وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا

Wa barram biwaalidayhi wa lam yakum jabbaaran 'asiyyaa

And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

اور ماں باپ کے ساتھ نیکی کرنے والے تھے اور سرکش اور نافرمان نہیں تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: حَنَانًا Literal meaning of this word is soft heartedness, compassion and mercy, and these qualities were specially granted to Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) .
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and dutiful to his parents that is virtuous towards them. And he was not arrogant or rebellious disobedient to his Lord.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to r...

وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

Wa salaamun 'alaihi yawma wulida wa yawma yamootu wa yawma yub'asu haiyaa

And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.

اور جس دن وہ پیدا ہوئے اور جس دن وفات پائیں گے اور جس دن زندہ کرکے اٹھائے جائیں گے۔ ان پر سلام اور رحمت (ہے)

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: حَنَانًا Literal meaning of this word is soft heartedness, compassion and mercy, and these qualities were specially granted to Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) .
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: ‘And peace from Us be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he shall be raised alive!’ that is on those fearful days in which he sees what he will never have seen before — in these he will be given security from fear.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to r...

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَٰشِعِينَ

Fastajabnaa lahoo wa wahabnaa lahoo Yahyaa Wa aslahnaa lahoo zawjah; innahum kaanoo yusaari'oona fil khairaati wa yad'oonanaa raghabanw wa rahabaa; wa kaanoo lanaa khaashi'een

So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.

تو ہم نے ان کی پکار سن لی۔ اور ان کو یحییٰ بخشے اور ان کی بیوی کو اُن کے (حسن معاشرت کے) قابل بنادیا۔ یہ لوگ لپک لپک کر نیکیاں کرتے اور ہمیں امید سے پکارتے اور ہمارے آگے عاجزی کیا کرتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: يَدْعُونَنَا رَ‌غَبًا وَرَ‌هَبًا (and call Us with hope and fear - 21:90). This may be interpreted to mean that they call Allah Ta` ala both in comfort and distress. The other explanation of the verse is that during their prayers they remain suspended between hope and fear hoping that Allah would fo...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We responded to him in his call and gave him John as a son and We restored fertility to his wife for him and so she bore a child having been barren. Truly they those prophets that have been mentioned would hasten to they would hurry to perform good works namely acts of obedience and supplicate Us...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Zakariyya and Yahya Allah tells us of His servant Zakariyya, who asked Allah to grant him a son who would be a Prophet after him. The story has already been given in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah `Imran. Here an abbreviated version is given. إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ (when he c...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics