Zachary and John (pbuh) – Part 2
The miraculous birth, divine signs, and noble character of Prophet John (Yahya), peace be upon them both
The Good News of a Miraculous Child
Prophet Zachary, peace be upon him, was given the extraordinary news of a baby boy. Before his birth, the child was described with remarkable qualities that testified to Allah’s special favor upon him.
The child would be given a name that had never been given to anyone before: John (Yahya), which means “to live” in Arabic—a name symbolizing eternal life and divine blessing. He would confirm and support Prophet Isa (Jesus), who is described as “a word from God.” He would be noble in character and status, chaste and restrained from worldly desires, dedicated entirely to worship. Most significantly, he would be granted prophethood and righteousness from Allah.
Zachary’s Amazement: Human Wonder, Not Doubt
Despite his deep faith and sincere prayer, Zachary was astonished by the news. In his exaltation, he momentarily forgot he was speaking with the Creator, the All-Powerful, and expressed his human wonder:
“He [Zachary] said, ‘My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren, and I have reached extreme old age!?'”
— Qur’an 19:8
This was undoubtedly within Allah’s power, but it evoked a natural human sense of amazement at such a miracle. This is a clear indication that all prophets and messengers are human beings, experiencing the full range of human emotions while maintaining complete faith in Allah’s ability.
The angel’s response is profound and reminds us of fundamental truth:
“[An angel] said, ‘Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, “It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.”‘”
— Qur’an 19:9
The angel reminded Zachary that the same Allah who created him from nothing in the first place could certainly grant him a child in his old age. Nothing is difficult for Allah.
The Sign: Three Days of Silence
Zachary then asked for a sign—not out of doubt, but to know when this miracle would occur and to have confirmation of Allah’s promise:
“He said, ‘My Lord, make for me a sign.’ He [The Lord] said, ‘Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning.'”
— Qur’an 3:41
The sign was that Zachary would not speak to people for three days and nights, even though he was physically sound and healthy. He could not utter words to communicate with others, yet he could still praise and remember Allah. This temporary muteness served multiple purposes:
First, it confirmed the miracle that was to come. Second, it provided Zachary with dedicated time to focus entirely on worship and gratitude. Third, and perhaps most insightful: when people would later see Zachary’s elderly, barren wife pregnant, they would inevitably gossip and speculate. The lesson is profound—nothing can answer the gossip of people better than silence. Just remain silent, and it will fade away.
“So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.”
— Qur’an 19:11
Even unable to speak, Zachary communicated to his people through gestures, encouraging them to remember and glorify the Almighty. His silence did not stop his mission; instead, it became a testimony to Allah’s power and his complete submission to divine will.
The Noble Character of John (Yahya)
The Qur’an does not provide extensive details about John’s (Yahya’s) life, but what it does reveal is profound and filled with honor. Allah describes Yahya with beautiful epithets:
“[Allah said], ‘O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination.’ And We gave him wisdom [even] while a boy, and affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah. And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.”
— Qur’an 19:12-15
Let us reflect on these beautiful qualities:
John was commanded to study and hold firmly to the Torah and the teachings of Moses, peace be upon him, and the other prophets. He was serious and committed to scripture from a very young age.
He was granted wisdom, understanding, and prophethood at a remarkably young age, even as a child. This was a miraculous sign of Allah’s special favor upon him.
Allah gave him a tender heart, deep compassion for people, and moral purity. He was chaste, restraining himself from worldly desires and dedicating himself entirely to worship.
John lived in constant awareness of Allah, in deep reverence (taqwa) and piety. His every action was informed by consciousness of the Divine.
John honored and respected Zachary and his mother, treating them with kindness and obedience. He was neither rebellious toward Allah nor arrogant and oppressive toward people. He was humble and gentle.
A special blessing, similar to what was said about Jesus (Isa) peace be upon him in Qur’an 19:33, signifying that John would be under Allah’s protection and peace at the three most critical moments: birth, death, and resurrection on the Day of Judgment.
John’s Mission: Confirming Jesus
“Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of Yahya, confirming a word from Allah…”
— Qur’an 3:39
The Qur’an states that John was sent to confirm “a word from Allah,” referring to Jesus, peace be upon both of them. John’s mission was multifaceted:
• To prepare the way for Jesus: Making it easier for people to understand the miracle of a boy born without a father
• To believe in Jesus as a miracle: Testifying to the truth of Jesus’s miraculous birth
• To call people to repentance and righteousness: Urging them to return to pure worship of Allah
• To restore true teachings: Calling people back to the authentic teachings of the Torah, free from the corruptions and distortions that had crept in over time
Islam holds that John (Yahya), peace be upon him, was a prophet of truth and courage, unafraid to speak against injustice even among the powerful. He lived a life of asceticism, wearing simple clothing, eating simple food, and dedicating himself entirely to calling people to Allah. His piety, purity, and fearlessness made him beloved to Allah and a model for all who seek righteousness.
The Death of John (Yahya)
Interestingly, the Qur’an does not provide details about how John (Yahya) died. The verse “peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies” acknowledges that he will die, but the circumstances are not mentioned.
This is consistent with the Qur’anic approach of focusing on spiritual and moral lessons rather than all historical details. Islamic tradition and commentators, drawing from various sources, mention that John (Yahya), peace be upon him, was martyred for his stand for truth, but the Qur’an itself leaves this unspecified, focusing instead on his character, mission, and blessings.
Comparison: The Qur’an and the Bible
Both the Qur’an and the Bible tell the story of Zachary (Zacharias/Zechariah in the Bible) and his son John (Yahya/John the Baptist), but there are notable similarities and important differences in how these scriptures present these blessed figures.
1. The Miraculous Birth: Both scriptures agree that Zachary was old, his wife was barren, and the birth of their son was a miracle from Allah. Luke 1:5-25 describes the angel Gabriel appearing to Zachary while he was serving in the Temple.
2. The Sign of Muteness: Both scriptures mention that Zachary would be unable to speak as a sign.
3. Special Mission: Both acknowledge that John/Yahya had a special mission related to preparing the way and being a righteous, pure servant of Allah.
4. Righteous Family: Both traditions honor Zachary, his wife (Elizabeth in the Bible), and their son as righteous, God-fearing individuals.
1. The Nature of Zachary’s Muteness:
In the Bible (Luke 1:20), Zachary’s muteness is presented as a punishment for his doubt.
In the Qur’an, the muteness is simply a sign upon Zachary’s own request, with no indication of punishment. The Qur’anic account emphasizes that he remained “sound” and could still glorify Allah.
2. Amazement vs. Doubt:
The Islamic interpretation of Zachary’s amazement is that prophets may express wonder at Allah’s decrees, but they do not doubt Allah’s power.
In the Biblical narrative, Zachary’s question is interpreted as doubt, leading to his punishment.
3. The Unique Name:
The Qur’an explicitly states that the name “Yahya” had never been given to anyone before (Qur’an 19:7), emphasizing its uniqueness.
The Bible uses “John,” which was common enough that people wondered why the child was not named after his father.
4. Prophethood from Childhood:
The Qur’an places strong emphasis on Yahya’s prophethood, wisdom from childhood, purity, and moral perfection.
The Bible presents John the Baptist as righteous but does not describe him receiving prophethood as a child or being given “wisdom while a boy.”
5. Connection to Mary (Maryam):
The Qur’an uniquely connects Zakariyah’s story to Maryam by making him her guardian and showing that witnessing the miraculous provision for Maryam inspired his prayer for a child.
The Bible mentions that Elizabeth was a relative of Mary but does not make the guardianship connection.
6. Details of Ministry and Death:
The Bible provides extensive details about John the Baptist’s ministry, baptizing people (including Jesus), his confrontation with Herod, and his beheading.
The Qur’an focuses instead on Yahya’s character, piety, and mission to confirm the coming of Isa.
7. Theological Implications:
In Christian theology, John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God.
In Islamic theology, Yahya is a prophet in his own right, confirming another prophet (Isa), who is also a servant and messenger of Allah, not divine. The emphasis is on monotheism (tawhid) and the prophethood of both.
The Qur’anic narrative of Zakariyah and Yahya is characterized by:
• A focus on faith, not doubt: Prophets in Islam are models of faith. Zakariyah’s question is one of wonder, not disbelief.
• Emphasis on moral and spiritual excellence: The Qur’an highlights the purity, wisdom, and righteousness of Yahya from childhood.
• Integration with the broader Islamic narrative: The story is woven together with Maryam and Isa, showing continuity of prophethood.
• Protection of prophetic integrity: Islam does not attribute doubt or punishment to Zakariyah; instead, it presents him as a faithful servant whose prayer was answered.
Both scriptures honor these figures, but the Qur’anic account purifies the narrative from elements that might suggest moral weakness or doubt in the prophets, consistent with the Islamic belief that prophets are protected from such failings.
Lessons from the Story of Zakariyah
The story of Prophet Zakariyah offers profound lessons for believers in every generation:
Zakariyah’s prayer was made in secret, in the depths of the night, with complete sincerity. Allah answers the prayers of those who turn to Him with humble hearts.
Despite his old age and his wife’s barrenness, Zakariyah never lost hope. He recognized that Allah had always answered his prayers in the past, and he trusted that Allah would answer this one too.
Seeing Allah’s miraculous provision for Maryam strengthened Zakariyah’s faith and inspired him to ask for his own miracle. Observing Allah’s power in the world around us can inspire us to greater faith and trust.
Zakariyah did not just ask for a child; he asked for a righteous child who would be pleasing to Allah and carry on his mission. Parents should pray for their children’s righteousness, not just their worldly success.
Even when facing difficulties, Zakariyah remained grateful to Allah and continued his worship and service.
Zakariyah’s care for Maryam shows the importance of protecting, nurturing, and educating those entrusted to our care, especially in matters of faith.
Zakariyah served Allah faithfully for many years, even without the child he longed for. His patience was eventually rewarded.
The central message of Zakariyah’s story is that Allah can do anything. When all human means fail, Allah’s power remains. He created Zakariyah from nothing in the first place, so granting him a child in old age was easy for Him.
Conclusion
Prophet Zakariyah, peace be upon him, stands as a shining example of faith, devotion, patience, and trust in Allah. His story—from his guardianship of Maryam, to his heartfelt prayer in the depths of the night, to the miraculous birth of his son Yahya—is a testament to Allah’s mercy, power, and responsiveness to sincere supplication.
In Islam, Zakariyah is remembered with honor and reverence. He was chosen by Allah from among the best of his people, from a noble lineage, and was granted prophethood to guide the Children of Israel. His son Yahya, born miraculously, became a prophet of extraordinary purity, wisdom, and righteousness, preparing the way for Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him.
The Qur’anic narrative presents Zakariyah and Yahya as models of moral perfection, free from the weaknesses and doubts sometimes attributed to them in other traditions. They are examples for all believers—showing us how to pray with sincerity, how to trust in Allah’s power, how to remain patient in hardship, and how to raise righteous children who will carry forward the message of faith.
May Allah have mercy on Prophet Zakariyah and his son Yahya, and may we learn from their examples to be among those who call upon Allah in hope and fear, who hasten to good deeds, and who remain humbly submissive to the Lord of all the worlds.
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