Prophet Yahya

23 / 25 يحيى John 10 verses

Yahya was given prophethood while still a boy.

1

Judgement as a boy

Allah says: “O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination.” He gave him judgement while a boy, tenderness from Himself and purity. He was devoted to his parents and was not arrogant or disobedient. Peace is upon him the day he was born, the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.

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يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا ﴿٧﴾

(It was said unto him): O Zachariah! Lo! We bring thee tidings of a son whose name is John; we have given the same name to none before (him).

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا ﴿٨﴾

He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached infirm old age?

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌۭ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًۭٔا ﴿٩﴾

He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as I created thee before, when thou wast naught.

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍۢ سَوِيًّۭا ﴿١٠﴾

He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights.

فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا ﴿١١﴾

Then he came forth unto his people from the sanctuary, and signified to them: Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night.

يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا ﴿١٢﴾

(And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold fast the Scripture. And we gave him wisdom when a child,

وَحَنَانًۭا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةًۭ ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّۭا ﴿١٣﴾

And compassion from Our presence, and purity; and he was devout,

وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّۭا ﴿١٤﴾

And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious.

وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّۭا ﴿١٥﴾

Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive!

فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾

And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary: Allah giveth thee glad tidings of (a son whose name is) John, (who cometh) to confirm a word from Allah lordly, chaste, a prophet of the righteous.

This story is taken from the Quran only. Details from other books are not added.

Arabic text: Uthmani script. Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall.

Questions about the prophets

Who was Prophet Yahya?

Yahya was given prophethood while still a boy.

Where is the story of Yahya in the Quran?

It is in Maryam 19:7–15, Ali 'Imran 3:39. This page shows these verses in Arabic and in your language.