Story of Prophet Yahya (A.S) – John

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ sent many Prophets and Messengers for the guidance of mankind. Each of them was sent to a specific nation and for a particular period, except for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, who was sent for the entire mankind and for all the times to come. It is believed that there have been more than 124,000 Prophets and Messengers who were sent to this world. However, we can find the names of around 25 Prophets in the Quran. Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is one of those Prophets, who are mentioned in the Quran by name.

Yahya (يحيى), also referred to as John was one of the several Prophets sent to Bani Israel (the children of Israel), more commonly mentioned as Israelites. In Christianity and Judaism, he is mentioned as “John the Baptist.” His name appears 5 times in the Quran. He became a Prophet after his father Prophet Zakariyah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.  Prophet Isa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ came after him.

Birth of Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ

The birth of the Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is a unique or more precisely a miraculous event. Prophet Zakariyah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ had no son, as his wife was sterile. Both of them became too old and did not have any children. Prophet Zakariyah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ consistently prayed for a son. At last, one day they were given the good news of having a son.

It was also told to them that his name would be “Yahya”, which has never been given to any child before. They couldn’t believe this, but it happened by the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Prophet Zakariyah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ asked for a Godly Sign to this happening, which was allocated to him by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. The sign was that he would not be able to speak to his people for three nights despite having good health.

This miraculous happening is mentioned in the Quran in verses 2 to 10 of Surah Maryam:

Translation

2. This is an account of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah
3. when he cried to his Lord in secret.
4. He said: “Lord! My bones have grown feeble and my head is glistening with age; yet, never have my prayers to You, my Lord, been unfruitful
5. I fear evil from my kinsmen after I am gone; and my wife is barren, so grant me an heir out of Your special grace
6. one that might be my heir and the heir of the house of Jacob; and make him, Lord, one that will be pleasing to You
7. (He was told): “Zechariah, We bring you the good news of the birth of a son whose name shall be Yahya (John), one whose namesake We never created before.”
8. He said: “My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached an extremely old age?”
9. He answered: “So shall it be.” Your Lord says: “It is easy for Me,” and then added: “For beyond doubt, I created you earlier when you were nothing.”
10. Zechariah said: “Lord, grant me a Sign.” Said He: “Your Sign is that you shall not be able to speak to people for three nights, though you will be otherwise sound.”

So, Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was born miraculously when his parents were too old. The same story is mentioned in a different context in verses 38 to 41 of Surah Al-e-Imran, as under:

Translation

38. Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: ‘O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all Prayers.’
39. As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: ‘Allah gives you good tidings of John (Yahya), who shall confirm a command of Allah, shall be outstanding among men, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.’
40. Zechariah exclaimed: ‘My Lord! How shall I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?’ He said: Thus shall it be; Allah does what He wills.’
41. Zechariah said: ‘O my Lord! Appoint a sign for me.’ The angel said: ‘The sign for you shall be that you shall not speak to men for three days except by gesture. Remember your Lord and extol His glory by night and by day.

Early life and Prophethood of Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ

From the very early childhood, Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was quite different from the other children of his age. When his agemates used to play and have fun, he remained composed, calm, and serious. When others were fond of teasing the animals, just for fun, he used to exhibit kindness and mercy for the animals. He would often share his food with the animals.

On the other hand, he was granted extraordinary wisdom from his early life. He used to read books and gain knowledge. He would often go away from his parents to the mountains and spend time remembering Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. He was often found weeping in fear of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Moreover, he was a pious man who loved and respected his parents.

Verses 12 to 15 of Surah Maryam narrate this as under:

Translation

12. “O John! Hold the Book with all your strength.” We had bestowed wisdom upon him while he was still a child;
13. and We also endowed him with tenderness and purity, and he was exceedingly pious
14. and cherishing to his parents. Never was he insolent or rebellious.
15. Peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he will die, and the day he will be raised up alive

According to the Scholars, the Book referred to in the 12^th verse, mentioned above, is the Torah, which was revealed upon the Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.

Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ Welcomes Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

During the night of Miraj, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ met with Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ in the second heaven. This instance is narrated in detail, in one of the longest Hadiths. It is Hadith 3207 of Sahih Al-Bukhari. It narrates that when the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ reached the second heaven, he was welcomed there by Prophet Isa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.

Translation of the relevant part of the Hadith:

Then we ascended to the second heaven. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel said, ‘Gabriel.’ It was said, ‘Who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad’ It was asked, ‘Has he been sent for?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!” Then I met Jesus and Yahya (John) who said, ‘You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet.’

Death of Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ

The details of the death of Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ are not specifically mentioned in the Quran. However, most of the scholars agree that he was slayed by the then King Harod of present-day Palestine. The story about his death is narrated in different research works of the Islamic Commentators, as under.

King Harod was planning to marry his niece, mentioned as Salome. Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ told them that this is against the teachings of Torah. Both the king and his niece went against him. The King arrested him and eventually slayed him by decapitating him. It is believed that the head of Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is preserved in the “Great Mosque of Damascus”, though there is no authenticated information about it.

Though not specifically for the Prophet Yahya عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, the act of slaying the Prophets by their people is mentioned in the 183^rd verse of Surah Al-e-Imran:

Translation

To those who say: ‘Allah has directed us that we accept none as Messenger until he makes an offering that the fire will consume’, say: ‘Other Messengers came to you before me with clear signs, and with the sign you have mentioned. So why did you slay them, if what you say is true?

However, this brutal act of the King and his wife did not go unanswered by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The Kingdom of Israel was punished harshly by way of the destruction of the entire Kingdom by the invading forces.