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Prophet 23 of 25

The Story of Prophet Yahya

Given wisdom while still a boy, tender-hearted, dutiful, with peace upon him on three days.

Yahya was the son given to Zakariya in his old age. The Quran describes his character more than any event of his life, and this page keeps to that description.

يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا

Surah Maryam 19:12
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Chapter 1 of 2

Take the Book with strength

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Yahya was told: take the Scripture with determination. Allah gave him judgement while still a boy, and affection and purity from Himself. He was fearing of Allah, dutiful to his parents, and neither a disobedient tyrant nor arrogant.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Maryam 19:12–14

يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا ﴿12﴾ وَحَنَانًۭا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةًۭ ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّۭا ﴿13﴾ وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّۭا ﴿14﴾

(12) [Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy (13) And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah (14) And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

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Chapter 2 of 2

Peace on three days

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Peace was upon him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive. Surah Al Imran describes him as honourable, chaste and a prophet from the righteous, confirming a word from Allah. Surah Al-Anbiya says his parents used to call upon Allah in hope and fear, and were humble before Him.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Maryam 19:15

وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّۭا

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

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Surah Al-Imran 3:39

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

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."

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Surah Al-Anbiya 21:90

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًۭا وَرَهَبًۭا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَٰشِعِينَ

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.

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Sources note. The circumstances of Yahya's death are not narrated in the Quran and are not included.
Where is this story mentioned?

Passages about Yahya in the Quran

Opening passage, rendered from the stored text:

  1. Surah Maryam19:12

    يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا

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

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The story of Yahya

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