Prophets Stories In Islam

The story of Prophet Zakaria/Zachariah (as) and Yahya/John the Baptist (as)

Al-Hafidh Abu al-Qasim ibn Asakir has written the following in his famous book of history: He was Zakaria ibn Barkhiya. It has also been said that he was Zakaria ibn Dan. Others have said he was Zakaria ibn Ladan ibn Muslim ibn Sudooq ibn Hashban ibn Dawood ibn Sulaiman ibn Muslim ibn Sadeeqah ibn Barkhiya ibn Balatah ibn Nahoor ibn Shaloom ibn Bahfashat ibn Eenamen ibn Raheam ibn Sulaiman ibn Dawood, the father of Prophet Yahya (peace be upon them), from the children of Israel.
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Allah (ﷻ) ordered our Prophet (ﷺ) to relate the story of Zakaria (as) and how Allah granted him a son during his old age, when his wife, too, was old and had been barren all her life. From this story, one learns the lesson of never losing hope in Allah's (ﷻ) bounties and mercy.
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Allah (ﷻ) begins the story by mentioning Zakaria's (as) invocation:
"Commemorate the beneficence of your Lord on Zakaria, His devotee,
When he called to his Lord inwardly" (19:2-3)
Qatadah has explained the aforementioned verse as follows:
"Allah can recognise the pure heart and hear the secret invocation."
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Other scholars have said: He woke up at night and called out to his Lord secretly, so that no one around him could hear him.
He (as) said: O my Lord, O my Lord, O my Lord.
Allah (ﷻ) said: I answered, I answered, I answered.
"..........And I have never been unblessed in my invocation to you, O my Lord." (19:4)
He supplicated that Allah (ﷻ) had made him accustomed to the fact that whenever he invoked Him, He answered his supplication. The reason why He supplicated for a son was because when he started taking care of Maryam (as), he witnessed miracles. Whenever he would enter her chamber to visit her, he would see fruits of various kinds; the fruits of summer in winter and the fruits of winter in summer. This was one of the miracles given to pious people. Upon witnessing that, he knew that the One who could provide things miraculously like this could also bless him with a son, even if he had reached an old age.
"Then prayed Zakaria to his Lord: "O Lord, bestow on me offspring, virtuous and good, for You answer all prayers." (3:38)
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"But I fear my relatives after me; and my wife is barren. So grant me a successor as a favour from You
Who will be heir to me, and heir to the house of Yaqoob; and make him obedient to You, O Lord." (19:5-6)
It seems that Zakaria (as) feared that the attitude of his relatives towards the children of Israel would not be in accordance with the Sharia of Allah (ﷻ). Therefore He asked for a pious and righteous son, who would inherit his wisdom and be a Prophet for the children of Israel. The word 'inheritance' does not refer to wealth and property as the Shiites have claimed. Much evidence supports the correct view that it refers to wisdom and Prophethood. Some of these evidences are as follows:
Firstly, as mentioned earlier, Allah (ﷻ) has specified in the Quran:
"And Sulaiman inherited (the knowledge of) Dawood...." (27:16)
This verse means that Sulaiman (as) inherited Prophethood and wisdom.
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Similarly, also mentioned an authentic hadith recorded in most books of hadith on the authority of many companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
They have reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "We (the Prophets) do not leave inheritance; whatever we left behind is chairty."
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This is a very clear hadith showing that the wealth and the property of the Prophet cannot be inherited by his descendants. That is why Abu Bakr (ra), during his reign as caliph, stopped the distribution of the Prophet's (ﷺ) wealth to his family, which constituted His daughter Fatimah, His wives and His uncle Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). He did so on the basis of this hadith and quoted it to them when they asked the reason for his actions. Many other companions, like Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abbas ibn Abdul Mutallib, Talhah, Zubayr, Abu Huraira, and others (may Allah be pleased with them all) also agreed with him.
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Secondly, Imam at-Tirmidhi has also reported a similar hadith with more general wording. The hadith says: "We, the group of Prophets, do not leave behind inheritance (wealth and property)."
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Thirdly, we must consider the fact that this world was not worth anything to the Prophets. They were never involved in hoarding wealth and acquiring property. They were never inclined towards this world, and wordly matters did not concern them at all. Anybody who reaches their level of piety cannot ask for a son simply so that he can inherit their wealth and property.
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Fourthly, Prophet Zakaria (as) was a carpenter, who worked for his keep. He ate from what he earned by his own hands, just as Dawood (as) had done before him. It is noteworthy that the Prophets were never involved in full-time work in order to gain wealth in excess of their needs, so that they could leave some of it behind as inheritance after their death. This is a clear point that anybody who ponders and thinks will understand, if Allah wills.
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Abu Huraira (ra) has narrated that the Prophet said: "Zakaria was a carpenter." (Ahmed)
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Allah (ﷻ) has mentioned the glad tidings of a son given to Zakaria (as) in the following verse:
"O Zakaria," (it was) said, "We give you good news of a son by name of Yahya.' To none have We attributed the name before." (19:7)
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"Then the angels said to him as he stood in the chamber at prayer: "God sends you good tidings of Yahya who will confirm a thing from God and be noble, continent, and a prophet, and one of those who are upright and do good." (3:39)
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When Allah (ﷻ) gave Zakaria (as) these glad tidings, he could not believe that he would truly have a child at that age and in his present condition. That is why he said in astonishment:
"How can I have a son, O Lord" he said, "when my wife is barren and I am old and decrepit?" (19:8)
He was wandering how a son could be born to an old man with a barren wife. It has been said that Zakaria (as) was seventy-seven years old at that time. However, other opinions have suggested that he was much older than that. Allah (ﷻ) knows best.
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This reaction by Zakaria (as) was similar to the reaction of Prophet Ibrahim (as) when he had been given the glad tidings of a son. He had said, as mentioned in the following verse:
"........Do you give me glad tidings when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?" (15:54)
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His wife, Sarah, had also said something similar, when given the glad tidings. This has been mentioned in the following verses:
"She said: "Woe betide me! Will I give birth when I am old and this my husband be aged? This is indeed surprising!"
"Why are you surprised at the command of God? God's mercy and blessings be upon you, O members of this household," they said. "Verily He is worthy of praise and glory." (11:72-73)
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This is how the Angels answered Zakaria (as) when he expressed his astonishment:
"(The angel) answered: "Thus will it be. Your Lord said: 'This is easy for Me; for when I brought you into being you were nothing.' (19:9)
What he meant was that such a thing is easy for Allah (ﷻ). He created you when you didn't even exist, so why can he not create something out of you, even if you are old?
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"(Remember) Zakaria when he called to his Lord: "Do not leave me alone (and childless), for you are the best of givers."
So We heard him and gave him Yahya, and cured his wife (of barrenness). These were men who vied in good deeds with one another, and prayed to Us with love and awe, and were meek before Us." (21:89-90)
The meaning of curing his wife is that Allah (ﷻ) enabled her to have her menstrual periods, although she didn't have them before.
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Zakaria (as) then asked Allah (ﷻ) for a sign. Allah (ﷻ) told him:
"........He answered, "you will not talk to any one for three nights running." (19:10)
He was told that his sign was that he could not speak for three days. He could only use signals to communicate with people. Throughout this time, he would be healthy and nothing would be physically wrong with them. He was ordered to remember Allah (ﷻ) frequently during this time, both in the morning and in the evening.
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Allah (ﷻ) has further mentioned:
"(We said:) "O Yahya, hold fast to the Book;" and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood," (19:12)
In this verse, Allah (ﷻ) Informs us about the son whose glad tidings were given to his father, Zakaria (as) that Allah (ﷻ) would teach him the scripture and grant him wisdom in his childhood.
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According to Abdullah ibn Mubarak, Mamar said: Some children said to Yahya ibn Zakaria: come with us and play. He replied: we have not been created for play.
Mamar said that this is the meaning of:
".........and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood," (19:12)
"...... Sympathetic to men as a mercy from us, and pure from sins........" (19:13)
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Ibn Abbas has said that the aforementioned verse means: "Mercy from Us, wherein we had mercy upon him and granted him (certain qualities as) a child."
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Ikrimah has said that it means: "We loved him." It could also mean that Yahya (as) was very kind to people, in particular to his parents.
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With regards to the purity mentioned in the verse, it refers to the purity of creation wherein he was created perfectly, without any defects. Similarly, it refers to piety and obedience of Allah (ﷻ) as he did as He was ordered and left what He had forbidden.
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Then, Allah (ﷻ) has mentioned his dutiful nature towards his parents and his high level of obedience to them, saying:
"And kind to his parents, neither arrogant nor disobedient." (19:14)
Allah further mentions:
"So peace on him the day he was born, the day he will die, and the day that he will be raised from the dead." (19:15)
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The three times mentioned in the verse are critical in a person's life as he moves from one World to another. He leaves one World after he has been there and become familiar with it, to go to another world about which he does not know anything. As these three times are critical in any person's life, Allah (ﷻ) protected Yahya (as) in all of them.
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Saeed ibn Abi Aroobah reported from Qatada that al-Hasan said: Yahya (as) and Eesa (as) met.
Eesa (as) said to him: Seek forgiveness for me because you are better than me.
Yahya (as) replied: You seek forgiveness for me because you are better than me.
Eesa (ra) replied: You are better than me since I have invoked peace on myself, but Allah (ﷻ) has sent His peace upon you.
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It has been reported on the authority of Abu Saeed that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the leaders of the youth in paradise, except Yahya and Eesa."
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There are a number of narrations from Wahb ibn Munabbih with regards to whether Zakaria (as) was murdered or he died a natural death. There are two opinions. The first opinion from  Wahb ibn Munabbih, reported by 'Abdul Muneem, is that Zakaria (as) fled from his people and hid inside a tree. They brought a saw and started cutting the tree. When the saw reached his ribs, he screamed. Allah (ﷻ) revealed to him: "If your scream doesn't cease, I will turn the earth upside down along with whoever is on it." He stopped screaming and was thus cut into two pieces.
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However, in the second opinion reported by Ishaq ibn Bishr, Wahb has said that the one who was cut inside the tree was Shayya (as), and Zakaria (as) died a natural death. Allah (ﷻ) knows best.
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Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of al-Harith al-Ashari (ra) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah (ﷻ) ordered Yahya, Son of Zakaria (peace be upon them), to perform five things and to instruct the Israelites to do them as well. But Yahya (as) delayed for a while, so Eesa (as) said to him: You were ordered to perform five things and to order the Israelites to do the same. Will you tell them yourself or should I convey it to them?
He said: My brother, I fear that if you do precede to it, I may be punished or the earth may swallow me.
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Then, Yahya (as) gathered the Israelites in Bayt al-Maqdis. When the mosques was full, he sat down on an elevated place, praised and glorified Allah (ﷻ), and then said: Allah (ﷻ), has ordered me to do five things personally and to instruct you to do the same.
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The first of them is that you worship Allah (ﷻ) and do not associate any partner with Him. This is because its similitude is like the one who  bought a slave with the best and purest of his wealth, silver or gold, but then that slave started working for others. Tell me, who among you would tolerate a slave like this? Allah (ﷻ) has created you and has bestowed upon you provisions, so worship Him and do not associate any partners with him.
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I also ordered you to pray. Verily, Allah (ﷻ) turns His face towards His slave as long as he doesn't distract himself. So, when you are praying, pray with concentration. I order you to fast because its similitude is like a man with a bag of Musk who is among a gathering of people. Each of them enjoys his fragrance. The smell from the mouth of a fasting person is purer to Allah (ﷻ) than the fragrance of Musk.
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I order you to give charity because its similitude is like a person who is captured by enemy, who then ties his hands up with his neck and wants to behead him. The man asks him: Can I free myself by paying ransom? When the enemy agrees, he starts paying his ransom, bit by bit, until he becomes completely free.
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I order you to remember Allah (ﷻ) frequently because it's similitude is like that of a man who is being chased by his enemy. He then finds a fortified castle and enters it. A slave is most protected from Satan when he is remembering Allah (ﷻ).
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The Prophet (ﷺ) then said: I command you to do five things that Allah (ﷻ) has ordered me. He ordered me to stick to the Muslim majority, to listen and to obey, to migrate, and to fight in the cause of Allah (ﷻ). Whoever leaves the group of Muslims even by a handspan will be out of Islam until he comes back. And whoever calls  with the falsehood of the period of ignorance will be in the fire.
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The companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) inquired: O Messenger of Allah, will this be the case even if such a person prayed and fasted?
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: Yes, even if he prayed and fasted, and claimed to be a Muslim. Call the Muslims by the names that Allah has called them with, of Muslimoon, Muminoon, and the slaves of Allah, the Exalted.
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Many people have mentioned that Yahya (as) loved to be isolated from people. He used to find comfort in open areas and the desert. He would eat the leaves and drink from the rivers. He would say to himself: "Who is more blessed than you, O Yahya!"
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Muhammad ibn Yahya adh-Dhahli has narrated that Ibn Shihab said: Once, I sat down with Abu Idrees al-Khawlani while he was telling a story. He said: Should I tell you who ate the purest food?
When he looked at the people, he saw that they were looking at him, expecting an answer.
He said: Yahya ibn Zakaria (as) ate the purest food. He used to eat with the livestock rather than with men because he disliked mixing with people.
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Ibn Mubarak has narrated that Wuhayb ibn al-Ward said: Once, Zakaria (as) couldn't find his son Yahya (as) for three days. He went out into desert, looking for him. He was surprised to find him sitting and weeping inside a grave that he had dug for himself.
Zakaria (as) said: O my son, I have been looking for you since three days and you are sitting and weeping in a grave that you have dug yourself?
Yahya (as) said: O father, Did you not tell me that between paradise and hell is a crossing that cannot be crossed except by the tears of weepers?
Zakaria (as) said: Cry my son.
Thus, they both cried together.
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▪️Why was Yahya (as) Murdered?
Many reasons have been mentioned as the potential causes of his murder. The most popular of these reasons is that one of the kings of that time in Damascus wanted to marry one of his close relatives, who was forbidden for him to marry. Yahya (as) forbade him from what he wanted, so the king held that against him.
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One day, when the king wanted to fulfill his desire with the woman he loved, she asked him to give her the head of Yahya (as) as a gift. The king agreed to that at once and sent people to king him. They murdered him and brought back his head in a bowl. However, it has been said that the woman died as soon as Yahya (as) was brought before her.
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Another reason for his death is mentioned to be the fact that the woman in question was in love with Yahya (as) and she used to write to him. But seeing that he refused her, she tricked the king of the time to give her Yahya's (as) head as a gift. Initially, the king refused. However, later he agreed and sent people to kill Yahya (as) and bring back his head.
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The scholars have also differed regarding the precise location where Yahya (as) was killed; was he killed in Al-Aqsa Mosque or somewhere else? There are two opinions from the scholars in this issue.
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In one opinion, ath-Thawri reported that Shamr ibn Atiyah said: "Seventy Prophets have been killed on the rock inside Bayt al-Maqdis. One of them was Yahya ibn Zakaria (as)."
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In another opinion, which Abu Ubayd al-Qasim   reported from Saeed ibn Musayyib, it has been said that Bakhtnasar came to Damascus and found that the blood of Yahya ibn Zakaria (as) still boiling. He asked the people what had happened and they narrated the story to him. He then killed seventy thousand people in revenge for his blood and the account was settled.
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Ibn Asakir has reported that Zayd ibn Waqid said: "When the Mosque of Damascus was being built, I saw the head of Yahya ibn Zakaria (as). It was dug up from a place near the chamber where they wanted to place a pillar. His body and hair were still the same and had not changed at all."
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Another narration says that the body was as if he was killed only an hour ago.