Who was Prophet Yahya – story?

Allah has sent 124,000 Prophets out of which one was Hazrat Yahya عليه السلام, the son of Prophet Zakariya عليه السلام.

• Biblical Name: John the Baptist.
• He was born as a descendent of Prophet Sulaiman عليه السلام.

Dua for Prophet Yahya

Prophet Zakariya عليه السلام kept on praying for a pious child until one day when he was 92 years.

• Angels said: O Zakariya Indeed, We give you the good news of ˹the birth of˺ a son, whose name will be Yahya—a name We have not given to anyone before.”
• Hazrat Zakariya عليه السلام said: How can I have a son when I am very old and my wife (Sarah) is barren?
• Angel replied said: So will it be. Allah does what He wills.
• Prophet said: Grant me a sign.
• Angel replied: Your sign is that you will not be able to speak to people for three days except through gestures. – Al-Imran 3:41

Birth of Prophet Yahya

Prophet Yahya عليه السلام was born in 5 BC in present-day Palestine and died in 36 AD at the age of 42 years.

It is said that his father Prophet Zakariya عليه السلام was 93 years old at the time of his birth.

Prophet Yahya in Quran

The name of Hazrat Yahya عليه السلام is mentioned 5 times in the Holy Quran at different places.

Prophet Yahya childhood

As a child, rather than being allured to fun and play, he would spend time glorifying and worshiping Allah Almighty.

One day when Prophet Yahya عليه السلام was quite young, children came to take him to play outside. He replied we did not come into the world to play. Allah gave him maturity from early childhood.

We granted him wisdom while ˹he was still˺ a child. – Maryam 19:12

Relationship with Prophet Isa

Although Prophet Yahya عليه السلام was only 6 months older than Prophet Isa عليه السلام, he was an uncle in relation.

Sarah, the mother of Yahya عليه السلام was the sister of Prophet Isa عليه السلام grandmother, Hannah.

Allah sends him blessings

There are 3 days most difficult for any human being i.e. the day of his birth, the day of his death, and the judgment day. Allah sends blessings to Prophet Yahya عليه السلام in the most unique way in the Holy Quran.

Peace be upon him the day he was born, the day of his death, and the day he will be raised back to life! – Maryam 19:15

Prophet Yahya – the height of Taqwa

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: On the day of Judgement, every human will have at least one sin in his account except Hazrat Yahya عليه السلام.

There are many traits of his personality that have been shared in the Christian and Muslim religious scriptures which made us believe that Prophet Yahya عليه السلام was indeed at the height of Taqwa;

• He wept so much that tears marked his cheeks.
• He ate leaves, herbs, and sometimes locusts.
• He wore a dress made of wool.
• He slept anywhere in the mountains or in holes in the ground.
• He fed beasts, out of mercy, from his food and was satisfied with prayers as food for his soul.
• He would spend the night crying and praising Allah for His blessings.

Prophet Yahya – the wisest man

Hazrat Yahya عليه السلام loved reading since childhood. When he grew up, Allah the Exalted called upon him:

“O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah). – Maryam 19:12

Allah guided him to read the Book of Jurisprudence closely; thus, he became the wisest and most knowledgeable man of that time.

Therefore, Allah the Almighty endowed him with the faculties of passing judgment on people’s affairs, interpreting the secrets of religion, guiding people to the right path, and warning them against the wrong one.

Prophet Yahya lost and met

Ibn Asaker related that one time Prophet Zakariya عليه السلام and his wife were looking for Prophet Yahya عليه السلام and found him at the Jordan River. When they met him, they wept sorely, seeing his great devotion to Allah, Great, and Majestic.

Once Prophet Zakariya عليه السلام did not see his son for 3 days. He found him weeping inside a grave that he had dug and in which he resided.

• Zakariya: “My son, I have been searching for you, and you are dwelling in this grave weeping!”
• Yahya: “O father, did you not tell me that between Paradise and Hell is only a span, and it will not be crossed except by tears of weepers?”
• Zakariya: “Weep then, my son.” Then they wept together.

Conflict with the King

Herod Antipas, a 1st-century ruler of present-day Palestine was in love with his niece Salome and was planning to marry her.

Upon hearing this, the prophet said that such marriage is not allowed under the Law of the Torah. Upon this, Salome got angry as her ambitions to become the queen were going into the dark.

Prophet Yahya Death

One day King Herod Antipas was so inspired by the beauty of Salome that he told her that he will make her one wish come true. Salome out of a grudge against Yahya عليه السلام asked for his head.

Bewitched by her charm, he submitted to her monstrous request. Hazrat Yahya عليه السلام was executed in 36 AD on the orders of the King and his head was presented to Salome.

Prophet Yahya Tomb

Prophet Yahya عليه السلام died in 36 AD at the age of 42 years. His tomb is located in Umayyad Mosque Syria where his head is buried.

• Hazrat Yahya Tomb location.