John
يحيى
John is announced before birth and described as wise, pure, compassionate, dutiful, and righteous.
Named directly in the Quran.
The story through its verses
Read continuously: every passage is already open and arranged in narrative order.
A uniquely named son
Zechariah receives the announcement of John.
يَـٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا
[Allah said], “O Zachariah, We give you the glad tidings of a son, whose name will be John – a name that We have not given to anyone before.”
A righteous prophet
The angels describe him as noble, chaste, and prophetic.
فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
The angels called out to him while he was standing in the chamber praying, “Allah gives you glad tidings of John, who will believe in the Word of Allah[19] and will be honorable, abstinent [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.”
Wisdom in youth
John holds firmly to Scripture and receives wisdom as a child.
يَـٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا
[Allah said], “O John, hold the Scripture with all your strength.” And We gave him wisdom when he was still a child,
Purity and duty
He is pure, compassionate, mindful, and dutiful to parents.
وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةً ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا
as We made him compassionate and righteous, and he was fearing Allah,
وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا
and dutiful to his parents, and he was not an oppressor or disobedient.
وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا
Peace be on him the day he was born, the day he will die, and the day he will be raised up to life again!
The Quran does not narrate John’s death.