Al-Jazeerah		Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah . Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in Jerusalem
Islam: God's Message of Guidance to Humanity   By Hassan Ali El-Najjar   Table of Contents   I. Introduction: Basic Information   1. Islam: A Brief Introduction   2. Three Levels of Faith: Islam, Iman, and I'hsan    3. The Scientific Evidence That God Exists and the Holy Qur'an Is His Message to Humanity    4. Creation and Evolution in the Holy Qur'an   5. Humans, As God's Caliphs on Earth   6. Adam's Contest With the Angels, and Getting Out of Paradise 7. Worshippers By Choice Or Forced Slaves?     8. The Relationship Between the Spiritual and the Physical Aspects of Islamic Teachings     9. Spirit, Soul, Mind, Self, and Happiness, from an Islamic Perspective   10. Heart-Mind Relationship in the Holy Qur'an     II. Islam: The Five Pillars of the Faith Structure   11. Islamic Proclamation of Faith   12. Performing Islamic Prayers   13. Giving Zakah (Charity)   14. Fasting and Ramadhan, Great Gifts from Allah to Muslims   15. Haj, Pilgrimage, the Fifth Pillar of Islam   III. Iman: Allah, His Angels, Messengers, Messages, Last Day, Qada and Qadar   16. Allah, As He Described Himself in the Holy Quran    17. Angels   18. Noo'h, Noah, in the Holy Quran     19. Ibrahim, Abraham, in the Holy Quran   20. Moussa, Moses, in the Holy Quran   21. 'Eissa, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Quran     22. Muhammed in the Holy Quran   23. Prophet Muhammed's Night Journey and Ascent to Heavens, Al-Issra Wal Mi'raj   24. The Last Day, The Hour, Resurrection, Reckoning, and Judgment   25. God's Precise Measurement and His Just Decree, Al-Qadar Wal Qadha   IV. I'hsan: Watching Allah in Speech and Deeds   1. Introduction to Islamic Law, Shari'a: Part I, Prohibition and Don't Do Commands in the Holy Quran   2. The No (La) Commands   3. The Imperative Commands    ***   Articles with Islamic Perspective:   Health Care Crisis in the US: An Islamic Perspective   "Terrorism" & "Islamo-Fascism" Propaganda Campaigns: An Interactive Lecture   Six Questions About Islam, Muslims and Jews   Five Islamic Issues: Predestination and choice, position toward other religions, angels, and the End of Days Food Islamic Rules and Teachings     Are Muslim women second-class citizens     The French Ban on Islamic Headscarf, an Interview with   Links to Islamic Topics 2007-2010   Links to Islamic Topics 2007   Links to Islamic topics 2006   Links to Islamic topics 2005   Links to Islamic topics 2004   Links to Islamic topics, 2003   2002 Links to Islamic topics		Islam: God's Message of Guidance to Humanity   21. B    John the Baptist, Ya'hya, Son of Zakariya   in the Holy Quran   Peace be to him   By Hassn Ali El-Najjar   Thursday, 23rd of Shawwal, 1437 – July 28, 2016   يَحْيَى بِنْ زَكَرِيَّا ، فِي القُرْآنِ الكَرِيمِ   عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ   تأليف حسن علي النجار   ***     Ya'hya, the Son of Zakariya (John the Baptist, the Son of Zacharias), peace be to him, was conceived in a miracle from God, in response to a call from his father Zakariya, who was in old age together with his wife. This was another miracle from Allah, similar to the one bestowed upon Ibrahim (Abraham) and his elderly wife before.   He was a Prophet, who preached the message of Allah to the Israelites, just before and during the ministry of 'Eissa, the Son of Maryam (Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary), peace be to him, who was conceived in a greater miracle, without a father. *   In particular, he emphasized the importance of repentance and asking God for forgiveness, in orders for sins to be forgiven.   He admonished the high priests and the King for their arrogance, which led them not to repent, thinking that their sins are forgiven, just because they are descendants from Abraham.   He paid the ultimate price for insisting that the King was sinning by his marriage of his brother's wife.   The following are ten references about his life and his teaching, presented as a comparison between verses from the Bible and the Holy Quran.   ***   First, Zakariya’s call on Allah (God) to enable him to have a child was answered.   But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John (Luke, 1: 5-13).     أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشيطانِ الرجيم بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ   I seek refuge with God from the Stoned Shaytan (Satan) In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful   ***   هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ  ﴿٣٨﴾ فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ  ﴿٣٩﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِيَ الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِي عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ اللَّـهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ  ﴿٤٠﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً ۖ قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًا ۗ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ  ﴿٤١﴾ (آل عمران ، 3: 38-41).     At that, Zakariya (Zacharias) called upon his Lord, saying, “My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.”  (38)   So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, “Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of Yahya (John), confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.”  (39)   He said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?” The angel said, “Such is Allah; He does what He wills.”  (40)   He said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He Said, “Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning.”  (41)  (Al-Imran, 3: 38-41).   ***   أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشيطانِ الرجيم بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ   كهيعص  ﴿١﴾ ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا  ﴿٢﴾ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا  ﴿٣﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا  ﴿٤﴾ وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا  ﴿٥﴾ يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا  ﴿٦﴾ يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا  ﴿٧﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا  ﴿٨﴾ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا  ﴿٩﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً ۚ قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا  ﴿١٠﴾ فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا  ﴿١١﴾  (مريم ، 19: 1-11).   I seek refuge with God from the Stoned Shaytan (Satan) In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful   Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad.  (1)   [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His worshipper Zakariya (Zacharias), (2)   When he called to his Lord a private supplication,  (3)   He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.  (4)   And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir (5)   Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."  (6)   [He was told], "O Zakariya (Zacharias), indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya (John). We have not assigned to any before [this] name."  (7)   He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"  (8)   [An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' " (9)   [Zakariya] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."  (10)   So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.  (11) (Maryam, 19: 1-11).   Second, he will drink no wine or liquor.   You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor (Luke, 1: 14-17).     يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (المائدة ، 5: 90).   O you who have believed, indeed, wine (intoxicants), gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful  (Al-Ma-ida, 5: 90).     Third, repentance for the forgiveness of sins   John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark, 1: 4).   Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins (Matthew, 3: 5-6).     وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّـهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ (آل عمران ، 3: 135).   And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know  (Al-‘Imran, 3: 135).     يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ (التحريم ، 66: 8).   O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow (Al-Ta’hreem, 66: 8).     إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّـهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا (الفرقان ، 25: 70).   Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace (punishment for) their evil deeds with good (rewards in the hereafter). And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful  (Al-Furqan, 25: 70).     Fourth, God’s Covenant with Abraham applies only to the righteous of his descendants. It does not apply to the arrogant ones who do not repent or ask for His forgiveness.   But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham (Matthew, 3: 7-10).     وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ (البقرة ، 2: 126).   And [mention, O Muhammad], when Ibrahim (Abraham) was tried by his Lord with commands, and he fulfilled them, [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Ibrahim] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers" (Al-Baqara, 2: 126).     يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ (البقرة ، 2: 40).   O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill your part of the Covenant (by worshipping Me and by being righteous) in order for Me to fulfill My part of the Covenant towards you, and be afraid of Me (my punishment)  (Al-Baqara, 2: 40).     Fifth, those who benefit people will be empowered and those who harm people will go away   Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Luke, 3: 9).     فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الْأَرْضِ (الرعد ، 13: 17).   As for the foam, it vanishes; but as for that which benefits the people, it remains on the earth (Al-Ra’d, 13: 17).     الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ  (الحج ، 22: 41).   Those who, if We give them authority in the land (empower them), establish prayer and give zakah (charity) and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of matters (Al-Haj, 22: 41).     Sixth, giving charity to the needy   The man who has two tunics (pieces of clothes) is to share with him who has none (Luke, 3: 10-14).     لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللَّـهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّـهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا  (الطلاق ، 65: 7).   Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth (giving charity), and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease (Al-Talaq, 65: 7).     الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ  (البقرة ، 2: 274).    Those who spend their wealth [giving charity] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve (Al-Baqara, 2: 274).     Seventh, do not take money from anyone by force   Do not take money from anyone by force (Luke, 3: 10-14).     وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (البقرة ، 2: 188).   And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [that it is unlawful]  (Al-Baqara, 2: 188).     وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ  (الشعراء ، 26: 18).   And do not deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading corruption (Al-Shu’ara, 26: 18).     Eighth, do not accuse anyone falsely   Do not accuse anyone falsely (Luke, 3: 10-14).     وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا (الفرقان ، 25: 72).     And [the believers are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity (Al-Furqan, 25: 72).     يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ (الحجرات ، 49: 6).    O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful (Al-‘Hujurat, 49: 6).     Ninth, provision and earnings have already been decreed in heavens     A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven  (John, 3: 27-28).     وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ (الذاريات ، 51: 22).   And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised (Al-Dhariyat, 51: 22).     يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّـهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ (البقرة ، 2: 217).   O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship (Al-Baqara, 2: 217).     وَاللَّـهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (البقرة ، 2: 212).   And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account (Al-Baqara, 2: 212).     Tenth, killed for his persistence in telling the truth   For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For, John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.   But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."   Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus  (Matthew, 14: 3-12).     فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ الْأَنبِيَاءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (النساء ، 4: 155).     And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the Covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allah and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped". Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few (Al-Nissa, 4: 155).     =================================================================================================   For more about Ibrahim (Abraham), his son Isaac, and Eissa (Jesus Christ) in the Holy Quran, see:   Islam: God's Message of Guidance to Humanity   By Hassan Ali El-Najjar (1436 / 2015)   http://www.daltonislamiccenter.org/Islamic%20Editorials/Links%20to%20Educational%20Articles%20About%20Islam.htm    --------------------------------------------------------------------------    Dr. Hassan Ali El-Najjar is a native speaker of Arabic. He has a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology.

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