Prophet Yahya (John) ALAIHI SALAAM

Prophet Yahya (John) ALAIHI SALAAM

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.

Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

Preamble

Prophet Yahya (John) ALAIHI SALAAM

John's Childhood

John (pbuh) was born a stranger to the world of children who used to amuse themselves, as he

was serious all the time. Most children took delight in torturing animals whereas, he was merciful to them . He fed the animals from his food until there was nothing left for him, and he just ate fruit

or leaves of trees. John loved reading since childhood. When he grew up, Allah the Exalted called

upon him:

سُوۡرَةُ مَریَم

يَـٰيَحۡيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ۬‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمَ صَبِيًّ۬ا (١٢)

"O John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah)." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.

(Ch 19:12 Quran).

John's Qualities

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 judgments on people's affairs, interpreting the secrets of religion, guiding people to the

right path, and warning them against the wrong one.

John reached maturity. His compassion for his parents, as well as for all people and all creatures,

increased greatly. He called people to repent their sins.

There are quite a number of traditions told about John. Ibn Asaker related that one time his

parents were looking for him and found him at the Jordan River. When they met him, they wept

sorely, seeing his great devotion to Allah, Great and Majestic.

Ibn Wahb said that, according to Malik, grass was the food of John Ibn Zakariyah, and he wept

sorely in fear of Allah. A chain of narrators reported that Idris Al Khawlawi said: "Shall I not tell

you he who had the best food? It is John Ibn Zakariyah, who joined the beasts at dinner, fearing to

mix with men."

Why John Always Wept

Ibn Mubarak stated that Wahb Ibn Al-Ward narrated that Zakariayah did not see his son for three

days. He found him weeping inside a grave which he had dug and in which he resided. "My son, I

have been searching for you, and you are dwelling in this grave weeping!" "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?" He said to him: "Weep then, my son." Then they wept together.

Other narrations say that John (pbuh) said: "The dwellers of Paradise are sleepless out of the

sweetness of Allah's bounty; that is why the faithful must be sleepless because of Allah's love in

their hearts. How far between the two luxuries, how far between them?"

They say John wept so much that tears marked his cheeks.

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John's Love of Nature

He found comfort in the open and never cared about food. He ate leaves, herbs, and sometimes

locusts. He slept anywhere in the mountains or in holes in the ground. He sometimes would find a

lion or a bear as he entered a cave, but being deeply absorbed in praising Allah, he never heeded

them. The beasts easily recognized John as the prophet who cared for all the creatures, so they

would leave the cave, bowing their heads.

John sometimes fed those 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.

When John called people to worship Allah, he made them cry out of love and submission,

arresting their hearts with the truthfulness of his words.

A conflict took place between John and the authorities at that time. A tyrant king, Herod Antipas,

the ruler of Palestine, was in love with Salome, his brother's daughter. He was planning to marry

his beautiful niece. The marriage was encouraged by her mother and by some of the learned men

of Zion, either out of fear or to gain favor with the ruler.

On hearing the ruler's plan, John pronounced that such a marriage would be incestuous. He would

not approve it under any circumstance, as it was against the Law of the Torah.

John's Cruel Death

John's pronouncement spread like wildfire. Salome was angry, for it was her ambition to rule the

kingdom with her uncle. She plotted to achieve her aim. Dressing attractively, she sang and

danced before her uncle. Her arousing Herod's lust. Embracing her, he offered to fulfill whatever

she desired. At once she told him: "I would love to have the head of John, because he has defiled

your honor and mine throughout the land. If you grant me this wish, I shall be very happy and will

offer myself to you." Bewitched by her charm, he submitted to her monstrous request. John was

executed and his head was brought to Salome. The cruel woman gloated with delight. But the

death of Allah's beloved prophet was avenged. Not only she, but all the children of Israel were

severely punished by invading armies which destroyed their kingdom.

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