Mary (Maryam)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Kaf. Ha. Ya. 'Ain. Sad. 1 This is an account of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah 2 when he called upon his Lord in secret, 3 and said, "My Lord, my bones have become feeble and my hair has turned white with age. Yet I have never been deprived in receiving from You the answer to my prayers. 4 And surely I fear my cousins after me, and my wife is barren, therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, 5 “He being my successor and the heir of the Descendants of Yaqub (Jacob); and my Lord, make him a cherished* one.” (* Make him a Prophet among the Descendants of Israel.) 6 O Zakariyya! verily We give thee the glad tidings of a boy: his name shall be Yahya; We have not afore-time made his namesake. 7 He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached infirm old age? 8 He said: So shall it be, your Lord says: It is easy to Me, and indeed I created you before, when you were nothing. 9 He said, 'Lord, appoint to me some sign.' Said He, 'Thy sign is that thou shall not speak to men, though being without fault, three nights.' 10 Thereupon Zechariah came out from the sanctuary and directed his people by gestures to extol His glory by day and by night. 11 (We said:) "O John, hold fast to the Book;" and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood, 12 And compassion from Ourselves, and chastity; and he was extremely pious. 13 And kind to his parents, and he was not overbearing or rebellious. 14 Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive! 15