Mary (Maryam)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
KAF HA YA 'AIN SAD. 1 Mention of the mercy of thy Lord to His bondman Zakariyya. 2 when he called upon his Lord in low tones, saying, 3 saying, 'O my Lord, behold the bones within me are feeble and my head is all aflame with hoariness. And in calling on Thee, my Lord, I have never been hitherto unprosperous. 4 And surely I fear my cousins after me, and my wife is barren, therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, 5 to be my heir and to be the heir [of the blessings] of the House of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord, acceptable to you." 6 (His prayer was answered): "O Zakariya! We give thee good news of a son: His name shall be Yahya: on none by that name have We conferred distinction before." 7 He said: O my Lord! in what wise shall there be for me a boy, whereas my wife hath been barren, and surely have reached an age of extreme degree? 8 He answered: "So shall it be." Your Lord says: "It is easy for Me," and then added: "For beyond doubt, I created you earlier when you were nothing." 9 He (Zachariah) said: 'Lord, make for me a sign' He replied: 'Your sign is that you shall not speak to people for three nights being without fault' 10 So he came forth unto his people from the Sanctuary, then he made signal to them, 'Give you glory at dawn and evening.' 11 (We said:) "O John, hold fast to the Book;" and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood, 12 And (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins [i.e. Yahya (John)] and he was righteous, 13 And duteous unto his parents, and was not high-handed rebel. 14 'Peace be upon him, the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised up alive!' 15