Mary (Maryam)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Kaf-Ha-Ya-'Ain-Sad. 1 AN ACCOUNT of the grace which thy Sustainer bestowed upon His servant Zachariah: 2 When he called out his Lord (Allah) a call in secret, 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 now I fear my kinsmen when I am gone. [I have no hope of their continuing my mission] for my wife is barren, so grant me a successor from Yourself, 5 "(One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord! one with whom Thou art well-pleased!" 6 (He was told): "Zechariah, We bring you the good news of the birth of a son whose name shall be Yahya (John), one whose namesake We never created before." 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 (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as I created thee before, when thou wast naught. 9 [Zachariah] prayed: "O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!" Said [the angel]: "Thy sign shall be that for full three nights [and days] thou wilt not speak unto men". 10 So he went forth to his people from his place of worship, then he made known to them that they should glorify (Allah) morning and evening. 11 O Yahya! hold fast the book. And We vouchsafed unto him wisdom, while yet a child. 12 and We also endowed him with tenderness and purity, and he was exceedingly pious 13 and cherishing his parents, not arrogant, rebellious. 14 Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive! 15