Mary (Maryam)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Kaf-Ha-Ya-A’in-Sad. (* Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah and to whomever He reveals know their precise meanings.) 1 [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah 2 When he called out his Lord (Allah) a call in secret, 3 he prayed: "O my Sustainer! Feeble have become my bones, and my head glistens with grey hair. But never yet, O my Lord, has my prayer unto Thee remained unanswered. 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 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 We answered his prayers with the glad news of the birth of a son by the name of John and told him, "We have never given such a name to anyone else." 7 He said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?" 8 Answered [the angel]: "Thus it is; [but] thy Sustainer says, 'This is easy for Me - even as I have created thee aforetime out of nothing'". 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 came from the chamber to his people, and suggested to them (by signs) to sing the praises of the Lord morning and evening. 11 (It was said to his son): "O Yahya (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. 12 And tenderness from Us and purity, and he was one who guarded (against evil), 13 kind to his parents, not arrogant or a rebellious person. 14 And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life 15