Mary (Maryam)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
KAF HA YA 'AIN SAD. 1 AN ACCOUNT of the grace which thy Sustainer bestowed upon His servant Zachariah: 2 when he called upon his Lord in low tones, saying, 3 He said: O my Lord! verily the bones of me have waxen feeble, and the head is glistening with hoariness, and have not yet been in my prayer to thee, my Lord, unblest. 4 I fear evil from my kinsmen after I am gone; and my wife is barren, so grant me an heir out of Your special grace, 5 who shall be my inheritor and the inheritor of the House of Jacob; and make him, my Lord, well-pleasing.' 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! 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 Said He, 'So it shall be; thy Lord says, "Easy is that for Me, seeing that I created thee aforetime, when thou wast 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 Thereupon Zechariah came out from the sanctuary and directed his people by gestures to extol His glory by day and by night. 11 "O John! Hold the Book with all your strength." We had bestowed wisdom upon him while he was still a child; 12 And tenderness from Us and purity, and he was one who guarded (against evil), 13 And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious. 14 And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive. 15