Mary (Maryam)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
KAF HA YA 'AIN SAD. 1 This is the story of the blessing of your Lord to His servant Zachariah. 2 when he called upon his Lord 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 Who shall inherit of me and inherit (also) of the house of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, acceptable (unto Thee). 6 "Zachariah, We bring you good news of a son whose name shall be John. We have not given such a name to anyone 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 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 (Zakariya) said: "O my Lord! give me a Sign." "Thy Sign," was the answer, "Shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb." 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 Our presence and purity, and he was God-fearing. 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