Mary (Maryam)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
KAF HA YA 'AIN SAD. 1 This is the remembrance of the mercy of your Lord upon His bondman Zakaria. 2 when he called upon his Lord secretly 3 and said, "My Lord, my bones have become feeble and my hair has turned white with age. Yet I have never been deprived in receiving from You the answer to my prayers. 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 Inheriting me and inheriting the Children of Ya'qub; and make him, my Lord, acceptable! 6 (Allah said) "O Zakariya (Zachariah)! Verily, We give you the glad tidings of a son, His name will be Yahya (John). We have given that name to none before (him)." 7 He said: "My Lord! How can I have a son, when my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme old age." 8 Allah said: even so! Thy Lord saith: it is unto Me easy, whereas surely I created thee afore when thou wast not aught. 9 He said: my Lord appoint for me a sign. Allah said: thy sign is that thou shalt not speak unto mankind for three nights, while sound. 10 Zachariah came out to his people from place of worship and inspired them to glorify the Lord both in the morning and evening. 11 O Yahya! take hold of the Book with strength, and We granted him wisdom while yet a child 12 and tenderness [of heart] and purity. He was pious, 13 and full of piety towards his parents; and never was he haughty or rebellious. 14 Hence, [God's] peace was upon him on the day when he was born, and on the day of his death, and will be [upon him] on the day when he shall be raised to life [again]. 15