The Story of Our Prophet Yahya
Our prophet 'Isa was born. He was Allah's word and mercy. His birth was miraculous.
The people knew of Maryam's chastity. Meanwhile they heard the baby speaking in the cradle and giving god news of Allah's mercy, so they believed in Allah and prostrated themselves to Him.
At that time the Jewish society led a life full of corruption and lying, and were very materialistic people. No part of the Torah remained correct except few words.
They Jews distorted Allah's words. They did that to achieve their interests and ambitions.
The Jewish society became materialistc; it did not believe in anything except the worldly things.
The poor increased in poverty, and the rich increased in riches. There was nothing sacred except gold.
To Egypt
The country was full of chaos when the baby spoke from the cradle.
Some statesmen came to ask about the baby who spoke from the cradle and gave good news to people of prophecy and salvation.
The people in the capital, Rome, were anxious and wanted to know what had happened in their homeland.
No one was safe from the planning of the Jews even Zakariya. The Jews plotted against Zakariya and provoke the Roman Emperor to kill him.
The Jews bore malice against all the people; they loved no one except themselves. They plotted against the prophets who came to lead them to the right path.
Bakht Nasr, the King of Babylon, occupied Palestine and took the Jews as prisoners of war. So the Jews have bore malice against mankind and have planned to control the world since then.
They wrote a book and called the book the Talmud. They said that was more sacred than the Torah. They distorted Allah's words and the law of Musa, Allah's messenger.
For this reason, 'Isa was born without a father to be a miracle and to guide the children of Israel to the right path.
However, the Jews accused the Prophets of lying, for the Prophets asked mankind to follow the right path.
Maryam feared for the safety of her baby; she was afraid of the planning of the Jews. The Roman official came to Maryam to ask her about her baby, so Maryam decided to go to Egypt.
Thus, one night, Maryam carried the Spirit and Word of Allah ('Isa) and left her homeland for Egypt. She lived there for many years.
Yahya, take the Book!
Yahya was a wonderful child. His face blazed with light and the solemnity of the Prophets.
The children came to Yahya and said him: "Let's play."
Yahya answered them politely: "I have not been created for playing!"
Yahya realized many things when he was child. Thus, he asked himself: "Why has Maryam taken her baby and escaped? Why do he Jews lead a life full of ignorance, deviation from the truth, and corruption? Why have the unbelieving Romans controlled my people?"
Yahya answered all these questions saying: "All that has happened because the children of Israel have turned away from the true religion, because they way of Allah is clear and strait, so do not make it crooked!"
Hirodus
At that time a Roman King called Hirodus ruled Syria. The king was a wicked pagan.
Hirodus's brother had a beautiful woman, so Hirodus took his brother's wife by force to be his wife.
No one opposed Hirodus except our Prophet Yahya, who said to him: "You have no right to marry your brother's wife!"
Yahya did not keep silent. He blamed Hirodus for his wicked deeds.
Thus, Hirodus ordered the police to arrest Yahya and they arrested him.
When they put Yahya in prison, Yahya was not afraid of them; he did not beg them for release. Yahya was brave in prison, so he said loudly: "The one who is stronger than me will come after me! Mercy will prevail.
Yahya grew up and became a strong young man, so he said openly: "Those who have garments should give to those who have no garments!
"Those who have food should give the poor!
"Do not oppress anyone! Do not slander anyone!
The path country! The lilies will bloom! The eyes will see the daylight, and the deaf ears will open!"
The Celebration
Hirodus held a great celebration. During the celebration the women danced and the men drank wine, while the poor outside the palace were hungry, felt oppression, and shook with cold.
The poor were naked; they had no garments to cover their bodies, while Hirodus, the king, wore silk clothes and sat on his throne decorated with gold, silver, and precious stones.
Yahya's voice echoed through the walls of the prison: "Hirodus, the oppressive one, you have no right to marry the woman with a husband!"
The celebration hall was full of young girls and young men. Then the musicians began playing on their instruments.
Hirodus sat on his throne and drank wine, and his new wife sat beside him. Her eyes blazed with wickedness.
A charming young girl dressed in silk entered the celebration hall.
Hirodus stood and addressed his new wife, saying: "Your daughter is very beautiful!"
The woman said with malice: "Saloomi will dance for you!"
The king asked with happiness: "For me?"
"Yes, for you," answered the woman.
Saloomi approached the king and said to him with coquetry: "I will dance for you!"
The king said: "I will give you a half of my kingdom.
"Grant me whatever I want." requested Saloomi.
"Yes, I will grant you whatever you want!" answered the king.
Thus, Saloomi began dancing with two naked feet.
She charmed Hirodus and he drank wine.
The Jewish woman said: "I will carry her home in procession for you."
Hirodus was filled with happiness.
Saloomi drew nearer and said: "Grant me whatever I want!"
Hirodus said; "Ask me for whatever you want! I will give you a half of my kingdom!"
Saloomi twisted like a snake and said: "I want the head of Yahya, son of Zakariya!"
The king said: "No! No! Ask me for whatever you want! I will give you my throne!"
The mother said with evil: "Yahya won't allow you to marry Saloomi!"
"Yes, Yahya!" stressed the mother.
Saloomi said: "I want you to offer me Yahya's head on a silver plate. "Hirodus clapped and his eyes blazed with wickedness, so the music ceased.
Hirodus shouted: "Bring me the prisoner! Bring me Yahya!"
The young girls escaped from the celebration hall.
The celebration hall turned into a fearful court.
The police brought Yahya, who was chained and his face blazed with heavenly light. His face was like a white cloud.
Hirodus shouted: "I have married this woman! I am the ruler of this land!"
Yahya said angrily: "It is unlawful for you to do that!"
Hirodus shouted: "I will marry her daughter! I will marry Saloomi!"
Yahya burst into anger: "It is unlawful for you to do that! It is unlawful for the person to marry a woman with a husband! It is unlawful for the person to marry his stepdaughter!"
Hirodus shouted at Yahya with malice: "I will cut off your head, so your voice will die forever!"
Yahya said with a voice that shook the walls of the palace: "It is unlawful for you! It is unlawful for you!"
Hirodus shouted: "Headsman, cut off his head!"
Thus, the headsman cut off the Prophet's head. A wonderful thing happened: Yahya's head rolled over the marble royal court, and there was a voice saying: "It is unlawful for you! It is unlawful for you!"
Hirodus was frightened, so he ordered his men to put out the torches and to follow him.
Yahya died a martyr, but his words went on echoing in the palace and the city.
Yahya gave good news to the people of the Prophets who came after him. He was the first to believe in 'Isa's prophecy, and he gave good news to the people of 'Isa's coming.
Allah, the Glorified, said in the Koran: "Peace be on him on the day he was born, on the day he will die, and on the day he will be raised from the dead."
Our prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.) said: "Everyone will have sins when they will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment, except Yahya, son of Zakariya."
He also said concerning him: "All the children of Adam commit sins and they are anxious of their sins except Yahya, son of Zakariya."
When our prophet 'Isa heard of the murder of Yahya, he became very sad and said: "Women will not bear a baby-boy who is greater than Yahya."
The Return of 'Isa
Hirodus died, but wickedness lasted, and the Jews went on leading a life full of ignorance.
Thus, 'Isa, son of Maryam, decided to return to Plaestine. He and his mother lived at a village called al-Nasirah among Mount al-Jalil. There came the angel to him and ordered him to announce Allah's message.