وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ ۖ كُلٌّ مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 85
Translations
And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa-Zakariyyā wa-Yahyā wa-'Īsā wa-'Iliyās, kullun mina as-sāliḥīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes a list of righteous prophets and messengers whom Allah honored with prophethood, specifically mentioning Zachariah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Elijah—all of whom are described as being among the righteous (as-salihīn). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse emphasizes the spiritual excellence and moral integrity of these prophets, affirming their status as chosen servants of Allah who fulfilled their divine missions with piety and righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-An'am (a Meccan surah), in a passage (6:83-87) where Allah recounts His favor upon Abraham by guiding him and his progeny, listing successive generations of prophets. The context emphasizes Allah's continuous guidance through righteous messengers across different nations and time periods, serving as a reminder to the Meccan audience of the established prophetic tradition.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3442): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the virtues of various prophets. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains references to the special status of John the Baptist (Yahya) among the righteous servants of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true greatness lies in righteousness and obedience to Allah rather than worldly status, and it reminds believers that prophets across different times and cultures were united in their commitment to serving Allah and guiding humanity toward monotheism.