فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 39
Translations
So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allāh gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allāh and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous."
Transliteration
Fanādat-hu al-malā'ikatu wa huwa qā'imun yusallī fī al-mihrāb anna Allāha yubashshiruka bi-Yahyā muṣaddiqan bi-kalimatim min Allāh wa sayyidan wa ḥasūran wa nabiyyan min as-sāliḥīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the angels called out to Zachariah while he was standing in prayer in the mihrab (prayer niche), announcing the glad tidings of the birth of John (Yahya). Yahya is characterized with five noble qualities: he will be a believer in Jesus ('Isa) and his message, a leader, chaste/celibate (hasur), and a righteous prophet. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this miraculous announcement occurred during Zachariah's state of worship, highlighting the connection between sincere devotion and divine favor.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Zachariah and John the Baptist within Surah Ali 'Imran, which discusses stories of faithful believers and the lineage of 'Imran. The surah was revealed in Medina and contextualizes the stories of righteous predecessors within discussions of faith, resurrection, and guidance. The passage establishes the spiritual heritage leading to Jesus ('Isa), reinforcing Islamic belief in the continuity of prophethood.
Related Hadiths
The story of Zachariah and Yahya is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3383) where the Prophet Muhammad mentions Zachariah's supplication and Allah's response. Additionally, Muslim tradition honors John the Baptist (Yahya) as mentioned in various ahadith discussing righteous prophets and the lineage of believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that sincere devotion and prayer during times of hardship open pathways for divine grace and blessings beyond our expectations. It teaches that righteousness is characterized not merely by outward piety but by qualities such as integrity, moral restraint, and sincere belief—virtues worth cultivating through consistent spiritual practice.
Related Ayahs
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ
The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allāh], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn.
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا۟ لِمَآ أَصَابَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا۟ وَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And how many a prophet [fought in battle and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allāh, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allāh loves the steadfast.
الٓمٓ
Alif, Lām, Meem.
ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَآئِفَةً مِّنكُمْ ۖ وَطَآئِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ ظَنَّ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ۖ يَقُولُونَ هَل لَّنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَمْرَ كُلَّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۗ يُخْفُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم مَّا لَا يُبْدُونَ لَكَ ۖ يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـٰهُنَا ۗ قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَتْلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمْ ۖ وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allāh other than the truth - the thought of ignorance, saying, "Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?" Say, "Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allāh." They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, "If there was anything we could have done in the matter, we [i.e., some of us] would not have been killed right here." Say, "Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds." [It was] so that Allāh might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts.