Allah answered the prayer of His servant Zacharias, and in spite of his old age and barren wife, gave him a prophet son; and named him ``YAHYÄ'', (JOHN) who had not a namesake before. Of course, it was not a name given for the first time. Perhaps it was the first among the posterity of Jacob, or among the relative of Zacharias. Evidently it was the first time that God had named one of His elects, ``YAHYÄ''.

      The Arabic, ``YAHYÄ'' for the English version, ``JOHN'' suggest the meaning of giving new life, or to revive and return something to life again, and it was really so in the case of ``JOHN THE BAPTIST''. He was the forerunner of Jesus who paved the way for him, and with the help of his father renewed the Message of God which had been perverted and corrupted by the Israelites.

      When Zacharias heard the angelic good news of having such a wonderful son, he could not see the necessary natural means and preparation for that curious birth; and therefore asked the angel for a sign from his Lord, so that he could assure his heart by that:ِ

      ``Everything is possible for God,'' was the answer, and that, everything was nothing before its creation by God, and your sign is that you cannot speak to people for three days, and three night, although you will be sound and safe, and all right.''

      After receiving the glad-tidings, Zacharias went out of his sanctum of prayer to his people, but he could not speak! So, by hints, and points, and expressions of head and hands, he inspired to them that, they should glorify their Lord in the morning and in the night.

YAHYÄ, THE FREE OF ALL SORTS OF VAIN DESIRE

      The name of YAHYÄ is found in five points in the Holy Qurän. He was one of the Messengers of God, who became a prophet when he was only a child, having all the necessary wisdom and merits for that attainment. Like Jesus Christ, he too, did not marry, and suppressed his carnal desires. JOHN and JESUS were cousins, and it was John who baptized Jesus.

      Islamic traditions imply that HAZRAT IMAM HUSSAIN (AS), had some similarities with John. When he set out from Medina to KARBLÄ, in places he repeated saying:ِ

      ``How worthless is this world in the sight of God, that the head of YAHYÄ was put in a tray, and offered as a present to an unchaste king!''

      And we know that the same thing was done with the sacred head of, HAZRAT IMAM HUSSAIN (AS).

      John's martyrdom was as wonderful as his birth:ِ The whore-monger king of Palestine (HEROD) fell in love with the daughter of his brother, and decided to marry her, which was something awful and unlawful in the Mosaic Law. John, the prophet of God was informed of that; and declared the marriage to be unlawful and a heinous sin. When the girl heard that, and knew John to be the main impediment to her marriage with her uncle, she was filled with anger and hatred, and decided to take vengeance from John the Baptist.

      Using the influence of her love affair, she seduced her uncle to slay John and to offer his head to her as the best of the king's present! Herod, who was in a mad love with the daughter of his brother agreed with her request, and the prophet was beheaded by his order! And the sacred head of John, was put in a golden tray and offered to the harlot!

ZACHARIAS IN THE BIBLE

      The story of ZACHARIAS has been cited in the GOSPEL, in the book of LUKE, chapter one, a quotation of which is as follows:ِ

      Saint Zacharias, a high priest in the Temple, was the father of JOHN THE BAPTIST. His wife ELIZABETH was barren, and he had become an aged priest fulfilling his duties in the Temple. He belonged to the priestly order of ABITAH. His wife also was belonged to a priestly family. They both lived a good life in God's sight, and obeyed fully all the Lord's law and commands. Both of the couple had reached old age, and had no children. After a fervent prayer to God, Zacharias received an angelic message, that; Elizabeth would bear a son (LUKE 1:5ِ25).

      An angel of the Lord appeared to him, and he was alarmed and felt afraid: ``Don't be afraid,'' said the angel. ``God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son! You are to name him John. How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born. He will be a great man in Lord's sight.''

      Zacharias said to the angel:ِ ``How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man and my wife is also old.''

      ``I am GABRIEL'', the angel answered, ``Because you have not believed my message, you will be unable to speak. You will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.''

      22ِWhen he came out, he could not speak to people, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.

      24ِSometimes later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and did not leave the house for five months. ``Now at last the Lord Has helped me,'' she said. ``He has taken away my public disgrace.''

      57ِThen the time came and Elizabeth gave birth to a child. Her neighbours and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced.

      59ِWhen the baby was a week old they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zacharias after his father, but his mother said:ِ ``No! His name is to be John.'' They said:ِ ``But you have no relative with that name....''

      63ِZacharias then asked for a writing tablet and wrote:ِ

      ``HIS NAME IS JOHN''

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE