Surah Maryam
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Kâf¬ Hâ¬Yâ¬'Aîn¬Sâd. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]. (1) (This is) a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His slave Zakariyya (Zachariah). (2) When he called out his Lord (Allâh) a call in secret. (3) He said: "My Lord! Indeed my bones have grown feeble, and grey hair has spread on my head, And I have never been unblest in my invocation to You, O my Lord! (4) "And Verily, I fear my relatives after me, since my wife is barren. So give me from Yourself an heir, (5) "Who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Ya'qûb (Jacob) (inheritance of the religious knowledge and Prophethood, not wealth). And make him, my Lord, one with whom You are Well-pleased!" (6) (Allâh said) "O Zakariyya (Zachariah)! Verily, We give you the glad tidings of a son, Whose 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) He said: "So (it will be). Your Lord says; It is easy for Me. Certainly I have created you before, when you had been nothing!" (9) [Zakariyya (Zachariah)] said: "My Lord! Appoint for me a sign." He said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect." (10) Then he came out to his people from Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room), he told them by signs to glorify Allâh's Praises in the morning and in the afternoon. (11) (It was said to his son): "O Yahya (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah)]." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. (12) And (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins [i.e. Yahya (John)] and he was righteous, (13) And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allâh or to his parents). (14) And Salâm (peace) be on him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)! (15) And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân, O Muhammad SAW , the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east (16) She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibril (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. (17) She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh." (18) (The angel) said: "I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son." (19) She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?" (20) He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).' " (21)