22. HAZRAT YAHYA ( علیہ السلام ) [Prophet John]
Yahya علیہ السلام Ki Mo’ajizaana Wilaadat
Irshad-e-Bari T’aala hai: يٰزَكَرِيَّآ اِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلٰمِۨ اسْمُهٗ يَحْــيٰى ۙ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ مِنْ قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا “Aye Zakriya! Ham tujhe aik bache ki khushkhabri dete hein, Jis ka naam Yahya hai. Ham ne is se pehle is ka ham naam bhi kisi ko nahin banaya.” (Maryam: 7/19) Is ki wazaahat is Aayat-e-Mubaraka se hoti hai: فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلٰۗىِٕكَةُ وَھُوَ قَاۗىِٕمٌ يُّصَلِّيْ فِي الْمِحْرَابِ ۙ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيٰى مُصَدِّقًۢـا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَّحَصُوْرًا وَّنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ ” Phir farishte ne ap ko awaz di jab ap hujre mein khade namaz padh rahe thay keh Allah T’aala ap ko Yahya ki yaqini khushkhabri deta hai jo Allah ke kalma ki tasdeeq karne wala, Sardaar, Zabit-e-Nafas aur Nabi hai naik logon mein se.” (Aal-e-Imran: 3/39)
Jab Ap ko khushkhabri mili to bahut tajjub ki haalat mein farmaya: رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوْنُ لِيْ غُلٰمٌ وَّكَانَتِ امْرَاَتِيْ عَاقِرًا وَّقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا “Mere Rabbi! Mere han ladka kaise ho ga? Meri biwi banjh hai aur mein khud budhape ke intihaai zo’af ko pohanch chuka hon?” (Maryam: 19/8) Ba’az riwayaayt ke mutabiq us waqat Ap ki umar satattar saal thi. Wese maloom hota hai keh Ap is se zayada mo’ammar ho chuke thay. (واللہ اعلم)
Jab Hazrat Ibraheem علیہ السلام ko bashaarat mili thi Ap ne bhi isi tarah tajjub ka izhar fatmaya tha: اَبَشَّرْتُمُوْنِيْ عَلٰٓي اَنْ مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُوْنَ “Kya is budhape ke aa jane ke ba’ad tum mujhe khushkhabri dete ho? Yeh tum kaisi khushkhabri de rahe ho?” (Al-Hijr: 15/54)
Hazrat Sarah علیہما السلام ne bhi farmaya tha: يٰوَيْلَتٰٓى ءَاَلِدُ وَاَنَا عَجُوْزٌ وَّھٰذَا بَعْلِيْ شَيْخًا ۭ اِنَّ ھٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيْبٌ قَالُوْٓا اَتَعْجَبِيْنَ مِنْ اَمْرِ اللّٰهِ رَحْمَتُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكٰتُهٗ عَلَيْكُمْ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۭ اِنَّهٗ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ ” Haye meri kambakhti! Mere han aulad kaise ho sakti hai? Mein khud budhiya aur yeh mera khawand bhi badi umar ka hai. Yeh to yaqinan badi ajib bat hai. Farishton ne kaha: Kaya tu Allah ki qudrat par tajjub kar rahi hai? Aye is ghar ke logo! Tum par Allah ki rahmat aur barkaten nazil hon. Beshak Allah Hamad-o-Sana ke laaiq aur badi shan wala h.” (Hood: 11/72-73)
Isi tarah ka jawab Zakriya علیہ السلام ko mila. Jo farishta Rabb ke hukam se wahi le kar aaya tha, Us ne kaha: كَذٰلِكَ ۚ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَّقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَـيْـــــًٔـا “(Wada) usi tarah (ho chuka) hai. Tere Rabb ne farma diya hai keh Mujh par to yeh bilkul aasan hai aur mein tujhe paida kar chuka hoon jabkeh tu kuch bhi na tha.” (Maryam: 19/9) Ya’ani mein ne tujhe adam se wujood bakhsha hai to kaya tujhe budhape mein beta nahin de sakta? Allah T’aala ne farmaya: فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهٗ ۡ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهٗ يَحْــيٰى وَاَصْلَحْنَا لَهٗ زَوْجَهٗ ۭ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا يُسٰرِعُوْنَ فِي الْخَــيْرٰتِ وَيَدْعُوْنَنَا رَغَبًا وَّرَهَبًا ۭ وَكَانُوْا لَنَا خٰشِعِيْنَ “Ham ne us ki dua qabool farma kar us ko Yahya ata farmaya aur us ki biwi ko us ke liye durust kar diya. Yeh bazurag log naik kamon ki taraf jaldi karte thay aur hamein umeed aur khoaf ke sath pukarte thay aur hamare samne aajizi karne wale thay.” (Al-Anbiya’a: 21/90) Biwi ko durust karne ka matlab Nizam-e-Tauleed ka durust hona aur mahana nizam ka dobara jari hona hai. Kahne lage: رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِّيْٓ اٰيَةً ” Mere Parwadigaar! Mere liye koi alaamat muqarrar farma de.” Takeh mujhe maloom ho jaye keh hamal qaraar pa chuka hai. Irshad huwa: اٰيَتُكَ اَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلٰثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا “Tere liye alaamat yeh hai keh bawjood bhala changa hone ke tu teen raton tak kisi shakhas se bol na sake ga.” Yeh khushkhabri milne par Ap khush khush hujre se bahir tashreef laye, To ham ne un ki taraf wahi ki keh: اَنْ سَبِّحُوْا بُكْرَةً وَّعَشِـيًّا “Tum subah sham Allah ki tasbeeh bayan karo.”
Hazrat Mujahid, Ikarma, Wahab aur Sudi رحم اللہ علیہم farmate hein: Ap ki zuban bagher kisi maraz ke band ho gai thi. Ibn-e-Zaid رحمہ اللہ farmate hein: “Ap tilawat kar sakte thay, Zikar-o-Tasbeeh kar sakte thy lekin kisi se bat nahin kar sakte thay.”( Tafseer Al-Tabri: 9/6 Tafseer Soorah Maryam, Aayat: 9)
Yahya علیہ السلام Ko Kitab Aur Hikmat-o-Danaai Ata Ki
Irshad-e-Bari T’aala hai: يٰــيَحْـيٰى خُذِ الْكِتٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۭ وَاٰتَيْنٰهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا 12ۙ
“Aye Yahya! (Meri) kitab ko mazbooti se tham le, Aur ham ne usay ladakpan hi se danaai ata farma di.” (Maryam: 19/12) Allah T’aala ne khushkhabri ke mutabiq Hazrat Zakriya علیہ السلام ko beta ata farma diya aur us bete (Yahya) ko bachpan hi mein kitab ka ilam aur danaai ata farma di.
Hazrat Mo’ammar رحمہ اللہ farmate hein: Bachon ne Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام se kaha: “Aao khelein!” Ap علیہ السلام ne farmaya: ” Hamein khelne ke liye paida nahin kiya gaya.”
Allah T’aala ke is farmaan: وَاٰتَيْنٰهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا “Aur ham ne usay ladakpan hi se danaai ata farma di” ka yahi matlab hai.
Irshad-e-Bari T’aala hai: وَّحَنَانًا مِّنْ لَّدُنَّا “Aur Apne pas se shafqat” Ya’ani ham ne Zakriya علیہ السلام par rahmat ki keh unhein Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ata farmaye. Ikarma رحمہ اللہ farmate hein: Shafqat ya’ani muhabbat ka matlab yeh hai keh Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام logon par taras khate thay aur khas tor par apne waliden se Shafqat-o-Muhabbat ka izhar karte thay aur un se Husan-e-Sulook karte thay. Aur وَزَكٰوةً “Aur pakeezagi bhi ata farmai” Ya’ani umda akhlaq, Buri aadaat se mubarra hona, Taqwa, Allah ke ahkaam ki ta’ameel aur mamnoo’a kamon se ijtinab, Yeh sab pakeezagi mein shamil hai. وَّبَرّاً بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا “Aur woh apne maan bap se naik sulook karne wala tha, Woh sarkash aur gunahgar na tha.” (Maryam: 19/14) Phir farmaya: وَسَلٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوْتُ وَيَوْمَ يُـبْعَثُ حَيًّا “Us par salam hai jis din woh paida huwa, Jis din foat ho ga aur jis din zinda kar ke uthaya jaye ga.” (Maryam: 19/15) Yeh teen maraahil insan ke liye bade kathan hein. In moqon par woh aik jahan se dosare jahan mein muntaqil hota hai. Woh pehle jahan se manoos ho chuka hota hai, Phir usay chod kar dosare jahan mein jana padta hai, Jis ke bare mein usay kuch maloom nahin hota keh wahan kaya halaat paish aane wale hein? Is liye jab woh maan ke jisam se juda hota hai to rota aur cheekhta hai aur Gham-o-Tafakkuraat ka samna karne ke liye is jahan mein muntaqil ho jata hai.
Isi tarah jab woh is jahan se muntaqil hota hai to barzakh ke jahan mein pohanch jata hai jo duniya aur aakhirat ke darmiyan ki manzil hai. Woh qabrastaan ki khamosh duniya ka bashinda ban jata hai. Wahan woh dobara uthne ke liye Soor-e-Mahshar ka muntazir hota hai. Phir koi khush aur masroor ho ga, Koi Huzan-o-Gham se choor ho ga, Ya’ani aik giroh Jannat mein khushiyon se sarshaar ho ga aur aik giroh jahannam ke azabon mein giraftaar ho ga. (Tafseer Al-Tabri:: 9/73-74 Tafseer Soorah Maryam, Aayat: 16-17)
Kisi shaair ne kaya khoob kaha hai:
ولدتک امک باکیا مستصرخا والناس حولک یضحکون سرورا
فاحرص لنفسک ان تکون اذا بکوا فی یوم مسوتک ضاحکامسرورا
“Teri maa ne tujhe janam diya to tu ro raha tha, Cheekh raha tha aur tere aas pas ke log khushi se hans rahe thay. Tu apne liye koshish kar keh jab tere marne ke din woh ro rahe hon, Tu khush ho aur hans raha ho.”
Insan ke liye yeh teen mawaqe dushwaar tareen hote hein. Is liye Allah T’aala ne in teenon maqamaat par Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ko salamti ata farmai aur farmaya: وَسَلٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوْتُ وَيَوْمَ يُـبْعَثُ حَيًّا “Us par salam hai jis din woh paida huwa aur jis din woh mare ga aur jis din woh zinda kar ke dobara uthaya jaye.” (Maryam: 19/15)
Hazrat Hasan رحمہ اللہ se riwaayat hai, Unhon ne farmaya: Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام aur Hazrat Isa علیہ السلام ki mulaqat hui to Hazrat Isa علیہ السلام ne unhein farmaya: “Mere liye maghfirat ki dua kijiye kiyoun keh ap mujh se afzal hein. Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ne farmaya: “Ap mere liye dua karen kiyoun keh ap mujh se afzal hein.” Hazrat Isa علیہ السلام ne farmaya: “Ap mujh se afzal heir, Mein ne apne liye salamati ki dua ki aur ap ko Allah ne salamati ki khushkhabri di.” (Tafseer Al-Tabri: 9/73, Tafseer Soorah Maryam, Aayat: 16-17)
Hazrat Abdullah Bin Amar رضی اللہ عنہ ne farmaya: “Har shakhas Allah se koi na koi gunah (ya ghalti) le kar mile ga, Siwaye Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ke. Phir yeh aayat padhi: وَسَيِّدًا وَّحَصُوْرًا “Sardaar aur Zabit-e-Nafas.” (Aal-e-Imran: 3/39) Phir zameen se aik tinka utha kar farmaya: “Un ke pas itna kuch tha, Phir unhein shahaadat bhi naseeb ho gai.” (Tafseer Al-Tabri: 3/348, Tafseer Sorah Aal-e-Imran, Aayat: 39)
Hazrat Abu Saeed رضی اللہ عنہا se riwaayat hai keh Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ne farmaya: “Hazrat Hasan aur Hazrat Husain رضی اللہ عنہما tamam jannti nojwanon ke sardaar hein, Siwaye do khala zaad bhaiyon Hazrat Yahya aur Hazrat Isa علیہما السلام ke.”( Jami-ul-Tirmizi: Al-Manaqib, Baab-o-Manaqib-e-Abi Muhammad Al Hasan bin Ali……, Hadees: 3768 wa Musnad-e-Ahmed :3/3 [ولیس عندھما الجز ۶ الثانی من ا لحدیث])
Masjid-e-Aqsa Mein Qoam Ko Da’awat-e-Tuheed
Hazrat Haris Ash’ari رضی اللہ عنہا se riwaayat hai keh Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ne farmaya: “Allah T’aala ne Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ko hukam diya keh panch baton par amal karen aur Bani Israil se bhi un par amal karne ko kahen.” Ap se kuch der ho gai to Hazrat Isa علیہ السلام ne Ap se farmaya: “Ap ko panch ahkamaat diye gaye thay keh in par amal karen aur Bani Israil ko in par amal karne ka hukam den, Ya to ap unhein yeh ahkamaat pohancha dein warna mein pohancha don ga.” Unhon ne farmaya: “Bhai jan! Mujhe dar lagta hai keh agar ap ne mujh se pehle yeh ahkaam unhein sunaye to Allah T’aala mujhe saza de ga ya zameen mein dhansa de ga.”
Chunacah Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ne Bani Israil ko Masjid-e-Aqsa mein jama kiya hatta keh masjid bhar gai. Phir Ap unchi jagah par tashreef farma huaye ar Allah ki Hamad-o-Sana ke ba’ad farmaya: “Allah T’aala ne mujhe panch baton par amal karne ka hukam diya hai aur yeh bhi hukam diya hai keh tum logon ko un par amal karne kahukam doon.
1: Allah ki ibaadat karo, Us ke sath kisi aur ko shareek na karo. Is ki misal aise hai jaise kisi shakhas ne khalis apni milkiyat ke sone ya chandi ke iwaz aik ghulam khareeda. Woh ghulam kam karta tha aur kamai ki raqam apne aaqa ke siwa kisi aur ko de deta tha. Tum mein se kis ko yeh bat pasand hai keh us ka ghulam is tarah ka ho? Allah ne tumhein paida kiya aur tumhein rizaq diya hai, Lihaza tum usi ki ibaadat karo aur us ke sath kisi cheez ko shareek na karo.
2: Mein tumhein namaz ka hukam deta hon. Jab naik banda idhar udhar tawajjah na kare, Allah T’aala bhi us (namazi) ki taraf matwajjah rehta hai. Is liye namaz padhate waqat idhar udhar na dekho.
3: Mein tumhein roze rakhne ka hukam deta hon. Is amal ki msal aise hai jaise logon ke majma’a mein aik shakhas ke pas theli mein kastoori ho aur har kisi ko us ki khushboo aa rahi ho. Allah T’aala ke han roza daar ke munh ki boo kastoori ki khushboo se zayada pakiza hai
4: Mein tumhein sadqa ka hukam deta hon. Is ki misal aise hai jaise kisi ko dushmanon ne pakad kar us ke hath us ki gardan se bandh diye hon aur usay qatal karne ke liye (maqtal ki taraf) le ja rahe hon. Woh un se kehta hai: Kaya mein tumhein apni jan ka fidya na don? Woh apni har thodi zayada cheez fidya mein de kar un se jan chuda leta hai aur woh usay riha kar dete hain.
5: Mein tumhein Allah ka zikar kasrat se karne ka hukam deta hon. Is ki misal aise hai jaise aik aadmi ke dushman tezi se us ka t’aaqub kar rahe hon. Achanak usay mazboot qil’aa nazar aa jaye aur woh us mein dakhil ho kar mahfooz ho jaye. Banda bhi shetan se sab se zayda mahfooz us waqat hota hai jab woh Allah ke zikar mein mashghool hota hai.”
Raoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ne farmaya: “Mein bhi tumhein panch baton ka hukam deta hon, Jin ka hukam mujhe Allah ne diya hai: (1) Ijtimaiyat ke sath rehna. (2) (Sharai ameer ka) hukam tawajjah se sunna. (3) Hukam ki ta’ameel karna. (4) Hijrat. (5) Jihad fi sabeelillah. Jo shakhas ijtimaiyat se balishat bhar bahir nikalta hai, Woh apni gardan se Islam ka qalada utaar phenkta hai illa yeh keh dobara (ijtimaiyat ke bare mein) aa jaye aur jo jahliyat ki baton ki taraf bulata hai woh jahannam ka eindhan hai.”
Sahabi ne araz ki: Allah ke Rasool! Khawah woh namaz, Roze ka paband ho aur khud ko musalman samjhta ho? Farmaya: “Agarcheh woh namaz roze ka paband ho aur khud ko musalman samajhta ho. Musalmanon ko unhi namon se pukaro, jo Allah ne rakhe hein, Ya’ani Muslimeen, Momineen, Allah Azza-o-Jal ke bande.”( Jami-ul-Tirmizi, Al-Adab, Baab-o-Maa Jaa Fi Misl-e-Al Salati Wal Siami Wal Sadaqati, Hadees: 2863 Wa Musnad-e-Ahmad: 4/130)
Hazrat Yahya Ka Zahad-O-Taqwa
Ulama’a ne bayan farmaya hai keh Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام bahut zayada tanhaai pasand thay. Ap janglon mein chale jate. Darakhton ke patte khate aur chashmon ka pani peete. Phir farmate: “Yahya! Tujh se zayada nematen kise hasil hein?”
Wohaib Bin Wirad رحمہ اللہ se riwaayat hai keh Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام teen din tak Hazrat Zakriya علیہ السلام se gum rahe. Ap un ki talash mein jangal ki taraf nikal gaye aur dekha keh Ap ne aik qabar khod rakhi hai aur us mein khade ho kar Aah-o-Bakah mein masroof hein. Hazrat Zakriya علیہ السلام ne farmaya: “Beta! Mein teen din se teri talash mein hoon aur tu yahan qabar khod kar us mein khada ro raha hai?”
Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ne farmaya: “Abba jan! Ap hi ne mujhe bataya tha keh Jannat aur jahannam ke darmiyan aik taweel fasla hai jo siraf aanso’on ki madad se teh ho sakta hai.” Ap ne farmaya: “Ji han beta! Ro lo!” Tab donon ro pade.
Yeh bhi kaha jata hai keh Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ba’kasrat rote thay aur musalsal rone ki wajah se un ke rukhsaaron par nishan pad gaye thay.
Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام Ki Shahaadat:
Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ko shaheed karne ke kai asbaab bayan kiye gaye hein. Zayada mash’hoor waqia yeh hai keh us zamane ka Damishaq ka badshah kisi aisi aurat se nikah karna chahta tha jis se nikah karna us ke liye shar’an jaaiz na tha. Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ne mana’a kiya to woh aurat naraz ho gai. Jab us ne mehsoos kiya keh badshah us par fareefta ho chuka hai to us ne Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ko shaheed karne ki farmaish kar di. Badshah ne aik aadmi bheja jo Ap ko shaheed kar ke Ap ka sar aur Ap ka khoon aik thaal mein daal kar le aaya aur malika ke samne paish kar diya. Malika foran halaak ho gai.
Aik sabab yeh bayan kiya jata hai keh malika Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام par ashiq ho gai aur Ap se gunah ka mutaliba kiya. Ap ne inkar kar diya. Jab woh mayoos ho gai to badshah se Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ko mang liya. Badshah ne pehle inkar kiya. Lekin aakhir kaar us ki bat maan li. Us ne aik aadmi bheja jo Ap ko shaheed kar ke Ap ka sar aur Ap ka khoon thaal mein daal kar le aaya.
Shamla Bin Atiya رحمہ اللہ ka qoal hai keh Bait-ul-Maqdas mein mojood sakhrah (chataan) par satar Nabi shaheed kiye gaye. Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام bhi un mein shamil hein.
Hafiz Ibn-e-Asaakir رحمہ اللہ ne “المستسقی فی فضائل الاقضی“ mein aik aur waqia bayan kiya hai. Woh kehte hein keh Damishaq ke badshah “Haddaad Bin Haddaar” ne apne bete ki shadi us ki chacha zaad “Areel” se kar di jo “Seeda” ki malika thi. Us ne apni biwi ko teen talaqen de di thien. Phir rajoo’a karna chaha to Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام se fatwa poocha. Ap ne farmaya: “Yeh halal nahin.” Aurat naraz ho gai aur apni maan ke mashore se badshah se Hazrat Yahya علیہ السلام ka sar kaat kar laane ka mutaliba kar diya.
Badshah ne aik shakhas ko ap ka sar kaat kar laane ka hukam diya to woh Ap ka sar aik thaal mein rakh kar le aaya. Jab Ap ka sar us ke samne aaya to us mein se yahi awaz aa rahi thi. ” Halal nahin, Halal nahi.” Aakhir woh aurat zameen mein dhansa di gai.
Hazrat Zakriya علیہ السلام tabai andaaz se foat huaye ya unhein shaheed kiya gaya? Is bare mein Ulama-e-Kiraam ki do aara’a hein.
v Hazrat Wahab Bin Munabbah رحمہ اللہ se aik riwaayat hai, Unhon ne farmaya: “Ap apni qoam se bhag kar aik darakhat ke ander chup gaye. Dushmanon ne aari le kar darakhat kaatna shuru kar diya. Jab aari Ap ki pasliyon tak pohanchi to Ap ke munh se karaahne ki aawaz nikli. Allah T’aala ne wahi nazil farmai: Agar Ap ka karaahna band na huwa to mein poori zameen ko tamam makhlooqaat samet ulat (kar tabah kar) doon ga. Ap ne foran karaahna band kar diya hatta keh Ap ka jisam mubarak do tukde ho gaya.”
v Hazrat Wahab رحمہ اللہ hi se aik aur riwaayat hai, Ap ne armaya: “Darakhat ne phat kar panah Hazrat Shua’yya علیہ السلام ko di thi. Zakriya علیہ السلام taba’i tor par foat huaye.” (واللہ اعلم)
REFERENCE:
Book: “Qisas ul Anbiya” (Urdu)
By Hafiz Ibn Kaseer Rahimahullah.
Prophet Yahya (John)
John’s Childhood
John (pbuh) was born a stranger to the world of children who used to amuse themselves, as he was serious all the time. Most children took delight in torturing animals whereas, he was merciful to them. He fed the animals from his food until there was nothing left for him, and he just ate fruit or leaves of trees. John loved reading since childhood. When he grew up. Allah the Exalted called upon him:
“O John! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah).” And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. (Ch 19:12 Quran).
John’s Qualities
Allah guided him to read the Book of Jurisprudence closely; thus, he became the wisest and most knowledgeable man of that time. Therefore, Allah the Almighty endowed him with the faculties of passing judgments on people’s affairs, interpreting the secrets of religion, guiding people to the right path, and warning them against the wrong one.
John reached maturity. His compassion for his parents, as well as for all people and all creatures, increased greatly. He called people to repent their sins.
There are quite a number of traditions told about John. Ibn Asaker related that one time his parents were looking for him and found him at the Jordan River. When they met him, they wept sorely, seeing his great devotion to Allah, Great and Majestic.
Ibn Wahb said that, according to Malik, grass was the food of John Ibn Zakariyah, and he wept sorely in fear of Allah. A chain of narrators reported that Idris Al Khawlawi said: “Shall I not tell you he who had the best food? It is John Ibn Zakariyah, who joined the beasts at dinner, fearing to mix with men.”
Why John Always Wept
Ibn Mubarak stated that Wahb Ibn Al-Ward narrated that Zakariayah did not see his son for three days. He found him weeping inside a grave which he had dug and in which he resided. “My son, I have been searching for you, and you are dwelling in this grave weeping!” “O father, did you not tell me that between Paradise and Hell is only a span, and it will not be crossed except by tears of weepers?” He said to him: “Weep then, my son.” Then they wept together.
Other narrations say that John (pbuh) said: “The dwellers of Paradise are sleepless out of the sweetness of Allah’s bounty, that is why the faithful must be sleepless because of Allah’s love in their hearts. How far between the two luxuries, how far between them?”
They say John wept so much that tears marked his cheeks.
John’s Love of Nature
He found comfort in the open and never cared about food. He ate leaves, herbs, and sometimes locusts. He slept anywhere in the mountains or in holes in the ground. He sometimes would find a lion or a bear as he entered a cave, but being deeply absorbed in praising Allah, he never heeded them. The beasts easily recognized John as the prophet who cared for all the creatures, so they would leave the cave, bowing their heads.
John sometimes fed those beasts, out of mercy, from his food and was satisfied with prayers as food for his soul. He would spend the night crying and praising Allah for His blessings. When John called people to worship Allah, he made them cry out of love and submission, arresting their hearts with the truthfulness of his words.
A conflict took place between John and the authorities at that time. A tyrant king, Herod Antipas, the ruler of Palestine, was in love with Salome, his brother’s daughter. He was planning to marry his beautiful niece. The marriage was encouraged by her mother and by some of the learned men of Zion, either out of fear or to gain favor with the ruler.
On hearing the ruler’s plan, John pronounced that such a marriage would be incestuous. He would not approve it under any circumstance, as it was against the Law of the Torah.
John’s Cruel Death
John’s pronouncement spread like wildfire. Salome was angry, for it was her ambition to rule the kingdom with her uncle. She plotted to achieve her aim. Dressing attractively, she sang and danced before her uncle. Her arousing Herod’s lust. Embracing her, he offered to fulfill whatever she desired. At once she told him: “I would love to have the head of John, because he has defiled your honor and mine throughout the land. If you grant me this wish, I shall be very happy and will offer myself to you.” Bewitched by her charm, he submitted to her monstrous request. John was executed and his head was brought to Salome. The cruel woman gloated with delight. But the death of Allah’s beloved prophet was avenged. Not only she, but all the children of Israel were severely punished by invading armies which destroyed their kingdom.
REFERENCE:
Book: “Stories Of the Prophets”
By Al-Imam Ibn Katheer.