Sparrow said, "O Vulture, my brother, tell us about another new-born baby who could speak in the cradle!" Vulture silance, looking around, then replied, "I'd like too, but it would be better that someone else tell you the story." Sparrow asked, "So, who would be the one?" Vulture called, "O my sister Wary, come forward!" Cassowary stepped forward, smiling, then greeted, "Assalaamualaykum, my brothers and sisters!" The birds responsed, "Wa 'alaykumussalaam warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh!" Vulture then said, "O Wary, tell us about the story of Prophet 'Isa, alayhissalam!"
Cassowary paused for a moment, then said, "I do not know why they killed the prophets. But as far as I know, the killings of the 'ulama have been taken place until now, both character assassination or imprisonment, and actual killings. Everything they've done so that nobody dissuade their desire." Allah says,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
"Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment." - (QS.3:21)
The Prophets conveyed to them what Allah legislated for them, but they killed them, without cause or criminal behavior committed by these Prophets, for they only called them to the truth. And they also killed men who order just dealings, thus, this demostrating the worst type of arrogance."
"O my brothers and sisters, Allah has chosen Adam, Nuh, the family of Ibrahim and the family of Imran over the people of the earth. For instance, Allah chose Adam, alayhissalam, created him with His Hand and blew life into him. Allah commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam, taught him the names of everything and allowed him to dwell in Paradise, but then sent him down from it out of His wisdom.
Prophet Nuh and Ibrahim, alayhimussalam, each of these two Prophets had special qualities. When Allah caused the people of the earth to drown, except those who believed in Nuh and accompanied him in the ark, Allah made the offspring of Nuh the dwellers of the earth thereafter. Ever since that occurred, the people of the earth were and still are the descendants of Nuh. Allah chose Nuh, alayhissalam, and made him the first Messenger to the people of the earth, when the people worshipped idols and associated others with Allah in worship. Allah avenged the way Nuh was treated, for he kept calling his people day and night, in public and in secret, for a very long time. However, his calling them only made them shun him more, and this is when Nuh supplicated against them. So Allah caused them to drown, and none among them was saved, except those who followed the religion that Allah sent to Nuh.
As for Prophet Ibrahim, alayhissalam, Allah did not send a Prophet after him but from his descendants. Allah also chose the household of Ibrahim, alayhissalam, including the master of all mankind, and the Final Prophet, Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah also chose the household of Imran, the father of Maryam bint Imran, the mother of 'Isa, alayhimussalam. 'Isa is from the offspring of Ibrahim. 'Isa is included among Ibrahim’s progeny through his mother, although Isa did not have a father. The grandchildren from a man’s daughter’s side are included among his offspring. When a man leaves behind a legacy, a trust, or gift to his “ offspring”, then the children of his daughters are included. But if a man gives something to his “sons”, or he leaves a trust behind for them, then that would be particular to his male children and their male children. Allah says,
وَمِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَإِخْوَانِهِمْ وَاجْتَبَيْنَاهُمْ وَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
"And [some] among their fathers and their descendants and their brothers - and We chose them and We guided them to a straight path." - (QS.6:87)
According to At-Tabari, the Persians assert that sixty-five years after Alexander seized Babylonia, and fifty-one years after Arsacid rule began, Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, gave birth to Prophet 'Isa, alayhissalam . But the Christians assert that Prophet 'Isa was born to her 303 years after Alexander conquered Babylonia , and that Prophet Yahya-John the Baptist-was born six months before Prophet 'Isa. They report that Maryam was pregnant with 'Isa when she was thirteen years old. They also report that Prophet 'Isa lived thirty-two years and a few days before his ascension, and that Maryam lived six more years after his ascension, altogether over fifty years. They assert that Prophet Yahya and Prophet 'Isa, alaihimassalam, met in the Jordan River when Prophet 'Isa was thirty years of age, and that Prophet Yahya was slain before the ascension of Prophet 'Isa.
Prophet Zechariah bin Berechiah-other said he was Zechariah bin Ladun-the father of Prophet Yahya bin Zechariah, and 'Imran bin Mathan-other said that he was Imran bin Naushi-the father of Maryam, were married to two sisters. One of the two sisters, Elizabeth bint Faqudh bin Qabil, was married to Prophet Zechariah-she was the mother of Prophet Yahya; the other, Hanna bint Faqudh bin Qabil, was with 'Imran, and she was the mother of Maryam. 'Imran died when the mother of Maryam was pregnant with her. Imran and Zechariah, both descendants of Prophet Daud, alayhissalam.
All the prophets, whether they were kings or rulers, all used to earn there livelihood by their own hands and none of them were a burden upon the shoulders of others. Thus, when any prophets called his people towards guidance, he said to them, "I do not ask of you any reward for conveying this message. My reward is only from Allah." Hence, Prophet Zechariah, alayhissalam, used to earn his livelihood from carpentry.
Imran and his wife, Hanna, were two very pious people but had no children. Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned that Hanna could not have children and that one day, she saw a bird feeding its chick. She wished she could have children and supplicated to Allah to grant her offspring. Allah accepted her supplication, and when her husband slept with her, she became pregnant. She vowed to make her child concentrate on worship and serving Bayt Al-Maqdis (the Masjid in Jerusalem), when she became aware that she was pregnant. She didn't know then what she would give birth to, a male or a female.
Allah says,
إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
"[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of 'Imran said, 'My Rabb, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.'" - (QS.3:35)
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنْثَى وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالأنْثَى وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
"But when she delivered her, she said, 'My Rabb, I have delivered a female.' And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, 'And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah].'" - (QS.3:36)
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ هَذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
"So her Rabb accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, 'O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?' She said, 'It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.'" - (QS.3:37)
In answer to the prayer of Hanna, a girl was bom to her whose name was given Maryam, and according an oath sworn by her. It is allowed to give a name to the newly bom the day it is born, which is also a part of the law of those who were before us. Qatadah narrated that Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, that Samurah bin Jundub said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, " Every new born boy held in security by his 'Aqiqah, until his seventh day, a sacrifice is offered on his behalf, he is given a name, and the hair on his head is shaved." [HR Ahmad, graded sahih by at-Tirmidhi]
Allah has accepted Maryam as a result of her mother’s vow and that He made her conduct becoming, her mannerism delightful and He made her well liked among people. He also made her accompany the righteous people, so that she learned righteousness, knowledge and religion. She was offered for the service of the place of worship. There was same difference of opinion regarding who was to take care of Maryam. Hence, lot went to the name of Prophet Zechariah, alayhissalam.
Allah made Prophet Zechariah, Maryam’s guardian for her benefit, so that she would learn from his tremendous knowledge and righteous conduct, He was the husband of her maternal aunt, as Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Jarir stated, or her brother-in-law, as mentioned in the Sahih, "When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya and `Isa who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said to me, 'These are Yahya and 'Isa; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
In general terms, in this case, Maryam was under the care of her maternal aunt. The Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) decided that ‘Amarah, the daughter of Hamzah, be raised by her maternal aunt, the wife of Jafar bin Abi Talib, saying, "The maternal aunt is just like the mother."
When Maryam reached her age of understanding, Prophet Zechariah arranged for her a private chamber, a mihrab, near the place of worship where she could in her own privacy remain busy with meditation and worship and from there she could go to spend the nights with her aunt, Prophet Zecharia's wife. Allah then emphasizes Maryam’s honor and virtue at the place of worship she attended. Every time Prophet Zechariah entered the Mihrab to visit her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He would find with her the fruits of the summer during winter, and the fruits of the winter during summer. When Prophet Zechariah would see this, he said, "O Maryam! From where have you gotten this?" She said , "This is from Allah!"
When Prophet Zechariah saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own. By then, Prophet Zechariah had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair. His wife was an old women who was barren. Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret. Allah says,
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
"At that, Zechariah called upon his Rabb, saying, 'My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.'" - (QS.3:38)
ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً (a good offspring) meaning a righteous offspring.
Allah told us about the good news that the angels delivered to Prophet Zechariah,
فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَى مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
"Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, (saying), 'Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, believing in the Word from Allah, and Sayyidan, and Hasuuran, a Prophet, from among the righteous.'" - (QS.3:39)
Qatadah and other scholars said that he was called Yahya (literally, 'he lives’) because Allah filled his life with faith. "Believing in the Word from Allah" means believing in Isa, son of Maryam. The word سَيِّدًا "Sayyidan" means, a wise man. Ibn 'Abbas, Ath-Thawri and Ad-Dahhak said that Sayyidan means, “The noble, wise and pious man.” Said bin Al-Musayyib said that Sayyid is the scholar and Faqih. ‘Atiyah said that Sayyid is the man noble in behavior and piety. Ikrimah said that it refers to a person who is not overcome by anger, while Ibn Zayd said that it refers to the noble man. Mujahid said that Sayyidan means, honored by Allah.
Hasuuran, does not mean he refrains from sexual relations with women, but that he is immune from illegal sexual relations. This does not mean that he does not marry women and have legal sexual relations with them.
When Prophet Zechariah heard the good news, he started contemplating about having children at his age.
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلامٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِيَ الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِي عَاقِرٌ قَالَ كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ
"He said, 'My Rabb, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?' The angel said, 'Such is Allah ; He does what He wills.'" - (QS.3:40)
In another ayat, Allah says,
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا
"He said, 'My Rabb, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?" - (QS.19:8)
The Allah says,
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ
"So We responded to him, and We gave to him Yahya, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive." - (QS:21:90)
Next, Allah says,
قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِي آيَةً قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلا رَمْزًا وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالإبْكَارِ
"He said, 'My Rabb, make for me a sign.' He Said, 'Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Rabb much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning.'" - (QS.3:41)
Regarding the events of Prophet Zechariah's life, the most important point in the verse wherein he is informed not to talk to people by word of month for three days. This is to as a sign from Allah that he should only converse with them by means of signs. For three days, there was going to be hindrance in his tongue. The Salaaf are also agreed that he was not going to fast from speech during that time. And no one says hat he was going to become dumb during that period.
