Yahya; A Prophet Who Endorsed Jesus
He played a major role in endorsing and promoting the prophethood of Jesus Christ (AS).
Yahya was among the prophets of Bani Isra’il. There are different views regarding his name, which means the ‘one that lives and is not dead’. Some, for example, say he was named Yayha because God graced his parents with giving him to them although his mother had been deemed infertile. Others say God gave him life with faith or gave life to his heart with the position of prophethood.
Yahya became a messenger of God in childhood. God granted him great wisdom and prudence in an early age so that he can be appointed to prophethood.
In the Quran, God says about Yahya: “We gave him compassion and purity. He was a pious human being.” (Surah Maryam, Verse 13) He is also introduced as the one who endorsed Jesus Christ (AS).
Christians call him John the Baptist as Jesus was baptized by him.
Yahya propagated the religion of Moses (AS) and when Jesus was appointed to prophethood, he promoted his faith. In historical accounts, Yahya, who was six months or three years older than Jesus, has been named as the first person who endorsed Jesus. Because Yahya was known among people for his piety and purity, his endorsement was very effective in people accepting Jesus’ call.
In historical and religious sources, Yahya is known for five major points, namely believing in Jesus, superiority in knowledge and action, generosity, piety, and greatness. He is said to have cried a lot and wore clothes made of wool.
His name is mentioned five times in four Surahs of the Quran. The story of his birth and some of his characteristics are mentioned in Surah Maryam. God says about him: “Peace be upon him on the day he was born and the day he dies, and on him the day when he is raised up alive.” (Verse 15 of Surah Maryam)
There are stories about Yahya in the Bible that are quite similar to those in the Quran. The story about Zakariya receiving the news of his birth comes in the Gospel of Luke. The main points about Yahya mentioned in the Bible include his endorsement of Jesus, promoting his religion and baptizing him.
Yahya, like his father Zakariya, was murdered. Once a king of Bani Israil fell in love with one of his relatives and wanted to marry her but Yahya opposed it. The girl said she would agree to marry the king if he kills Yahya and send her his head. The king ordered his killing and sent Yahya’s head to her in a golden plate.
There are different sites said to be the burying place of Yahya, with the most famous one being the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. His body is said to have been buried there while his head was buried in the city’s al-Zabadani neighborhood.
