يَحْيَىٰ
Yahya (John)
Given wisdom as a boy, and peace upon him the day he was born, dies, and is raised
Yahya's own story in the Quran is brief — the fuller account belongs to his father Zakariya's prayer for him — but what is said of Yahya himself is dense: given the Scripture and judgment while still a boy, marked by compassion, purity, God-fearing devotion, and gentleness toward his parents, and granted peace by name across the three thresholds every human being crosses. He is named among the righteous alongside Zakariya, Isa, and Ilyas — a prophet defined less by events than by character.
O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination
God addresses him directly by name: O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination. Judgment was given to him while he was still a boy, along with affection and purity from God, and he was one who feared God.
يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا
[Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy
وَحَنَانًۭا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةًۭ ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّۭا
And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah
Peace be upon him
He was dutiful to his parents and never a disobedient tyrant. The Quran closes his description with a blessing spanning his whole existence: peace be upon him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive.
وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّۭا
And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.
وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّۭا
And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.
All were of the righteous
Elsewhere the Quran names Yahya alongside his father — the angels' announcement to Zakariya calls him a prophet from among the righteous, confirming a word from God — and in a separate list he is named together with Zakariya, Isa, and Ilyas, with the single verdict: all were of the righteous.
فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, "Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous."
وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous.