Islamic Studies MCQs – Page 57 (Q561-570)

According to the Quran, Prophet Zakariya (AS) served as the guardian of Maryam (Mary) while she grew up in the sanctuary, caring for her development and witnessing remarkable signs of Allah's favor toward her, including finding her miraculously provided with food out of season whenever he visited her chamber. This close relationship placed Zakariya (AS) in a unique position to witness firsthand the extraordinary blessings surrounding Maryam even before the later miraculous announcement of Isa's (AS) birth. Inspired by what he witnessed of Allah's power to provide beyond ordinary means, Zakariya (AS) was moved to pray for a righteous son of his own despite his advanced age and his wife's inability to conceive, a prayer subsequently answered with the birth of Prophet Yahya (AS). This connection links the stories of Maryam and Zakariya's family closely together within the Quran.

Despite his old age and his wife's condition, Prophet Zakariya (AS) prayed to Allah for a righteous son, which was later granted, inspired by witnessing the miraculous provisions Allah granted to Maryam during her time in his guardianship at the sanctuary. His heartfelt supplication, recorded in Surah Maryam and Surah Aal-e-Imran, expressed both his physical frailty in old age and his sincere hope that Allah would grant him an heir to continue his prophetic legacy. Allah answered this prayer with the birth of Prophet Yahya (AS), a child described in the Quran as righteous, dutiful and given wisdom even in his youth. This story illustrates the broader Quranic theme that Allah's power to grant blessings is not limited by seemingly impossible natural circumstances.

As a sign confirming the good news of a son, Prophet Zakariya (AS) was unable to speak to people for three days, despite being physically capable of speech, a miraculous sign granted in response to his request for confirmation of the extraordinary news that he would become a father in his old age. During this period, the Quran describes him communicating with his people only through gestures, while continuing to glorify Allah privately, indicating that his silence was specifically a divine sign rather than any physical ailment. This temporary sign served to confirm the certainty of Allah's promise regarding Yahya's (AS) birth, reinforcing the miraculous nature of the coming blessing. This detail is recorded in both Surah Maryam and Surah Aal-e-Imran, underscoring its significance within the broader narrative of Zakariya's (AS) story.

Prophet Yahya (AS) is described in the Quran as having been given wisdom by Allah in childhood, an extraordinary blessing granted to him at a young age, distinguishing his prophetic development from the more typical pattern in which prophets received their missions in adulthood. This early wisdom, mentioned specifically in Surah Maryam, reflects the exceptional nature of his birth itself, granted to his elderly parents Zakariya (AS) and his wife as a direct answer to prayer. Yahya (AS) is further described in the Quran as righteous, dutiful to his parents, and free from arrogance or disobedience throughout his life. His story, closely connected to that of his father Zakariya (AS) and, by extension, Maryam and the eventual birth of Isa (AS), remains a significant narrative within the broader Quranic account of the later prophets.

According to the Quran, Prophet Yahya (AS) was given a name that had not been given to anyone before him, specifically the name 'Yahya' itself, a detail explicitly mentioned in Surah Maryam as part of the angelic announcement to his father Zakariya (AS) regarding the coming birth. This unique naming distinguishes Yahya (AS) among the prophets mentioned in the Quran, reflecting the exceptional and unprecedented nature of both his birth, granted to elderly parents, and his subsequent prophetic mission. Christian tradition identifies Yahya (AS) with John the Baptist, a cousin of Isa (AS) whose own miraculous birth would follow shortly after. This distinctive naming detail is frequently cited in Islamic studies as a notable and specific fact regarding his unique prophetic story.

Prophet Yahya (AS) is described in the Quran as righteous and dutiful from his youth, exhibiting exceptional moral character and devotion to Allah even as a young child, a quality explicitly praised in Surah Maryam alongside his being granted wisdom at an early age. This early righteousness distinguished him as an exemplary model of piety, kindness to his parents, and freedom from arrogance or rebellious behavior throughout his entire life, not merely after reaching adulthood or receiving formal prophethood. His story, closely intertwined with that of his father Zakariya (AS), illustrates the Quranic theme that righteousness and divine favor are not limited to any particular stage of life. Yahya's (AS) example remains frequently cited in Islamic teaching regarding the character expected of young believers.

Prophet Isa (AS) was born to Maryam (Mary), a righteous woman, without a human father, by Allah's command, an event described in the Quran (Surah Maryam and Surah Aal-e-Imran) as a miraculous sign of Allah's power to create as He wills. The Angel Jibreel (AS) announced this extraordinary pregnancy to Maryam, who, despite her initial astonishment and concern given her unmarried status, accepted the news with faith and submission to Allah's will. This virgin birth is presented in Islamic theology as evidence of Allah's complete power over creation, comparable in principle to His original creation of Prophet Adam (AS) without any parents at all. Maryam's exceptional piety and this miraculous birth together make her story one of the most significant narratives in the Quran.

As one of his miracles, Prophet Isa (AS) spoke to defend his mother's honor while still an infant in the cradle, addressing accusations against Maryam's chastity when she returned to her people carrying her newborn son without a husband. This remarkable early miracle, described in Surah Maryam, saw the infant Isa (AS) declare that he was a servant of Allah, given scripture and appointed as a prophet, immediately silencing those who doubted Maryam's righteousness. This miraculous speech at such an unusual stage of life stands as powerful evidence supporting both Isa's (AS) prophethood and his mother's complete innocence regarding the circumstances of his birth. This event remains one of the most distinctive and frequently cited miracles associated with Isa's (AS) early life in Islamic tradition.

The Injeel (Gospel) was the scripture given to Prophet Isa (AS), according to Islamic belief, recognized as one of the major revealed scriptures alongside the Tawrat (given to Musa AS), the Zabur (given to Dawud AS), and the Quran (given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). Muslims believe the Injeel originally conveyed pure monotheistic teaching consistent with the message of all prophets, calling people to worship Allah alone, though Islamic theology holds that its original text was altered by later generations, differing from the Gospels found in the Christian New Testament today. Isa (AS) is understood in Islamic tradition to have been a prophet and messenger, though not divine, distinguishing core Islamic belief from mainstream Christian theology regarding his nature. The Injeel's guidance is referenced within the broader Quranic narrative concerning Isa's (AS) prophetic mission.

By Allah's permission, Prophet Isa (AS) performed miracles including healing the blind and those with leprosy, demonstrations of divine power that served as clear signs supporting his prophethood among the Israelites to whom he was sent. These healing miracles, mentioned specifically in Surah Aal-e-Imran, are consistently framed in the Quran as occurring 'by Allah's permission' rather than through any inherent divine power of Isa (AS) himself, reinforcing the strict Islamic theological position that he remained fully human and a servant of Allah despite his extraordinary abilities. Alongside these healing miracles, Isa (AS) also spoke as an infant in the cradle and, according to the Quran, brought the dead back to life by Allah's leave. These signs collectively established the credibility of his prophetic mission to a skeptical audience.