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Contents of "GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE QUR'AN"

STORIES OF THE PROPHET ZAKARIYYA (AS),
MARYAM (AS), THE PROPHET YAHYA (AS)
AND THE PROPHET 'ISA (AS)

This is news from the Unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their reeds to see which of them would be the guardian of Maryam. You were not with them when they quarrelled. (Surah Al 'Imran: 44)

Maryam's (as) Family and Nobility

Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of 'Imran over all other beings –descendants one of the other. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surah Al 'Imran: 33-34)

Maryam's (as) Birth

Remember when the wife of 'Imran said, 'My Lord, I have pledged to You what is in my womb, devoting it to Your service. Please accept my prayer. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.' When she gave birth, she said, 'My Lord! I have given birth to a girl' – and Allah knew very well what she had given birth to, male and female are not the same – 'and I have named her Maryam and placed her and her children in Your safekeeping from the accursed Satan.' (Surah Al 'Imran: 35-36)

Maryam (as) and the Prophet Zakariyya (as)

Her Lord accepted her with approval and made her grow in health and beauty. And Zakariyya became her guardian. Every time Zakariyya visited her in the Upper Room, he found food with her. He said, 'Maryam, how did you come by this?' She said, 'It is from Allah. Allah provides for whoever He wills without any reckoning.' (Surah Al 'Imran: 37)

And when the angels said, 'Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women. Maryam, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.' (Surah Al 'Imran: 42-43)

The Prophet Yahya's (as) Birth

Then and there Zakariyya called on his Lord and said, 'O Lord, grant me by Your favour an upright child. You are the Hearer of Prayer.' (Surah Al 'Imran: 38)

When he called on his Lord in secret and said, 'My Lord, my bones have lost their strength and my head is crowned with white, but in calling on You, My Lord, I have never been disappointed. I fear my relatives when I am gone and my wife is barren, so give me an heir from You to be my inheritor and the inheritor of the family of Ya'qub, and make him, my Lord, pleasing to You.' (Surah Maryam, 3-6)

Good News of Yahya is Given to the Prophet Zakariyya (as)

The angels called out to him while he was standing in prayer in the Upper Room: 'Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, who will come to confirm a Word from Allah, and will be a leader and a celibate, a Prophet and one of the righteous.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 39)

'Zakariyya! We give you the good news of a boy named Yahya, a name we have given to no one else before.' He said, 'My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached advanced old age?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for me to do. I created you before, when you were not anything."' He said, 'My Lord, give me a Sign.' He said, 'Your Sign is not to speak to people for three nights despite the fact that you are perfectly able to.' He came out to his people from the Upper Room and gestured to them to glorify Allah in the morning and the evening. 'Yahya, take hold of the Book with vigour.' We gave him judgement while still a child, and tenderness and purity from Us – he was conscientious –and devotion to his parents – he was not insolent or disobedient. Peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised up again alive. (Surah Maryam, 7-15)

He said, 'My Lord, appoint a Sign for me.' He said, 'Your Sign is that you will not speak to people for three days, except by gesture. Remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and after dawn.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 41)

Jibril Sent to Maryam (as) and Good News
of the Prophet 'Isa's (as) Birth

Mention Maryam in the Book, how she withdrew from her people to an eastern place, and veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' (Surah Maryam, 16-19)

When the angels said, 'Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near. He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous,' (Surah Al 'Imran, 45-46)

She said, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us." It is a matter already decreed.' So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. (Surah Maryam, 20-22)
She said, 'My Lord! How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?' He said, 'It will be so.' Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it, 'Be!' and it is. He will teach him the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Injil, as a Messenger to the tribe of Israel, saying: 'I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it and it will be a bird by Allah's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life, by Allah's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that if you are believers. (Surah Al 'Imran, 47-49)

Maryam's (as) Withdrawal to an Eastern Place

The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, 'Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!' A voice called out to her from under her, 'Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes. If you should see anyone at all, just say, "I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful and today I will not speak to any human being."' (Surah Maryam, 23-26)

Mention Maryam in the Book, how she withdrew from her people to an eastern place. (Surah Maryam, 16)

Aspersions Cast on Maryam (as) When She Returned to
Her People with Prophet 'Isa (as)

She brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, 'Maryam! You have done an unthinkable thing! Sister of Harun, your father was not an evil man nor was your mother an unchaste woman!' (Surah Maryam, 27-28)

The Prophet 'Isa's (as) Ability to Speak in the Cradle

She pointed towards him. They said, 'How can a baby in the cradle speak?' He said, 'I am the servant of Allah, He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am and directed me to perform prayer and give the welfare tax as long as I live, and to show devotion to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arrogant. Peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die and the day I am raised up again alive.' That is 'Isa, son of Maryam, the word of truth about which they are in doubt. (Surah Maryam, 29-34)


The Prophecy of the Prophet 'Isa (as)

And We sent 'Isa son of Maryam following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Injil containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 46)

We gave Musa the Book and sent a succession of Messengers after him. We gave 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Clear Signs and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. Why then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant, and deny some of them and murder others? (Surat al-Baqara, 87)

The Prophet 'Isa's (as) Call to Religion

And when 'Isa came with the Clear Signs, he said, 'I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore have fear of Allah and obey me. Allah is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. This is a straight path.' (Surat az-Zukhruf, 63-64)

And when 'Isa son of Maryam said, 'Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah which came before me and giving you the good news of a Messenger after me whose name is Ahmad.'When he brought them the Clear Signs, they said, 'This is downright magic.' (Surat as-Saff, 6)

The Prophet 'Isa's (as) Miracles

He will teach him the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel, as a Messenger to the tribe of Israel, saying: 'I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it and it will be a bird by Allah's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life, by Allah's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that if you are believers. I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear of Allah and obey me. Allah is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. That is a straight path.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 48-51)

And when 'Isa son of Maryam said, 'Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah which came before me and giving you the good news of a Messenger after me whose name is Ahmad.'When he brought them the Clear Signs, they said, 'This is downright magic.' (Surat as-Saff, 6)


The Disciples and the Prophet 'Isa (as)

When 'Isa sensed disbelief on their part, he said, 'Who will be my helpers to Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah. Bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and have followed the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 52-53)

And when I inspired the Disciples to believe in Me and in My Messenger, they said, "We believe. Bear witness that we are Muslims."' And when the Disciples said, ''Isa son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down a table to us out of heaven?' He said, 'Have fear of Allah if you are believers!' They said, 'We want to eat from it and for our hearts to be at peace and to know that you have told us the truth and to be among those who witness it.' 'Isa son of Maryam said, 'Allah, our Lord, send down a table to us out of heaven to be a feast for us, for the first and last of us, and as a Sign from You. Provide for us! You are the Best of Providers!' Allah said, 'I will send it down to you but if anyone among you is disbeliever after that, I will punish him with a punishment the like of which I will not inflict on anyone else in all the worlds!' (Surat al-Ma'ida, 111-115)

Conjecture of the Tribe of Israel That
They Killed the Prophet 'Isa (as)

They plotted and Allah plotted. But Allah is the best of plotters. When Allah said, ''Isa, I will take you back and raise you up to Me and purify you of those who are disbelievers. And I will place the people who follow you above those who are disbelievers until the Day of Rising. Then you will all return to Me, and I will judge between you regarding the things about which you differed. (Surah Al 'Imran, 54-55)

and their saying, 'We killed the Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam, Messenger of Allah.' They did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. Allah raised him up to Himself. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat an-Nisa', 157-158)

Perverted Beliefs Introduced After the Prophet 'Isa (as)

The Jews say, ''Uzayr is the son of Allah,' and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the son of Allah.' That is what they say with their mouths, copying the words of those who were disbelievers before. May Allah destroy them! How perverted they are! (Surat at-Tawba, 30)

People of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about Allah. The Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam, was only the Messenger of Allah and His Word, which He cast into Maryam, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not say, 'Three.' It is better that you stop. Allah is only One God. He is too Glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Allah suffices as a Guardian. The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant to Allah nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him, and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa', 171-172)

The Messiah, the son of Maryam, was only a Messenger, before whom other Messengers came and went. His mother was a woman of truth. Both of them ate food. See how We make the Signs clear to them! Then see how they are perverted! (Surat al-Ma'ida, 75)

They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Maryam. Yet they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no god but Him! Glory be to Him above anything they associate with Him! (Surat at-Tawba, 31)

Those who say that the Messiah, son of Maryam, is Allah are disbelievers. The Messiah said, 'Tribe of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. If anyone associates anything with Allah, Allah has forbidden him the Garden and his refuge will be the Fire.' The wrongdoers will have no helpers. Those who say that Allah is the third of three are disbelievers. There is no god but One God. If they do not stop saying what they say, a painful punishment will afflict those among them who are disbelievers. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 72-73)

Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent 'Isa son of Maryam after them, giving him the Injil.We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him.They invented monasticism – We did not prescribe it for them – purely out of desire to gain the pleasure of Allah, but even so they did not observe it as it should have been observed. To those of them who believed We gave their reward but many of them are deviators. (Surat al-Hadid, 27)

When an example is made of the son of Maryam your people laugh uproariously. They retort, 'Who is better then, our gods or him?' They only say this to you for argument's sake. They are indeed a disputatious people. He is only a servant on whom We bestowed Our blessing and whom We made an example for the tribe of Israel. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 57-59)