The story of Yahya a.s. (John Baptist) as told in the Qur’an and the New Testament

Abstract

UDK: 28-27
          27-36:28

Yahya  (John Baptist) the son of Zakariyah (Zechariah), is considered a prophet in Islam and Christianity and is mentioned in the Qur’an and the New Testament. In both the scriptures, he is mentioned in connection to Isa a.s. (Jesus) and his mission, he is regarded to be the herald of the coming of Isa a.s. (Jesus). The Qur’anic text gives a brief story on him, his birth which is to some extent miraculous (being born by a father of an elderly age and a previously barren mother), stressing his significance in announcing the even more miraculous birth of Isa a.s., born by a virgin mother, without a father. In the Qur’an we only find a story that presents his moral virtues and that is complemented by a few hadith that also speak in this regard. However, the New Testament story on Yahya a.s. (John the Baptist) is much more elaborate. He has a significant role in Christianity as he is considered the last and the greatest prophet. His mission as a precursor of Jesus’s arrival, the prophet who baptized Jesus in the river Jordan is described in detail. The New Testament also gives us details on the circumstances of the death of John the Baptist.