Mention of Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon them)

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) states: I was in a circle in the mosque; we were discussing the virtues of the prophets, and which of them was most excellent. We mentioned Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him), that he worshipped his Lord for a long time; we mentioned Sayyiduna Ibrahim, the Intimate Friend of the Most Merciful (peace be upon him); we mentioned Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), with whom Allah Almighty spoke; we mentioned Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him); and we mentioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). While we were in this state, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "What were you discussing?" We said: "We were discussing the virtues of the prophets, and which of them is most excellent. We mentioned Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him), that he worshipped his Lord for a long time; we mentioned Sayyiduna Ibrahim, the Intimate Friend of the Most Merciful (peace be upon him); we mentioned Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), with whom Allah Almighty spoke; we mentioned Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him); and, O Messenger of Allah, we mentioned you as well." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then whom did you declare most excellent?" We said: "O Messenger of Allah, we declared you most excellent, because Allah Almighty sent you to all of mankind, forgave your past and future sins, and you are the Seal of the Prophets." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is not fitting for anyone to be better than Yahya bin Zakariyya." We said: "O Messenger of Allah, how is that?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Have you not heard how he is described in the Qur'an: 'O Yahya, take hold of the Book with strength; and We gave him wisdom (that is, prophethood) while yet a child,' up to the words of Allah Almighty: 'alive'? (Allah Almighty says:) 'Confirming a word from Allah, a leader, chaste, and a prophet from among the righteous.'" (The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:) "He never did an evil deed, nor did he ever intend one."
Al-Bazzar and al-Tabarani recorded it; its chain contains Ali bin Zayd bin Jud'an, whom the majority declared da'if (weak), and the rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every one of the children of Adam has either committed a wrong or intended a wrong, except Sayyiduna Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him), who did not do so."
Ahmad and Abu Ya'la recorded it, and al-Bazzar also recorded it, adding these words: "He never intended it, and he never acted on it."
Al-Tabarani also recorded it. Its chain contains Ali bin Zayd, whom the majority declared da'if (weak), though he has also been declared trustworthy, and the rest of Ahmad's narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is not fitting for anyone to say: 'I am better than Sayyiduna Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him),' for he never even intended a sin (the narrator says: I think these words are also in the narration:) and he never acted upon (an evil)."
Al-Bazzar recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection every human being will come before Allah Almighty with some sin he has committed; if Allah Almighty wills, He will punish him for that sin, and if He wills, He will have mercy on him. Only the case of Sayyiduna Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him) is different, for he was a leader, chaste, a prophet, and one of the righteous." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached out his hand towards a small twig lying on the ground, took hold of it, and said: "His private part was like this twig."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains Hajjaj bin Sulayman al-Ru'ayni, whom Ibn Hibban and others declared thiqah (trustworthy) and Abu Zur'ah and others declared da'if (weak), and the rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).