Reports on Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him)

Ikrimah reports from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: The explanation of "We have not given this name to anyone before" [Maryam: 7] is that no one before him had been named Yahya.

A report like this is also transmitted from Mujahid.

Mahdi transmits from Ikrimah the meaning of "And We gave him judgment while still a child": It refers to intellect.

Mujahid transmits the meaning of "And We gave him judgment while still a child" [Maryam: 12]: It refers to the Qur'an.

Mansur bin Safiyyah reports from his mother that she said: Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) entered the mosque while Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) had been hung on the cross. The people said: "Here is Sayyidah Asma, seated." He went to her, advised and admonished her, and said: "The body is nothing; it is the souls that reach Allah, so be patient and hope for the reward." She said: "What would keep me from patience, when the head of Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him) was given to an adulteress of the Children of Israel?"

Urwah said: Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him) was killed for the sake of an adulteress who said to her companion: "I will not be pleased with you until you bring me his head." He said: So he slaughtered him and brought his head to her in a basin.

It is transmitted from Mujahid, in the explanation of "We have not given this name to anyone before," that it refers to virtue like his.

Sa'id bin al-Musayyib reports from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Every person has either committed an error or intended an error, except Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him). Then he recited: "And a master, and one who abstains," then he picked up something from the ground and said: He had nothing more than this.

The meaning of "And a master, and one who abstains" [Al Imran: 39] is transmitted from Sa'id: "Forbearing."

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every person has either committed an error or intended an error, except Yahya bin Zakariyya (peace be upon him)."

It is transmitted from Mujahid, under "We have not given this name to anyone before," that its meaning is that no one like him had been made.