The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 44
CH. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN PT. 3 فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَبِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَابِعُ يُصَلِّي فِي And the angels called to him. 40 الْمِحْرَابِ اَنَّ اللهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَخي مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَ سَيْدًا وَّ حَصُورًا وَ نَبِيَّا مِنَ الصَّلِحِينَ as "he stood praying in the chamber: Allah gives thee glad tidings of Yahya, who shall testify to the truth of a word from Allah-noble and chaste and a Prophet, from among the righteous. '330 a19:13. 19:8; 21:91. 3:46; 4:172. 330. Important Words: actually killed, as hinted in the Quranic verse, We have not made anyone before him of that name (19:8; cf. Luke 1:61). . i. e حصر chaste is derived from) حصور he was or became unable to express his mind by reason of shame, etc. means, he became impeded and حصر عنه ,means حصر عن المرأة. was unable to do it (Yaḥyā or John) is the name of the Prophet who appeared before Jesus to serve as his harbinger in fulfilment of the Biblical prophecy (Mal. 3:1 and 4:5). The Hebrew form is which in that language means, God has been gracious (Enc. Brit. ). The name Yaḥyā was given by God Himself and was meant to point to a distinctive characteristic of his (19:8). In Arabic, the word is derived from the root (life) and means, he lives or he shall live. The implication in the name was that he would not die in childhood but would live to the age of manhood or that he would lead a righteous life. The fact that Yaḥyā did not die a natural death but was killed (Matt. 14:10) shows yet another implication in the name, i. e. that he would die the death of a martyr and would thus live forever in the sight of God. Says the Quran, Think not of those who have been slain in the cause of Allah as dead. Nay, they are living in the presence of their Lord and are granted gifts from Him (3:170). Yaḥyā is probably the only known Israelite Prophet who was حصر السر he abstained or kept away from sexual intercourse with the woman, whether intentionally or through impotence. means, he concealed the secret and refrained from divulging it. means, he prevented or restrained him. therefore, means, one who has no sexual حصور intercourse with women, though able to have it, abstaining from them from a motive of chastity and for the sake of shunning worldly pleasures; or one who is prevented from having it by impotence; or one who does not desire them; one very careful and cautious, who abstains or refrains from a thing through fear, etc. ; concealer of a secret or secrets; one who abstains from evil passions and frivolous games and sport (Lane & Aqrab). 484