A name never given to anyone before him, and a childhood full of wisdom.
يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ
His story
Allah gave him his name Himself: no one had been called Yahya before 19:7. He was given wisdom while still a child, tenderness from Allah, and purity 19:12-13.
He was devoted to his parents, and was not arrogant or disobedient 19:14. Peace was on him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive 19:15. He confirmed a word from Allah, and was noble and chaste 3:39.
On the Night Journey, the Prophet ﷺ met him with his cousin 'Isa in the second heaven Bukhari 3207.
Moments
- 01
The name
When Zakariya received the good news of a son, Allah named the child Himself: "His name will be Yahya. We have not given this name to anyone before." A name chosen by Allah for a child no one thought would be born.
- 02
Wisdom as a child
Allah told him: "O Yahya, take hold of the Book with strength." He was given wisdom as a child, tenderness from Allah, and purity, and he was mindful of Allah. "Peace be upon him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive."
What he did when…
Allah praised Yahya as "dutiful to his parents, and he was not arrogant or disobedient." His elderly parents had waited their whole lives for him, and he was good to them.
"We gave him wisdom as a child." Yahya was told to hold the Book with strength while still young. You do not need to be old to be wise, or to be serious about your faith.
If your child carries this name
يحيى Yahya
Yahya means "he lives". It is the one name in this tree Allah chose before anyone else used it. It is a gentle name for a gentle child who honours his parents.
Sources on this page
Quran 19:7Quran 19:12Quran 19:12-15Quran 19:14
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.