Our Master Yahya peace be upon him Remains Steadfast to the Truth
When he was older, he became well known for being knowledgeable. He knew all the subjects in the Torah and their accompanying details. It was known among the people that he was courageous in saying the truth and severe to speak out against the misguided. He did not fear anyone’s blame nor any tyrants’ attack.
One day, Prophet Yahya learned that Hayroudus (Herod), the king of Palestine and one of the Israelite kings, had fallen in love with Hayroudiya, his stepdaughter. She was beautiful and attractive, and he had decided to marry her (and this is forbidden i.e. a sin). Her mother and relatives were encouraging this and helping him.
It was mentioned that this king respected Prophet Yahya and treated him well. He used to grant Prophet Yahya private sessions and would not do anything without first consulting him. When he asked about the rule of marrying his stepdaughter, Prophet Yahya prohibited him from doing this and said, “She is not marriageable to you, and it is unlawful for you to marry her.” This news spread throughout the city, and eventually reached the king’s wife, the mom of Haroudiya, who hated Yahya and wanted to harm him. Therefore, one day she dressed her daughter up, clothed her in a nice red outfit, and put perfume and jewelry on her. Then she covered her with a black cover. And sent her to the king, ordering her to seduce him and give him wine. If he wanted full access to her, then she was to refuse until he agreed to grant her whatever she wished; when he agreed to do this, she was to ask him to kill Yahya the son of Zakariya. Haroudiya did this until the King finally could not resist temptation and told her, “I will do whatever you wish.” Everyday from then on, she had a request that he would carry out for her.
When she saw that he was fulfilling her every wish she said, “I wish you to slaughter Yahya the son of Zakariya, the one who talked about both you and I and made our affair known to all.” When the king heard Yahya’s name, he was taken aback and said, “Be careful, ask me other than this.” She said, “This is the only request I have” and she tempted and seduced him until he agreed. He sent someone, and Prophet Yahya was killed on a stone in Jerusalem. It was mentioned that 70 Prophets had been killed on this stone. Then Prophet Yahya’s head was brought in on a tray. When the head was placed infront of the king it said, “It is not permissible for you to marry her. It is not permissible for you to marry her.” This increased the king’s fear, but it was too late. Within days the earth opened and swallowed up his palace, his family, and those who were with him. A drop of Prophet Yahya’s blood fell onto the floor and began to boil; this increased, even though dirt was placed on top of it. Only after Allah destroyed the people by sending an Angel to kill them, did the blood stop boiling.
As for, Haroudiya and her evil mother when they saw the head they said, “Today we have feasted our eyes.” Then they went to the roof of the palace and fell to the ground, where wild dogs were waiting for them. The dogs attacked them and broke their bones and chewed their skin, while they could see this sight and were yelling and screaming. The last thing the dogs ate were the eyes, as an example to others.
When Prophet Zakariya heard that his son was killed, he was saddened by this and left the city to a garden by Jerusalem. The soldiers of the king followed him to capture and kill him. He passed by a tree which called out to him, “Oh Prophet of Allah, enter me.” By the will of Allah, it opened, Prophet Zakariya entered it, and then it closed again, while he was in the middle. Iblis, the enemy of Allah, came and took hold of the edge of Prophet Zakariya’s garment and stuck it out from the tree. Then he took the shape of a human and when the soldiers came he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said, “We want Zakariya.” He said, “He did some magic on this tree so it opened and he is now inside of it.” They said, “We don’t believe you.” He said, “I can show you something that will make you believe me.” He took them to the tree Zakariya was in and showed them the edge of his garment. They took axes and cut the tree down and then sawed it into parts; Prophet Zakariya died while inside of it. Iblis then was no longer visible to the people. Allah then sent Angels who washed, shrouded, and prayed on Prophet Zakariya’s body.
