... Lord! Grant me—by your grace—righteous offspring. You are certainly the Hearer of ˹all˺ prayers.”

˹The angels announced,˺ “O Zachariah! Indeed, We give you the good news of ˹the birth of˺ a son, whose name will be John—a name We have not given to anyone before.” (7) He wondered, “My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren, and I have become extremely old?” (8) An angel replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, just as I created you before, when you were nothing!’” (9) Zachariah said, “My Lord! Grant me a sign.” He responded, “Your sign is that you will not ˹be able to˺ speak to people for three nights, despite being healthy.” (10) So he came out to his people from the sanctuary, signalling to them to glorify ˹Allah˺ morning and evening. (11) ˹It was later said,˺ “O John! Hold firmly to the Scriptures.” And We granted him wisdom while ˹he was still˺ a child, (12) as well as purity and compassion from Us. And he was God-fearing, (13) and kind to his parents. He was neither arrogant nor disobedient. (14) Peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day of his death, and the day he will be raised back to life! (15)