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| 38. Then and there did Zachariah pray to his Lord, saying, `My Lord grant me from Thyself pure offspring; surely thou art the Hearer of Prayer.' 39. And the angels called to him 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. 40. He said `My Lord, how shall I have a son, when old age has overtaken me already, and my wife is barren ?' He answered, `Such is the way of ALLAH; HE does what HE pleases,' 41. He said `My Lord, give me a commandment.' He replied, `The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not speak to men for three days except by signs. And remember thy Lord much and glorify HIM in the evening and in the early morning.' 42. And remember when the angels said, `ALLAH has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above all women of the time. 43. `O Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and prostrate thyself and worship the one God with those who worship HIM.' 44. This is of the tidings of things unseen which WE reveal to thee. And thou was not with them when they cast their arrows, as to which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor was thou with them when they disputed with one another. 45. When the angels said, `O Mary, ALLAH gives thee glad tidings of a son through a word from HIM; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God; |
