19. Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا يَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ...   

19: 12.  (To his son came the command):

"O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might":

C2466. Time passes. The son is born. In this section of the Surah the centre of interest is Yahya, and the instruction is now given to him.

'Keep fast hold of Allah's revelation with all your might':

for an unbelieving world had either corrupted or neglected it, and Yahya (John the Baptist) was to prepare the way for, Jesus, who was coming to renew and re-interpret it.

...وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا ﴿١٢﴾

and We gave him wisdom even as a youth.

C2467. Hukm, translated Wisdom, implies something more than Wisdom;

it is the Wisdom or Judgment that is entitled to judge and command, as in the matter of denouncing sin.

وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَاةً وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا ﴿١٣﴾

19: 13.  And pity (for all creatures) as from Us, and purity: he was devout,

C2468. John the Baptist did not live long. He was imprisoned by Herod, the tetrarch (provincial ruler under the Roman Empire), whom he had reproved for his sins, and eventually beheaded at the instigation of the woman with whom Herod was infatuated. But even in his young life, he was granted,

-        wisdom by Allah, for he boldly denounced sin;

-        gentle pity and love for all Allah's creatures, for he moved among the humble and lowly, and despised "soft raiment";

-        and purity of life, for he renounced the world and lived in the wilderness.

All his work he did in his youth. These things showed themselves in his conduct, for he was devout, showing love to Allah and to Allah's creatures, and more particularly to his parents (for we are considering that aspect of his life): this was also shown by the fact that he never used violence, from an attitude of arrogance, nor entertained a spirit of rebellion against divine Law. (R).

Other versions:

19: 12

Asad [And when the son was born and grew up, he was told,] “O John! Hold fast unto the divine writ with [all thy] strength!” - - for We granted him wisdom while he was yet a little boy,

Yusuf Ali (To his son came the command): "O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might": and We gave him wisdom even as a youth.

Pickthall (And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold the Scripture. And We gave him wisdom when a child.

Transliteration Ya_ yahya_ khudzil kita_ba biquw wah wa a_taina_hul hukma sabiy ya_

19: 13

Asad as well as, by Our grace, [the gift of] compassion and purity; and he was [always] conscious of Us.

Yusuf Ali And pity (for all creatures) as from Us and purity: he was devout

Pickthall And compassion from Our presence, and purity; and he was devout,

Transliteration Wa hana_nam mil ladun na_ wa zaka_h wa ka_na taqiy ya_