Al-Qur'an Surah Maryam Verse 12

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(When the child was born, Allah said to him,) “O YaHyā, hold on to the Book firmly.” And We gave him wisdom, while he was still a child,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹It was later said,˺ “O John! Hold firmly to the Scriptures.” And We granted him wisdom while ˹he was still˺ a child,

Ruwwad Translation Center

[Allah said], “O John, hold the Scripture with all your strength.” And We gave him wisdom when he was still a child,

A. J. Arberry

'O John, take the Book forcefully'; and We gave him judgment, yet a little child,

Abdul Haleem

[We said], ‘John, hold on to the Scripture firmly.’ While he was still a boy, We granted him wisdom,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O Yahya! se hold fast the book. And We vouchsafed unto him wisdom, while yet a child.

Abdullah 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,

Abul Ala Maududi

"O John! Hold the Book with all your strength." We had bestowed wisdom upon him while he was still a child;

Ahmed Ali

(We said:) "O John, hold fast to the Book;" and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood,

Ahmed Raza Khan

“O Yahya – hold the Book firmly”; and We gave him Prophethood in his infancy. (Prophet Yahya was only 2 years old at that time.)

Ali Quli Qarai

‘O John!’ [We said,] ‘Hold on with power to the Book!’ And We gave him judgement while still a child,

Ali Ünal

(John was born and when he grew up, We commanded him:) "O John! Hold fast to the Book (the Torah) with (all your) strength!" And We granted him sound, wise judgment (and true understanding of God’s Law) while he was yet a little boy;

Amatul Rahman Omar

(We said to John,) `Yahyâ! hold fast the (divine) Book.´ And while he was yet a child We gave him wisdom,

English Literal

You John/Yahya, take The Book with power/strength, and We gave/brought him the judgment/rule (as) a boy/child/infant.

Faridul Haque

"O Yahya - hold the Book firmly"; and We gave him Prophethood in his infancy. (Prophet Yahya was only 2 years old at that time.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Then he went forth unto his people from the chamber, and he made signs to them, "Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night."

Hilali & Khan

(It was said to his son): "O Yahya (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So he went forth to his people from the sanctuary and proclaimed to them: Glorify (Allah) morning and evening.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O Yahya! take hold of the Book with strength, and We granted him wisdom while yet a child

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

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

Muhammad Sarwar

We commanded John, Zachariah's son, to follow the guidance of the Lord with due steadfastness. To John We gave knowledge and wisdom to John during his childhood.

Qaribullah & Darwish

(We said): 'O John, hold fast to the Book', and We bestowed on him judgment while yet a child

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

(It was said to his son): "O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.

Wahiduddin Khan

To John We said, "Hold fast the Book," and while he was still a child, We bestowed upon him wisdom,

Talal Itani

“O John, hold on to the Scripture firmly,” and We gave him wisdom in his youth.

Tafsir jalalayn

And two years after his birth, God, exalted be He, said to him; `O John! Hold on to the Scripture, namely, the Torah, firmly', earnestly. And We gave him judgement, prophethood, while still a child, a three-year old;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics

This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says,

يَا يَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ

O Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture (the Tawrah).

Means, "Learn the Book with strength."

In other words, learn it well, with zeal and studious effort.

وَاتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا



And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.

This means he was given understanding, knowledge, fortitude, diligence and zeal for good and the pursuit of good. He was blessed with these characteristics even though he was young.

Allah said