Part 04: Page 08

THE LIST, A Synopsis of Luke 1.

In the days of Herod, King of Judaea. (Luke 1:5) A priest named Zacharias, of the course of A-bi-a. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron. Both were righteous, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. They had no child, Elizabeth was barren. Both were well stricken in years. He was troubled and fear fell upon him. Fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard. Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. Thou shalt call his name John (God named him) In the spirit and power of El-i-as I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God. Elizabeth conceived, five months. This is the sixth month with her, who was called barren When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. Elizabeth's full time came and she brought forth a son. The child was circumcised on the eighth day. All in Judea wondered what manner of child shall he be! And the hand of the Lord was upon him. The Lord God of Israel visited and redeemed His people. He hath raised up a horn of salvation for Israel in the house of his servant David. (1:69) His coming was spake by the mouth of his prophets, of ages past. To 'perform the mercy promised' to our fathers. For Israel to remember God's 'holy covenant'. The oath which he swore to our father Abraham. Thou child shall be called prophet of the Highest To prepare the way of the Lord. And to guide Israel 'into the way of peace'.

Points To Ponder Over:

Look at the volume of information, speculative and impertinent.

John's coming was divinely designed and executed, his advent being purposeful. Like the weaving of a spider's web in its meticulous artistry, its implementation was likewise materializing step by step with automatic precision.

Except for mentioning that Zacharias was 'troubled and fear fell upon him', Luke's narrative though brimful as it seemed is completely devoid of the most vital point

He was silent on the reason of what was the cause that terrified Zacharias's soul. Luke could not touch on that for none but Allah knew what was pricking the conscience of this individual. This man of God intuitively knew he was the only surviving hope in Israel's spiritual destiny and God alone his ultimate refuge. What was on Zacharias's mind, his confession and his petition communicated to God from the depth of his heart became known not until God in turn revealed them 600 years later, in the opening verses of Surah Mariam. Let us follow the trace of what developed then and thereafter.

Qur'an 3: 37 - 38

"He said, 'O Mary whence has thou this?' She replied, 'it is from Allah.'

"Then and there did Zachariah pray to his Lord, saying, 'O my Lord, grant me from Thyself pure offspring; surely Thou art the Hearer of prayer'".

God's response

Quran:

1. We heard his prayer 2. Bestowed on him Yahya (John) 3. Cured his wife for him 4. They called on Us in hope and in fear.

Bible:

1. Fear not Zacharias 2. Thy prayer is heard 3. Thy wife shall bear thee a son, whose name is John. 4. He shall go In the spirit and power of El-i-as.

Commentary by J.M.Rodwell p. 309 (6)

'The word rendered descendants is a collective noun.Gerock (p.20) thinks that Zacharias' prayer was not for a son of his own, but for an adopted son - as, for instance, the future husband of Mary who might become his heir, and hence accounts for his surprise and unbelief at the announcement of John.

Knowledge of the Unseen:

This is accessing knowledge in the realm of the Unseen the revelation of which only Allah Himself can divulge in such proportion as pleases Him.

'This is part of the tidings of the things Unseen which We reveal unto thee.' Qur'an 3: 44

'This is a Glorious Qur'an in a Tablet securely preserved'. 85: 21

Zachariah:

His S.O.S was a distress call unto Allah

Allah:

His was a response of 'kun, fa yakoon' (be, and it is so).

It must be clearly stated that the process of kun fa yakoon is a process whereby which Allah facilities a way. See Part One of these presentations where the process is explained as an after process, as is in verse 3:59 as explained, where Allah says that after He created Adam and Jesus, then, thereafter (Thumma) He said Kun Fa Yakoon. Verse 21:90 clarifies this

"So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya; We cured his wife for him...."