سورة آل عِمرَان
Surah Al-i-‘Imrân 3:41
Family of Amran · Verse 41 of 200
قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِي آيَةً ۖ قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًا ۗ وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ
Abdul Mannan Omar
He said, `My Lord! give me some instruction.´ (The Lord) said, `The instruction for you is that you shall not speak to the people for three days (and nights) except by gestures, and remember your Lord a good deal and glorify (Him) in the evening and early (in the) morning.´
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
He said: "O my Lord! Give me a Sign!" "Thy Sign," was the answer, "Shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord again and again, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."
Ahmed Ali
And Zachariah said: "Give me a token, O Lord." "The token will be," was the reply, "that you will speak to no man for three days except by signs; and remember your Lord much, and pray at evening and sunrise."
12 more translations
Ali Unal
"Lord," he (Zachariah) entreated, "appoint a sign for me." "Your sign," He said, "is that you will not be able to speak to people for three days except by gesture. And (meanwhile) remember and mention your Lord much and glorify Him in the afternoon and the early hours of morning."
Daryabadi
He said: my Lord! appoint unto me a sign. Allah said: thy sign is that thou shalt not speak unto mankind for three days save by beckoning; and remember thy Lord much and hallow Him in the evening and morning.
Faridul Haque
He said, “My Lord! Determine a sign for me”; He said, “The sign is that you shall not be able to speak to mankind for three days except by signs; and remember your Lord profusely, and proclaim His Purity before sunset and at dawn.”
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He said: My Lord, appoint a sign for me. Said He: Thy sign is that thou speak not to men for three days except by signs. And remember thy Lord much and glorify (Him) in the evenings and early morning.
Maulvi Sher Ali
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.'
Muhammad Asad
[Zachariah] prayed: "O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!"
Muhammad Musin Khan
He said: "O my Lord! Make a sign for me." Allah said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much (by praising Him again and again), and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning."
Muhammad Pickthall
He said: My Lord! Appoint a token for me. (The angel) said: The token unto thee (shall be) that thou shalt not speak unto mankind three days except by signs. Remember thy Lord much, and praise (Him) in the early hours of night and morning.
Muhammad Sarwar
Zachariah prayed to God saying, "Lord, show me the evidence (that it is Divine revelation)." The Lord replied, "You must not speak to people for three days except with gestures. Commemorate your Lord often and glorify Him in the early mornings and the evenings."
Muhammed ali Shakir
He said: My Lord! appoint a sign for me. Said He: Your sign is that you should not speak to men for three days except by signs; and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and the morning.
Rashad Khalifa
He said, "My Lord, give me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three days, except through signals. Commemorate your Lord frequently; and meditate night and day."
Shabbir Ahmed
Thankful, Zakariya asked, “My Lord! Give a message to me.” He said, “The message to you is that you shall not speak to people for three days (and nights), except by signs. Remember your Lord much and keep striving in His cause night and day.”
Commentary 3:41 Zachariah was simply commanded not to speak to anyone: he was not struck dumb, as the New Testament narrative relates (Luke 1:20-22). The instruction was…
قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً ۖ قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًا ۗ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ
3:41 Zachariah was simply commanded not to speak to anyone: he was not struck dumb, as the New Testament narrative relates (Luke 1:20-22). The instruction was for Zachariah’s utter self-abandonment to prayer and contemplation. Yahya (John), son of Zachariah, was the Prophet who appeared in fulfilment of the biblical prophecy (Matt. :1, 4:5). The Hebrew form is Yohanna, which means Allâh has been gracious. The name Yahya was a Prophetic name to indicate that he will live long (cf. 19:2-15).