Murder of Prophet Yahya and Zakariya AS

The Banu Isra'il were going through extreme mischief. The King Herod Anitpas was madly in love with his sister-in-law (brother's wife) and they had illicit relationship. He wanted to marry her, but that was disallowed in their religion (as taught by Prophet Musa AS). He sought a ruling in his favour from Sayyidina Yahya AS, but he told him that she was not lawful to him. On hearing this, his beloved was enraged and thought to herself that she would get rid of Sayyidina Yahya AS. Salumi was a great dancer and very beautiful. Her mother conspired with her that she should dance before the king in near nudity and give him much wine to intoxicate him deeply. When he made advances, she should ask him for Sayyidina Yahya AS head Salumi did as her mother said to her. While dancing, she stripped herself of her garments one by one, and made the king drink plenty of wine. When he sought to make love to her, she asked for Sayyidina Yahya AS to be killed, and he gave orders accordingly. The Prophet's head was brought to the king in a golden tray. A miracle was displayed. The head spoke the same words, "she is not lawful for you". The king and his courtiers were stupefied on hearing that.

When Sayyidina Yahya AS learnt that his son was killed, he cursed his murederers and they died at the instant. When people learnt of that they seized revenge from Sayyidina Yahya AS and slew him while he was in his chambers. However, these events brought a spate of misfortunes on Banu Isra'il. Allah caused Bakht Nasr to oppress them He played havoc with them and levelled down their city and temple and arrested every surviving one fo them. Allah destroys the tyrants in this way.

Allamah Ibn Kathir has written in al-Bidayahh wa an-Nihayah: Many reasons are mentioned for killing Sayyidina Yahya AS. The most well-known of them is that the king of Damascus wanted to marry a woman who was closely related to him which made her unlawful for him. Sayyidina Yahya AS disallowed him to do that. Hence, the woman demanded from the king that the Prophet should be killed. When the head of Sayyidina Yahya AS was brought in a tray, the woman looked at it and died at the very moment. Some others say that the Queen was in love with Sayyidina Yahya AS and asked him to meet her but he declined. Disappointed, she had the king order his death. At first the king hesitated but then gave in. The Prophet was killed and his head was presented in a tray to the king,

Thawri reported on the authority of Thamar ibn Atiyah that as many as seventy Prophets AS were martyred at the rock of Bayt al Maqdis, Sayyidina Yahya AS was one of them.

Sa'eed ibn Musayyid reported that when Bakht Nasr came to Damascus, the blood of Sayyidina Yahya AS was bubbling. He made enquiries. Then he had seventy thousand men killed at the spot. It was then that the blood cooled down. This shows that he was killed in Damascus. Bakht Nasr came after Sayyidina Eesa AS and Hasan Busri concur with this account.

Ibn Asakar has reported from Zayd ibn Waqid, "When the foundation of the mosque of Damascus was being laid, I saw Sayyidina Yahya AS head on the eastern corner towards the qiblah under a pillar. His skin and hair were intact." According to another version, "it looked as though he was murdered at that time" It is said that his head was buried under the pillar Sakasakah of the mosque of Damascus.

Ibn Asakir has mentioned the reason for killing Sayyidina Yahya AS. He said, A prince had diveroced his wife with three pronouncements, but wanted to take her back. He sought a ruling from Sayyidina Yahya AS, but he ruled that he can not take her back unless she marries another man. This infuriated the woman and her mother advised her to ask the king to have him killed (He was killed and) his head was brought in a china tray. The head spoke out, "She is not lawful for you. She is not lawful...unless you marry her to another man." Allah caused the earth to swallow the woman, first her feet and then till her buttocks. When her mother saw her, she commanded a sword-bearer to kill her and he severed her head. There followed for the people a disgrace and they were eliminated.

His head continue to pour blood till Bakht Nasr had seventy-five thousand people killed at the blood. Then Prophet of Banu Isra'il, Sayyidina Armiya AS arrived and said "O Blood, you have eliminated Banu Isra'il. Stop by the command of Allah" The blood ceased to flow. However, the very first account is more known.