in white garments. Zechariah was startled by him, so he called out to him. It was Gabriel, peace be upon him: “O Zechariah, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings.”
Ibn Amir and Hamzah read “Indeed Allah” with the initial vowel i, implying the word “saying”; that is: the angels called out to him and said, “Indeed Allah gives you glad tidings.” The others read it with the initial vowel a, making it the object of the call, as though He said: the angels called out to him that Allah gives you glad tidings.
Hamzah read “gives you glad tidings” with a lightened form throughout the Quran, except in His saying, “Then what is this good news you bring me?” (54—al-Hijr), where they unanimously read it with the intensified form. Al-Kisa'i agreed with him here in both occurrences, as well as in Surah al-Isra, al-Kahf, and Surah al-Shura. Ibn Kathir and Abu Amr also agreed with him in Surah al-Shura, while the rest read it with intensification. Whoever reads it with intensification derives it from the verb meaning “to give glad tidings”; this is the most grammatically regular and eloquent usage. Evidence for the intensified reading is found in His saying: “So give glad tidings to My servants” (17—al-Zumar); “And We gave him glad tidings of Isaac” (112—al-Saffat); and “They said, ‘We have brought you glad tidings in truth’” (55—al-Hijr), along with other verses. Whoever lightens it derives it from another verb meaning “to give glad tidings,” which is the dialect of Tihamah.
Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, read, “of Yahya.” Yahya is a proper name that does not take the genitive inflection, on account of its definiteness and the additional letter at its beginning, like Yazid and Ya'mur. Its plural is Yahyawna, like Musawna and Isawna. They differed as to why he was named Yahya. Ibn Abbas said: “Because through him Allah brought his mother’s barrenness to life.” Qatadah said: “Because Allah Most High brought his heart to life through faith.” It was also said: because Allah Most High gave him life through obedience, such that he never disobeyed Allah or even contemplated an act of disobedience.
“Confirming” is in the accusative as a circumstantial qualifier. “A Word from Allah” means Jesus, peace be upon him. Jesus was called the Word of Allah because Allah Most High said to him, “Be,” without a father, and so he was; thus he was given the name “Word,” because it was through it that he came to be. It was also said that he was called a Word because guidance is sought through him just as guidance is sought through the Speech of Allah Most High. It was also said that it refers to Allah Most High giving Mary glad tidings of Jesus, peace be upon him, by His speech on the tongue of Gabriel, peace be upon him. And it was said: because Allah Most High informed the prophets, through His speech in His Books, that He would create a prophet without a father; thus He called him a Word because he came to exist by that promise.
Yahya, peace be upon him, was the first to have faith in Jesus, peace be upon him, and to affirm him. Yahya, peace be upon him, was six months older than Jesus, and they were cousins through their mothers. Yahya was then killed before Jesus, peace be upon him, was raised up.
Abu Ubaydah said: “A Word from Allah” means a Book from Allah and His signs. The Arabs say, “Recite to me the word of so-and-so,” meaning his poem.
His saying: “and a leader”: this is an intensive form derived from the verb meaning “to be a master or leader.” It refers to a chief who is followed and whose judgment is deferred to. Al-Mufaddal said: He meant a leader in religion. Al-Dahhak said: a leader is one of noble character. [57/b] Sa'id ibn Jubayr said: a leader is one who obeys his Lord, mighty and majestic is He. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib said: a leader is the learned jurist. Qatadah said: a leader in knowledge, worship, and scrupulous piety. It was also said: the forbearing person whom nothing provokes to anger. Mujahid said: one who is noble in the sight of Allah Most High. Al-Dahhak said: a leader is one who is God-fearing. Sufyan al-Thawri said: one who does not envy. It was also said: one who surpasses his people in every quality of goodness; and it was said: one who is content with what Allah has apportioned for him. And it was said: the generous person. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Who is your leader, O Banu Salimah?” They said, “Jadd ibn Qays, though we consider him miserly.” He said, “What disease is more grievous than miserliness? Rather, your leader is Amr ibn al-Jamuh.” (1)