ment makes no sense at all when interpreting the word, hasur. In addition, I would like to mention the fact that in his commentary, ibn Kathii ya) probably married and had children. He said this on the basis of what was related in the Quran of the prayer of Zachariah. There are at le ons why interpreting hasur in this context as ‘chaste’ is a misinterpretation: First of all, there is another word in the Quran for “chaste” ai asanah. As God used a different word with hasur, it must mean something different. Secondly, God says in the Ouran that Islam did asticism but that it was something that they (the Christians) invented. Therefore, God would not have sent a Prophet who was celibate. In add rary the exhortation in the Torah to “go forth and multiply.” Thirdly, Yahya’s father, Zechariah prayed for a protector who would provide des riyyat) for his family. “There Zachariah called to his Lord; he said: My Lord’ Bestow on me good offspring from Thy presence; truly Thou ai lication.” (3:38) God gave him Yahya. God would not have sent a son to Zechariah who would not carry on the line of Jacob’s descendants God would not have answered the prayer of Zechariah. The word hasur is used only one time in the Quran and that is in regard to the Prophet• r Arabic-English lexicon, that of Edward William Lane (Taj al-Arus) states that when hasur is used alone, it means “concealer of secret lation, of Ibn al- Arabi’s Book of the Fabulous Gryphon, Elmore also translates the Arabic hasur “as consealer of secrets.” (Gerald T. ElmorE thood in the Fullness of Time, Brill 1999, P. 482) The second word that has been misinterpreted is waliy (19:5) which in this verse and many )uran means “protector” not “heir or successor.” In this specific case, Zechariah prays to his Lord: “And truly I have feared my defenders afte wife has been a barren woman. So bestow on me from that which proceeds from Thy Presence a protector (waliy).” The third word that is misin at of fard in (21:89): “And mention Zechariah when he cried out to his Lord: My Lord! Forsake me not unassisted (fard) and Thou art the Best of inherit.” It is usually translated as “heir,” but the same reasoning applies as above. The word “unassisted” refers to the fact that Zechariah did left alone without any protector. He feared for those who would defend him and his honor after he died, that they would be left without a proti by could not defend his honor. The fourth misinterpreted word in relation to Prophet Yahya is sayyid. Prophet Vahya is referred to as a sayyic )uran. The commentators have interpreted this to mean that he was a scholar of religious law, a wise man, a noble wise and pious man, and was a prophet of God. Knowledge and wisdom were given to him by his Lord. The title given to Vahya by his Lord shows that Prophet Yah has authority over his people and not “noble” or “honorable” as this word is usually translated. Honor and nobility are good qualities but t ate that Prophet Yahya is given a role of leadership by his Lord. The fifth word is hanan which means “mercy,” which is part of the compo anan (in English “John”), meaning “God is Merciful.” The word hanan is used once in the Quran and that is in reference to Prophet Ya inuous mercy from Us and purity . . . .“ This is singularly appropriate to the circumstances of the Prophet Yahya. The names Yahya and YuF :he same as many assume. They have two entirely different roots. Hanan arid hanna both derive from the Semitic root h n n. While the wc ris “mercy or tenderness,” the root word for Yahya is h y y. It means “life” or “he lives.” One does not need to be a linguist to see the ot :ion, I would like also to mention that this name and attribute given to Prophet Yahya can also be found in Sabean literature. The Sabians are rr e Quran in verses (2:62), (5:69) and (22:17). In their canonical prayer book we find Vahya Vuhanna. It has been known that it is the practi ans to have two names, a real name and a special name. According to the Sabians, this prophet’s real name was Yahya (he lives) and his Vuhanna (John). Prophet Yahya is the only one given this name as the Quran clearly states: “0 Zechariah! Truly We give thee the good tid his name will be Yahya (he who lives) and We assign it not as a namesake (samiyya) for anyone before.” Again, another word that we nei