The Birthdays of Some of the Prophets & Righteous are Commemorated in the Qur’an

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

There is commemoration of the birthdays of some of the prophets and righteous servants in the Qur’an Itself.  As a few examples of many, Allah (s.w.t.) Recounts the events and details the blessings found in and lessons derived from the births of the following people. 

For Yahya (a.s.): 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَڪَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً۬ طَيِّبَةً‌ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ (٣٨) فَنَادَتۡهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآٮِٕمٌ۬ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحۡيَىٰ مُصَدِّقَۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدً۬ا وَحَصُورً۬ا وَنَبِيًّ۬ا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٣٩) قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ۬ وَقَدۡ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلۡڪِبَرُ وَٱمۡرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ۬‌ۖ قَالَ كَذَٲلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفۡعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ (٤٠) قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً۬‌ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُڪَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمۡزً۬ا‌ۗ وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا وَسَبِّحۡ بِٱلۡعَشِىِّ وَٱلۡإِبۡڪَـٰرِ (٤١) 

There did Zakariya pray to his Lord saying, “O my Lord!  Grant unto me, from You, a progeny that is pure; for You are He that Hears prayer!”  While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him, “Allah does Give you Glad Tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet, ― of the (goodly) company of the righteous.”  He said, “O my Lord!  How shall I have a son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?”  “Thus,” was the Answer, “Does Allah Accomplish what He Wills.”  He said, “O my Lord!  Give me a Sign!”  “Your Sign,” was the Answer, “shall be that you shall speak to no man for three days but with signals.  Then celebrate the praises of your Lord again and again and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:38-41) 

سُوۡرَةُ مَریَم

ذِكۡرُ رَحۡمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبۡدَهُ ۥ زَڪَرِيَّآ (٢) إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ ۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّ۬ا (٣) قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّى وَٱشۡتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأۡسُ شَيۡبً۬ا وَلَمۡ أَڪُنۢ بِدُعَآٮِٕكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّ۬ا (٤) وَإِنِّى خِفۡتُ ٱلۡمَوَٲلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَڪَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِى عَاقِرً۬ا فَهَبۡ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّ۬ا (٥) يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنۡ ءَالِ يَعۡقُوبَ‌ۖ وَٱجۡعَلۡهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّ۬ا (٦)يَـٰزَڪَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ ٱسۡمُهُ ۥ يَحۡيَىٰ لَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ مِن قَبۡلُ سَمِيًّ۬ا (٧) قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ۬ وَڪَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِى عَاقِرً۬ا وَقَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ ٱلۡڪِبَرِ عِتِيًّ۬ا (٨) قَالَ كَذَٲلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ۬ وَقَدۡ خَلَقۡتُكَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَلَمۡ تَكُ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا (٩) قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً۬‌ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَ لَيَالٍ۬ سَوِيًّ۬ا (١٠)فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡہِمۡ أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكۡرَةً۬ وَعَشِيًّ۬ا (١١) يَـٰيَحۡيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ۬‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمَ صَبِيًّ۬ا (١٢) وَحَنَانً۬ا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةً۬‌ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّ۬ا (١٣) وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ وَلَمۡ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّ۬ا (١٤) وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡهِ يَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوۡمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوۡمَ يُبۡعَثُ حَيًّ۬ا (١٥) 

(This is) a recital of the Mercy of your Lord to His Servant Zakariya.  Behold!  He cried to his Lord in secret, praying, “O my Lord!  Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head does glisten with grey: but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to You!  Now I fear (what) my relatives (and colleagues) (will do) after me: but my wife is barren: so, Give me an heir as from Yourself ― (One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and Make him, O my Lord, one with whom You are Well-Pleased!”  (His prayer was Answered): “O Zakariya!  We Give you good news of a son: his name shall be Yahya: on none by that name have We Conferred distinction before.”  He said, “O my Lord!  How shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?”  He Said, “So (it will be): your Lord Says, ‘That is Easy for Me: I did indeed Create you before, when you had been nothing!’”  (Zakariya) said, “O my Lord!  Give me a Sign.”  “Your Sign”, was the Answer, “shall be that you shall speak to no man for three nights, although you are not dumb.”  So Zakariya came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate Allah’s Praises in the morning and in the evening.  (To his son Came the Command), “O Yahya!  Take hold of the Book with might”: and We Gave him wisdom even as a youth.  And pity (for all creatures) as from Us, and purity: he was devout.  And kind to his parents, and he was not overbearing or rebellious.  So, Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! (Surah Maryam:2-15) 

For ‘Isa (a.s.): 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

وَإِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَٮٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصۡطَفَٮٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٤٢) يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ ٱقۡنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَٱسۡجُدِى وَٱرۡكَعِى مَعَ ٱلرَّٲكِعِينَ (٤٣) ذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيۡهِمۡ إِذۡ يُلۡقُونَ أَقۡلَـٰمَهُمۡ أَيُّهُمۡ يَكۡفُلُ مَرۡيَمَ وَمَا ڪُنتَ لَدَيۡهِمۡ إِذۡ يَخۡتَصِمُونَ (٤٤) إِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ۬ مِّنۡهُ ٱسۡمُهُ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ وَجِيهً۬ا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ (٤٥) وَيُڪَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلۡمَهۡدِ وَڪَهۡلاً۬ وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٤٦) قَالَتۡ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ۬ وَلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِى بَشَرٌ۬‌ۖ قَالَ ڪَذَٲلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ‌ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرً۬ا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ ۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ (٤٧)وَيُعَلِّمُهُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِڪۡمَةَ وَٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ (٤٨) 

Behold!  The angels said, “O Mary!  Allah has Chosen you and Purified you; ― Chosen you above the women of all nations.  O Mary!  Worship your Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down.”  This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which We Reveal unto you (O Prophet!) by Inspiration; you were not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor were you with them when they disputed (the point).  Behold!  The angels said, “O Mary!  Allah Gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.  He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.”  She said: “O my Lord!  How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?”  He Said, “Even so: Allah Creates what He Wills; when He has Decreed a Plan, He but Say to it ‘Be’, and it is!  And Allah will Teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:42-48) 

سُوۡرَةُ مَریَم

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مَرۡيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتۡ مِنۡ أَهۡلِهَا مَكَانً۬ا شَرۡقِيًّ۬ا (١٦) فَٱتَّخَذَتۡ مِن دُونِهِمۡ حِجَابً۬ا فَأَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرً۬ا سَوِيًّ۬ا (١٧) قَالَتۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّ۬ا (١٨) قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَـٰمً۬ا زَڪِيًّ۬ا (١٩) قَالَتۡ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ۬ وَلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِى بَشَرٌ۬ وَلَمۡ أَكُ بَغِيًّ۬ا (٢٠) قَالَ كَذَٲلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ۬‌ۖ وَلِنَجۡعَلَهُ ۥۤ ءَايَةً۬ لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحۡمَةً۬ مِّنَّا‌ۚ وَكَانَ أَمۡرً۬ا مَّقۡضِيًّ۬ا (٢١) ۞ فَحَمَلَتۡهُ فَٱنتَبَذَتۡ بِهِۦ مَكَانً۬ا قَصِيًّ۬ا (٢٢) فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَـٰذَا وَڪُنتُ نَسۡيً۬ا مَّنسِيًّ۬ا (٢٣) فَنَادَٮٰهَا مِن تَحۡتِہَآ أَلَّا تَحۡزَنِى قَدۡ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحۡتَكِ سَرِيًّ۬ا (٢٤) وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيۡكِ بِجِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ تُسَـٰقِطۡ عَلَيۡكِ رُطَبً۬ا جَنِيًّ۬ا (٢٥) فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬ا‌ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدً۬ا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ صَوۡمً۬ا فَلَنۡ أُڪَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيًّ۬ا (٢٦) فَأَتَتۡ بِهِۦ قَوۡمَهَا تَحۡمِلُهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَالُواْ يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ لَقَدۡ جِئۡتِ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا فَرِيًّ۬ا (٢٧) يَـٰٓأُخۡتَ هَـٰرُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمۡرَأَ سَوۡءٍ۬ وَمَا كَانَتۡ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّ۬ا (٢٨) فَأَشَارَتۡ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالُواْ كَيۡفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلۡمَهۡدِ صَبِيًّ۬ا (٢٩) قَالَ إِنِّى عَبۡدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَٮٰنِىَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّ۬ا (٣٠) وَجَعَلَنِى مُبَارَكًا أَيۡنَ مَا ڪُنتُ وَأَوۡصَـٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّڪَوٰةِ مَا دُمۡتُ حَيًّ۬ا (٣١) وَبَرَّۢا بِوَٲلِدَتِى وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡنِى جَبَّارً۬ا شَقِيًّ۬ا (٣٢) وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىَّ يَوۡمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوۡمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوۡمَ أُبۡعَثُ حَيًّ۬ا (٣٣) ذَٲلِكَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۚ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡحَقِّ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يَمۡتَرُونَ (٣٤) 

Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.  She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We Sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.  She said, “I seek Refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear Allah.”  He said, ‘Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord (to announce) to you the Gift of a holy son.”  She said, “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”  He said, “So (it will be): your Lord Says ‘That is Easy for Me: and (We Wish) to Appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: it is a matter (so) Decreed.”  So, she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.  And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree: she cried (in her anguish), “Ah!  Would that I had died before this!  Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!”  But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm tree), “Grieve not!  For your Lord has Provided a rivulet beneath you; and shake towards yourself the trunk of the palm tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon your.  So, eat and drink and cool (your) eye.  And if you do see any man say, ‘I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.’”  At length, she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms).  They said, “O Mary!  Truly an amazing thing have you brought!  O sister of Aaron!  Your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother a woman unchaste!”  But she pointed to the babe.  They said, “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”  He said, “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has Given me Revelation and Made me a prophet; and He has Made me Blessed wheresoever I be, and has Enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live; (He) has Made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; so Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the day that I shall be Raised up to life (again)!”   Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. (Surah Maryam:16-34) 

For Maryam (a.s.): 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ وَنُوحً۬ا وَءَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَءَالَ عِمۡرَٲنَ عَلَى ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٣٣) ذُرِّيَّةَۢ بَعۡضُہَا مِنۢ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ (٣٤) إِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ عِمۡرَٲنَ رَبِّ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لَكَ مَا فِى بَطۡنِى مُحَرَّرً۬ا فَتَقَبَّلۡ مِنِّىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٣٥) فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتۡہَا قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَضَعۡتُہَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتۡ وَلَيۡسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ‌ۖ وَإِنِّى سَمَّيۡتُہَا مَرۡيَمَ وَإِنِّىٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ (٣٦)فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ۬ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنً۬ا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا‌ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيۡهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلۡمِحۡرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزۡقً۬ا‌ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا‌ۖ قَالَتۡ هُوَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرۡزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ (٣٧) 

Allah did Choose Adam and Noah the family of Abraham, and the family of ‘Imran above all people.  Offspring, one of the other; and Allah Hears and Knows all things.  Behold!  A woman of ‘Imran said, “O my Lord!  I do dedicate into You what is in my womb for Your special service so accept this of me, for You Hear and Know all things.”  When she was delivered, she said, “O my Lord!  Behold!  I am delivered of a female child!”  And Allah Knew Best what she brought forth, “And is not the male like the female.  I have named her Mary and I commend her and her offspring to Your Protection from the Evil One, the Rejected.”  Right Graciously did her Lord Accept her: He Made her grow in purity and beauty; to the care of Zakariya was she assigned.  Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance.  He said, “O Mary!  When (comes) this to you?”  She said, “From Allah: for Allah Provides sustenance to whom He Pleases, without measure.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:33-37) 

In addition, Allah (s.w.t.) Details how the Prophet ‘Isa ibn Maryam (a.s.) celebrated his own birthday when he said, “… and peace be upon me the day I was born ...” in Surah Maryam:33.  Is there not in all of this evidence for the permissibility of commemorating the blessing of the birth of our Prophet (s.a.w.), who is the best of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Creation?