The Birth of the Boy and His Characteristics

This also implies what is not mentioned, that this promised boy was born and he was Yahya. There is also the implication that Allah taught him the Book, the Tawrah which they used to study among themselves. The Prophets who were sent to the Jews used to rule according to the Tawrah, as did the scholars and rabbis among them. He was still young in age when Allah gave him this knowledge. This is the reason that Allah mentioned it. Because of how Allah favored him and his parents, He says,

ييَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَـبَ بِقُوَّةٍ

حَنَانًا Literal meaning of this word is soft heartedness, compassion and mercy, and these qualities were specially granted to Sayyidna Yahya (علیہ السلام) .