Prophet John, known as Yahya, stood apart from the world of children from the very beginning of his life.
John's Childhood
Unlike other children who spent their time playing and amusing themselves, John was serious from an early age. While many children took pleasure in mistreating animals, John showed them mercy instead, often feeding them from his own food until there was nothing left for himself, leaving him to eat only fruit or leaves from trees. He also loved reading from childhood. As he grew, Allah called upon him directly, as stated in the Qur'an: "O John, hold fast to the Scripture, the Torah. And We gave him wisdom while yet a child." (Ch 19:12)
John's Qualities
Allah guided John to study the Book of Jurisprudence deeply, and he became the wisest and most knowledgeable man of his time. Because of this, Allah granted him the ability to pass judgment on people's affairs, interpret the deeper meanings of religion, and guide people toward the right path while warning them against wrongdoing.
As John reached maturity, his compassion grew even stronger, extending to his parents, to all people, and to every living creature. He devoted himself to calling people toward repentance.
Several traditions describe John's character. Ibn Asaker related that his parents once went searching for him and found him at the Jordan River. When they finally met him there, they wept deeply at the sight of his profound devotion to Allah.
Ibn Wahb reported, according to Malik, that grass was John's food, and that he wept constantly out of fear of Allah. Another chain of narrators recorded that Idris Al Khawlawi said that the man with the best food was John Ibn Zakariyah, who joined the wild animals at mealtime, preferring their company out of fear of mixing too closely with people.
Why John Always Wept
Ibn Mubarak reported, through Wahb Ibn Al Ward, that Zakariyah once did not see his son for three days. He eventually found him weeping inside a grave he had dug for himself and was living in. Zakariyah asked him why he was dwelling there in tears, and John answered, "Father, did you not tell me that between Paradise and Hell there is only the width of a hand, and it cannot be crossed except by the tears of those who weep?" Zakariyah told him to weep, then, and the two of them wept together.
Other narrations record John as saying that the people of Paradise remain sleepless out of the sweetness of Allah's bounty, and that in the same way, the faithful in this world should remain sleepless because of the love of Allah in their hearts, remarking on how far apart these two states of sleeplessness truly are. It is said that John wept so much that the tears left visible marks upon his cheeks.
John's Love of Nature
John found comfort in the open wilderness and cared little for food, living instead on leaves, herbs, and occasionally locusts. He would sleep wherever he found himself, whether in the mountains or in holes dug into the ground. At times he would enter a cave only to find a lion or a bear already inside, yet he remained so absorbed in praising Allah that he paid them no mind. The animals, in turn, seemed to recognize him as the prophet who cared for all of Allah's creatures, and they would leave the cave, lowering their heads before him.
At times, out of mercy, John would share his food with these animals, content to rely on prayer alone to nourish his soul. He would spend his nights weeping and praising Allah for His blessings. When he called people to worship Allah, his words moved them so deeply that they too were brought to tears, their hearts captured by the truth and sincerity of what he said.
A conflict eventually arose between John and the ruling authorities of his time. Herod Antipas, the tyrant ruler of Palestine, had fallen in love with his own brother's daughter, Salome, and intended to marry her. This plan was encouraged by her mother and by some of the religious scholars of Zion, whether out of fear of the ruler or a desire to win his favor.
When John learned of this plan, he declared that such a marriage would be incestuous and refused to approve it under any circumstances, since it went against the Law of the Torah.
John's Cruel Death
John's declaration spread quickly and reached Salome, who grew furious, since she had hoped to rule the kingdom alongside her uncle. She devised a plan to achieve her goal. Dressing herself attractively, she danced and sang before Herod, stirring his desire. Overcome, he embraced her and promised to grant her anything she wished. She told him at once that she wanted the head of John, claiming that he had disgraced both Herod's honor and her own throughout the land, and promised that if he granted her this wish, she would give herself to him in return. Enchanted by her, Herod agreed to her monstrous demand. John was executed, and his head was brought to Salome, who rejoiced at the sight.
Yet the death of Allah's beloved prophet did not go unanswered. Not only Salome, but the whole of the children of Israel, suffered severe punishment afterward, as invading armies swept through and destroyed their kingdom.