Which prophet's wife gave birth to a son, Yahya, in her old age?

Zakariya was the prophet whose wife gave birth to Yahya in their old age. In Islamic tradition, Zakariya prayed for a righteous son after he and his wife had remained childless, and God granted them Yahya, known in English as John the Baptist.

The Qur’anic account emphasizes the apparent impossibility of the birth: Zakariya had reached old age and his wife was described as barren. His prayer was not merely a request for personal happiness; he feared that the religious community would lack a worthy guide after his death. The divine answer named the child Yahya, a specially chosen name.

Zakariya is also associated with Maryam (Mary), whom he cared for and visited in the sanctuary. This connection places Yahya’s story close to the birth narrative of Isa (Jesus). A common mix-up is identifying Ibrahim, whose wife Sarah also received news of a miraculous child in old age. Ibrahim’s son was Ishaq, whereas Zakariya’s son was Yahya.