Did the prophets Zechariah and John die?
There is a difference of opinion regarding the death of the Prophet Zakariyya, whether he died a natural death or was killed. However, Al-Tabari mentioned that the Children of Israel killed Zakariyya and Yahya (peace be upon them both). The Holy Quran repeatedly mentions the Children of Israel killing prophets unjustly. Ibn Kathir stated that Zakariyya and Yahya (peace be upon them both) were killed before Nebuchadnezzar was given dominion over the Children of Israel. There are narrations from the Companions and their successors concerning their killing, among them what Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated from Urwah ibn al-Zubayr that Yahya was killed because a harlot demanded his head, and what Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr narrated that Yahya was killed concerning a harlot. Ibn Kathir also mentioned that the king of Damascus wanted to marry a woman forbidden to him (mahram), and Yahya forbade him from doing so. So the woman demanded Yahya's blood from the king, and he killed him.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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