Qur'anic verses - John the Baptist:

John the Baptist was mentioned in the Qur'an by the name Yahya. The birth of John was the good news that his father Zechariah waited to receive from God. The son was born and the instruction was given to him in his youth. John was given wisdom and judgment that entitled him to judge and command in the light of the divine revelation. The story of John was told in the Qur'an in parallel to that of Jesus. John did not live for long, but he was to prepare the way for Jesus to renew the religion.

According to the Bible (Matthew 14:3-11 and Mark 6:17-28), King Herod Antipas, provisional ruler under the Roman Empire, had given orders to have John arrested and eventually beheaded at the instigation of the woman with whom Herod infatuated. Those who rejected faith and killed the prophets of God shall be asked:

"Why then have ye slain the prophets of God in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?" [Qur'an 2:91].