John the Baptist

John the Baptist and Jesus were born during the same period (circa 6 BCE−6 CE) although to some extent the latter was the follower of the former. A sect formed around John after he began offering a spiritually cleansing immersion in the waters of the River Jordan to Jews who felt defiled by the moral excesses of their rulers. There is some evidence that Jesus might have joined the sect for a brief period during the time that he received baptism from John. There is little doubt that a large number, perhaps the majority of those who chose to follow Jesus initially, were recruited from among John’s followers.

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Jewish Encyclopedia (Search for John the Baptist)

Islamic interpretation of John the Baptist

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