He said, "My Lord, appoint a sign for me." He said, "Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days, except by signal," meaning: by gesture. Thus, he was disciplined by his tongue being seized, such that he could not articulate speech. He was only disciplined because the angels spoke to him directly; he was given glad tidings of John through direct address, yet he asked for a sign after the angels had already spoken to him. "And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the early morning," meaning: the prayer.
﴿قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِي آيَةً قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَة أَيَّام إِلَّا رمزا﴾ أَي: إِيمَاء، فَعُوقِبَ فَأخذ بِلِسَانِهِ؛ فَجعل لَا يبين الْكَلَام، وَإِنَّمَا عُوقِبَ؛ لِأَن الْمَلَائِكَة شافهته، فبشر بِيَحْيَى مشافهة، فَسَأَلَ الْآيَة بعد أَن شافهته الْمَلَائِكَة ﴿وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ كثيرا وَسبح بالْعَشي وَالْإِبْكَار﴾ يَعْنِي: الصَّلَاة.
