MARY AND JESUS IN THE WORD OF GOD (QURAN)

By: Dr.Abroo Aman Andrabi, Jamia Hamdard

Mary in Arabic Maryam, is considered one of the most righteous women in the Islamic religion. In Quran, Jesus is
referred to as Eissa ibn Maryam,, the son of Mary. Both are best described in the Quran in chapters 3 and chapter 19.
The Quran has covered the birth of Mary in chapter 3: verse 35 and 36.
“O my Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, to be dedicated (to Your service), so accept this from me.  
Indeed, You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’  Then when she delivered her (Mary), she said, ‘O my Lord, I have delivered
a female,’ and God knew best what she delivered, ‘And the male is not like the female, and I have named her
Maryam, and I seek refuge with You for her and for her children from Satan, the outcast”.
After the birth of Maryam, her mother Hannah decided that she would fulfill her promise and give the newly born
child to the service of Bayt-Al Maqdis. The Quran recorded this event in the chapter 3, verse 44.
As Maryam became older, she devoted herself to the worship of God. Maryam fulfilled the promise of her mother
and dedicated her life to the worship of God. She was modest, honorable, innocent, and dedicated to her task of
worship. Maryam’s piety did not remain unobserved by her guardian Zakariyya, who was a very pious man and took
good care of Maryam. According to the Quran, whenever Zakariyya went to visit Maryam, he found her with food
and supplies and he wondered about its source and asked her about it to which she used to respond that the food
came from God. The Quran confirms this through the verse 33 in chapter 3.
In the Quran, no other woman is given more attention than Mary and the Quran states that Mary was chosen above
all women: “And (remember) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God has chosen you, purified you, and chosen
you above the women of the worlds.’‘O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down along
those who bow down (in prayer).” (3: 42-43).
Maryam could not fully comprehend or interpret the meaning of this news. But soon she found out that she was
pregnant. This astonished her because she had never been touched by a man. This obviously upset Maryam greatly
and to avoid any embarrassment she withdrew from her family and went to a place east of Jerusalem. One day while
she was in seclusion, the Angel Gabriel came to Mary in the form of a man and informed her that she was to be the
mother of Jesus. Her response was one of fear, shock, and dismay. This made Maryam afraid but then he gave her
the news that she was about to give birth to a child named ‘Eissa’ (Jesus) and that the child would be among those
who are loved and blessed by God. And when the angel told her about this child she asked:  “How can I have a son,
when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?”(19: 20) God stated the answer of the Angel in chapter 19, verse
no 21. God said: “And We wish to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a matter decreed.”
Maryam was also foretold by God that this child would speak from his cradle. The Quran has described this instance
in the Verses 45-46 in chapter 3. God kept her safe and filled with provisions and food. Furthermore, God told her not
to talk to anyone about the matter and to keep quiet. The Quran describes this in chapter19, Verses 22-26).
After giving birth to Prophet Eissa (Jesus), Maryam came back to Jerusalem with her child as described in the Quran
chapter 19, verses 27-29. Since she was widely considered to be a pure and pious woman, the people of Jerusalem
were amazed to see a child with Maryam. They asked her about his father but she wisely followed God’s instructions
and refused to respond. This shy, chaste woman merely pointed to the child in her arms. This further confused the
people because there was no point in asking an infant about his birth.
While the people (mostly Jews of the time) were taunting Maryam asking her about the child’s father. Then, by the
permission of God, Jesus, son of Mary, still a babe performed his first miracle.  He spoke: The Quran mentions the
words of the infant in chapter 19, verses 30-34 as follows:
“Verily!  I am a slave of God.  He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; and He has made me blessed
wheresoever’s I be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and alms, as long as I live, and dutiful to my mother, and made
me not arrogant, unblest.  And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised
alive!”
In Islam, Jesus is a loved and esteemed man, a Prophet and Messenger of God calling his people to the worship of the
One True God. The Quran also points out that Jesus was neither killed nor crucified (4: 157 – 158), and confirms that
Jesus was raised up by God.