Islamic Center of Boston, Wayland, Massachusetts

Jesus and Mary (peace be upon them) in the Qur'an

Muslims revere Jesus (pbuh) as one of the greatest of God’s Messengers to humanity. The birth of Jesus (pbuh) is mentioned in the Qur’an in two places - Chapter 3 and 19. He is mentioned by name 25 times in the Qur’an as against five for Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). His mother, Mary, has been given the highest honor amongst the women of all nations. We read in the Qur’an: "Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee above the women of all nations." (Chapter 3: Verse 42). We further read in the same chapter:

3:45 Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee Glad tidings of a Word From Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, The son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.
3:46 He shall speak to the people In childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous".
3:47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so; Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a matter, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!
3:48 And Allah will teach him the Book the Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.
3:49 And (appoint him) a messenger to the children of Israel, (with this message): "I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: and I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I bring the dead into life by Allah’s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely Therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;
3:50 (I have come to you), to attest the Torah which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.
3:51 It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; Then worship Him. This is a way that is straight."

Few verses from a chapter in the Qur’an named after Mary, Chapter 19: Mary

19:16 Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
19:17 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
19:18 She said: "I seek refuge From thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah."
19:19 He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a pure son."
19:20 She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
19:21 He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'That is Easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (So) decreed."
19:22 So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
19:23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten."
19:24 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
19:25 And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
19:26 So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.'"
19:27 At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms), they said: "O Mary! truly a strange thing has thou brought!
19:28 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was notA man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
19:29 But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
19:30 He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
19:31 And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me prayer and zakat (charity) as long as I live;
19:32 (He hath made me) kind To my mother, and not overbearing or unblest;
19:33 So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
19:34 Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.
19:35 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.

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3:45	Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee Glad tidings of a Word From Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, The son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.
3:46	He shall speak to the people In childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous".
3:47	She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so; Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a matter, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!
3:48	And Allah will teach him the Book the Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.
3:49	And (appoint him) a messenger to the children of Israel, (with this message): "I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: and I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I bring the dead into life by Allah’s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely Therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;
3:50	(I have come to you), to attest the Torah which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.
3:51	It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; Then worship Him. This is a way that is straight."

19:16	Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
19:17	She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
19:18	She said: "I seek refuge From thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah."
19:19	He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a pure son."
19:20	She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
19:21	He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'That is Easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (So) decreed."
19:22	So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
19:23	And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten."
19:24	But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
19:25	And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
19:26	So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.'"
19:27	At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms), they said: "O Mary! truly a strange thing has thou brought!
19:28	O sister of Aaron! Thy father was notA man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
19:29	But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
19:30	He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
19:31	And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me prayer and zakat (charity) as long as I live;
19:32	(He hath made me) kind To my mother, and not overbearing or unblest;
19:33	So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
19:34	Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.
19:35	It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.