Jesus (pbuh) in the Quran

The Holy Quran, the Final Revelation which God sent to Prophet Muhammad as a guidance for all mankind, speaks highly not only of Mary, but also of Jesus, her son. According to the Holy Quran, Jesus is a prophet as are Noah, Abraham, and Moses. As far as Mary is concerned, the Holy Quran has hailed her as a model for the women of the entire world. The following discussion, based on the Holy Quran will further explain this fact.

In the Quran Mary has been mentioned several times, especially in the suras called Al-Imran and Mariam, the Arabic name for Mary.

When Mary was born, her mother prayed that her daughter should be given the protection of God, so she would lead a good life. God Almighty heard her plea and accepted Mary into His protection, under the care of Zackariah, the father of John “the Baptist”. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Behold! A woman of Imran said: <<O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things. When she was delivered, She said: “O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!”-And Allah knew best what she brought forth. And nowise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One (Satan) the Rejected” (3:35-36).

When Zackariah visited Mary in her sanctuary, he found her provided with food and upon questioning here, she would reply: “From Allah: for Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure” (3:37).

“Behold! The angel said: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee; chosen thee above the women of all nations. O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down” (3:42).

The Quran also gives an account of the birth of Jesus by Mary. Just prior to Jesus birth, Mary retired to an eastern place where she prayed. It was in this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not to invade her privacy. God Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east. 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. She said: “I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah. He said: “I am only a Messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son. She said how shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste” (19:16:20).

Mary was naturally confused by this as she proclaimed that she had not been touched by any man, to which the angel then replied. He said: “So (it will be). Thy Lord said: “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. So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place” (19:21-22).

Mary, being human, suffered the effects of childbirth as any expectant mother would during these times. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “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 and out of sight!” But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee. And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say. I have vowed to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being”. (19:23-26).

When Mary showed the baby to her people, they said that this was truly an amazing thing that had happened. The newly born baby (Jesus) replied to the people as shown in the following verses: “At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: “O Mary! Truly an amazing thins has thou brought! O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil nor thy mother a woman unchaste! But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet. And hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live”. (He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable. 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)” (19:27-33).

Even though Mary is the mother of Jesus and occupies a highest position among the women, neither Mary nor Jesus has any divine attributes in them. The Holy Quran makes this clear in the following verses. They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary. But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah my Lord and your Lord. Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden and the fire will be his abode. There will be for the wrongdoers no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity. For there is no god except one god (Allah). If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. Christ the son of Mary was no more than an apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth! Say: Will ye worship besides Allah something which hath no power either to harm or benefits you? But Allah, He it is that heareth and knoweth all things.” Say: “O people of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds (of what is proper) trespassing beyond the truth nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even way” (5:72-77).

Jesus (pbuh) was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam (pbuh) into being who had no father and mother: “Truly, the likeness with God is as the likeness of Adam. He (God) created him of dust, and then said to him, “be!” and he was.” (3:59). “Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him” (Sura al Ikhlas).

* All Quranic quotations have been taken from the Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation of The Meanings of the Holy Quran, published by Amana Corporation, Brentwood, Maryland, USA, 1993.