Blessed Among Women: Mary (Maryam) (peace be upon her)

Women of Monotheism

PART TWO

Mother of the Messiah Jesus Christ (Isa) (peace be upon him)

Mary, also known as Maryam, (peace be upon her) holds a unique and honored position in the Abrahamic faiths. She is deeply revered by Christians as the mother of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), and remembered as one of the most extraordinary women in human history. The Bible reflects that Mary (p.b.u.h.) was chosen by God for her humility, faithfulness, and complete obedience to His will. She exemplified compassion, courage, wisdom, and unwavering trust in Him. In Christianity, she is honored as one who is "blessed among women." (Luke 1:42).

In Islam, Maryam (peace be upon her) is honored not only as the mother of the Messiah, Isa (Jesus Christ) (peace be upon him), but also for her exceptional faith, purity, humility, devotion, and complete submission to Allah. The Quran honors Maryam (peace be upon her) more than any other woman, and she is the only woman mentioned by name.

Together, the Bible and the Quran portray her as a woman of remarkable righteousness and steadfast devotion to the One True God.

According to the Bible, Mary (peace be upon her) was born into a Jewish family descended from the lineage of Prophet Jacob, also known as Prophet Israel (peace be upon him). Prophet Israel (p.b.u.h.) was the son of Prophet Isaac (peace be upon him) and the grandson of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).

The New Testament does not identify the names of Mary’s parents, but according to the Quran, Mary’s mother dedicated her unborn child to the worship and service of Allah. Expecting a son, she instead gave birth to a daughter and then prayed, “I have named her Maryam.” Allah graciously accepted her dedication. (Quran 3:35–36)

The Quran also identifies her father as Imran (Amran) and honors the Family of Imran (Amram) as one of the families specially chosen by Allah. The Quran states: “Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran (Amran) above all people” (Quran 3:33). Imran was a righteous man and a descendant of Prophet Israel (Jacob) (peace be upon him). He and his wife were devoted worshippers of God.

Mary (p.b.u.h.) was placed under the care of Prophet Zakariya (Zacharias) (peace be upon him) after she was born. Prophet Zakariya was a righteous Prophet, a Jewish Priest, and descendant of Prophet Aaron (peace be upon him). It is documented that whenever Prophet Zakariya (p.b.u.h.) entered Mary’s (p.b.u.h.) place of worship, he found her provided with miraculous sustenance. When he asked where it had come from, Mary (p.b.u.h.) replied, “It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without measure” (Quran 3:37).

From childhood, Mary (p.b.u.h.) devoted her life to the worship and service of God. She grew up in Jerusalem and spoke Aramaic, the common language of Judea and Galilee. She was also familiar with Hebrew and understood some Greek, which was widely spoken throughout the region by the Romans. Mary (p.b.u.h.) knew the Holy Scriptures in three languages. While neither the Bible nor the Quran indicates whether she could read or write, they portray her as a woman deeply grounded in the Holy Scriptures, having committed them to memory through lifelong worship, prayer, and devotion.

Mary (peace be upon her) dressed modestly in accordance with the customs of local Jewish women of her time. She wore a simple, loose-fitting garment that covered her body and a head covering, particularly when in public. Throughout her life, she remained a humble and modest servant of God.

Although Maryam’s (p.b.u.h.) exact age is not disclosed in either the Bible or the Quran, both affirm that she was a virgin and had never been with a man before the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ (Isa) (peace be upon him).

The Quran records the angels saying: “O Mary! Indeed, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations” (Quran 3:42). This is one of the highest honors bestowed upon any woman in the Holy Scriptures.

According to the Gospel of Luke, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (p.b.u.h.) and announced that she would miraculously conceive a son. Mary (p.b.u.h.) asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Gabriel replied that the Holy Spirit would come upon her (Luke 1:26–38).

Similarly, it states in the Quran that Angel Gabriel announced that Allah was giving her Glad Tidings of a Word from Him. Maryam (p.b.u.h.) asked, “How can I have a son when no man has touched me?” The angel replied, “Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is” (Quran 3:45–47).

After learning that Mary (p.b.u.h.) was pregnant, Joseph initially intended to quietly dissolve their betrothal because he knew the child was not his. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream saying, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife...” (Matthew 1:20). The angel told him to name him Jesus. Joseph obeyed God’s command, married Maryam (p.b.u.h.), and became the legal guardian and earthly protector of Jesus (peace be upon him). Both the Bible and the Quran make it clear that Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus (Isa) (p.b.u.h.).

The New Testament records that Joseph and Mary (p.b.u.h.) traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to comply with the Roman census ordered by Caesar Augustus. Because Joseph was a descendant of King David, and Bethlehem was his ancestral town, he had to appear. The Quran does not mention the census, instead emphasizing that every event surrounding the birth of Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him) occurred according to Allah’s Will and Decree.

The Quran describes Maryam (p.b.u.h.) withdrawing into seclusion during her pregnancy. Alone beneath a palm tree, she experienced fear, uncertainty, and the pains of childbirth. Allah comforted her, instructed her to shake the trunk of the palm tree, causing fresh dates to fall, and caused a stream of water to flow beside her (Quran 19:22-26).

The Bible records that Joseph was present when Mary (p.b.u.h.) gave birth in Bethlehem. She wrapped the newborn Jesus (peace be upon him) in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room available at the inn (Luke 2:1-7).

Following the birth of Jesus (p.b.u.h.), Mary (p.b.u.h.) faced severe accusations from her community. The Quran uniquely records her returning with the infant, where she was accused of immorality despite her lifelong reputation for chastity. In obedience to Allah’s Command, she remained silent and instead pointed to her infant son when confronted. By Allah’s permission, the infant Isa (Jesus) (p.b.u.h.) spoke from the cradle to defend his mother’s honor and declared himself to be a Servant, Prophet, and Messenger of Allah (Quran 19:27-33).

The New Testament records that after the birth of Jesus (Isa) (p.b.u.h.), the Wise Men from the East warned that King Herod sought to kill the Baby Messiah. Joseph immediately took Mary (p.b.u.h.) and her son and fled to Egypt, where they remained until King Herod’s death (Matthew 2:13-15). Herod the Great was the Jewish King of Judea and viewed baby Jesus (Isa) (p.b.u.h.) as a threat. He ordered the killing of all the male infants in and around Bethlehem to get to him.

After returning to Jerusalem, Mary (peace be upon her) remained a devoted follower and accompanied Jesus (Isa) (peace be upon him) on several important occasions throughout his ministry. She stood beside Jesus (Isa) (p.b.u.h.) during the events of the crucifixion and remained in Jerusalem after that. She continued to be a devoted worshipper of God and a faithful follower of her son’s message. Mary (p.b.u.h.) is remembered as a faithful servant of God who remained in prayer with the Apostles and the early believers. Her life continued to reflect humility, devotion, purity, and unwavering trust in God, serving as a lasting example of faithful obedience.

Mary (peace be upon her) was never meant as someone to be worshipped or turned into an object of devotion. Islam teaches that Allah alone is worthy of Worship, and no human being, statue, or idol possesses the power to benefit or harm apart from His will.

The Quran honors Mary (p.b.u.h.) not simply because she was the mother of the Messiah, but because of her own unwavering faith, purity, humility, devotion, and complete submission to Allah. She is recognized as one of the greatest examples of righteousness in all of history, serving as an inspiration to believers through her own character, independent of her son’s prophetic mission. On more than one occasion, Isa (Jesus) (p.b.u.h.) is referred to as “son of Maryam…” in the Quran.  

Both the Bible and the Quran recognize her extraordinary faith and miraculous role in the birth of the Messiah Jesus Christ (Isa) (p.b.u.h.). Christianity and Islam share a profound respect for the woman chosen by God to bear him. Her life continues to inspire believers through her purity, humility, courage, patience, and unwavering trust in God.

Mary/Maryam (peace be upon her) remains one of the most honored women in history.