Jesus and Mary in the Quran

1. Jesus and Mary in the Quran

2. Laying the Groundwork • John the Baptist (Yahya): a prophet, “chaste,” “confirming a word from God”… paired with Jesus • Given to Zachariah as a son in old age • Given “the book” and “wisdom” as a child • “Peace be upon him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he is resurrected.” (19:15) • Annunciation to Mary…

3. Mary daughter of Imran • “Purified” and “chosen above all the women of the worlds” by God (3:42) • Angel appears to her in the form of a man… she seeks refuge with God! He says “I will grant you a pure son.” • “Lo, the angels said, ‘O Mary! Behold, God sends thee tidings of a word from Him who shall become known as the Christ (masih), Jesus, son of Mary, of great honor in this world and in the Afterlife, one of those brought near [to God].” (3:45-6) • But how?: “How can I have a son when no man has touched me?”… “God creates what He wills.”

4. She withdraws to the wilderness to give birth, cries out “would that I were a thing forgotten, utterly forgotten!” (19:23) • Do not speak to any man… so she points to her child:… “Behold, Indeed I am the slave of God, He gave me the Book and has made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live, goodliness towards my mothe, and He has not made me haughty or bereft of grace. Hence peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die and the day I am raised again.” (19:30-33)

5. Jesus’ Mission • “Lo, the angels said, ‘O Mary! Behold, God sends thee tidings of a word from Him who shall become known as the Christ (masih), Jesus, son of Mary, of great honor in this world and in the Afterlife, one of those brought near [to God]. And he shall speak to men in the cradle and as a grown man, and he shall be among the righteous.” (3:45-6) • He will be taught “the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah and the Injil” and be sent the Children of Israel (3:48-9)

6. “I have come unto you with a message from your Lord. I shall create for you out of clay the shape of a bird, then I will breath into it so that it becomes, by the permission of God, a bird. I shall heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life by God’s leave. And I shall let you know what you may eat and what you should store in your houses. Behold, in this there is a message for you if you are truly believers. And I have come to confirm what you have of the Torah, to make lawful some of the things that were before forbidden for you. And I have come to you with a message from your Lord, so fear God and obey Him.” (3:49-50)

7. Disciples and Repast (mada) • The Disciples (Hawariyun… those clothed in white): “We the helpers (ansar) of God.” • They want Jesus to have God reveal a “table” from heaven that they “may eat from it and so that our hearts are at rest, and that you have spoken the truth to us.” • Jesus makes it “a holiday for the first of us and the last of us…” and God says that those who deny “after this, I will afflict with punishment the likes of which I have not afflicted anyone in all the worlds.” (5:113-4)

8. Jesus’ ‘Death’? • “the day I die”… • God says: “Innee mutawaffika”, “and I will raise you up to Me, and I will cleanse thee of those who disbelieved” (3:55) • “They did not kill him, nor crucify him, but rather it seemed to them as such (shubbiha lahum). And indeed those who disagree on the matter are in confusion, they have no knowledge of it, following but speculation. For certainly they did not kill him, rather God raised him up unto Himself, and God is indeed almighty and wise.” (4:157-8)

9. Jesus’ Death and the Jews - Context • Iniquities of the Children of Israel: asking to see God face to face, worshipping the golden calf, breaking the Sabbath pledge, killing prophets… • “And the awesome calumny they utter against Mary” (4:156) • … “And their boast ‘Indeed we have killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, the messenger of God.” (4:157) • And the taking of usury (riba)… • “But those wise, believing ones among them, who believe in what has been revealed to thee and before thee, establishing the prayer and paying the tithe, believing in God and the Last Day, those shall We grant a great reward.” (4:162)

10. Nature of Christ • “Indeed Jesus is like unto God what Adam is – He created him from dust and then said ‘Be’ and he was.” (3:59)  “Say: ‘O People of the Book, come to a common word between us and you, that we will worship none but God, what we shall ascribe divinity to aught but God, and that we shall not take others as lords over us besides God.” (3:64)

11. “Such is Jesus, son of Mary, the true word in which they so deeply disagree. It is not for God to take a son – limitless is He in His glory! If He declares something He says ‘Be’ and it is.” (19:34-35) • “And the sects are at variance between one another, but woe to those who deny the truth, the sight of a mighty Day.” • And of course: “He begets not nor is He begotten.” (110)

12. Warning to Christians (on the heels of the Jews) • “O People of the Book, do not overstep the bounds in your religion, and say of God nothing but the Truth. The Messiah Jesus son of Mary was only a messenger of God and His word cast unto Mary, a spirit from Him. Believe, then, in God and His messengers, and do not say ‘God is a trinity.’ Desisting is better for you. God is but one god. Too glorious is He to have a son….” (4:171-73)