esus has been referred to as ‘Issa and his chaste mother as Maryam in the Holy Quran.
Both Jesus and his mother Mary have been held in high esteem in Islam. Muslims believe in Jesus as the Prophet of the Almighty God and his mother Mary as a pure and chaste woman who conceived and gave birth to her son purely by the will of God without any mortal touching her.
Let us briefly look at some of the verses from the Holy Quran, which talks about them.
BIRTH OF JESUS – A WILL OF GOD
Regarding the birth of Jesus, in chapter 19 known as Maryam Quran states that:
“And mention in the book Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a house eastward.
Thus she secluded herself from them, whereupon we sent an angel to her, and he appeared to her exactly like a sound human being.
She said, ‘I seek protection from the All beneficent from you, should you be God wary’.
He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord that I may give you a pure son’.
She said, ‘How shall I have a child seeing that no human being has ever touched me nor have I been unchaste?’
He said, ‘so it shall be. Your Lord says: It is simple for me; and so that We make him a sign for mankind and a mercy from Us; and that is a matter already decreed’.
According to these verses, the birth of Jesus to a virgin mother command, when He intends a thing, is only to say: ‘Be’ and so it becomes. Therefore, glory be to Him in whose hand is the kingdom of all things. Unto Him, you will all return.”
In chapter 3, known as Aali ‘Imraan (the family of ‘Imraan), verse 59, Quran says: “Verily, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam; He created him out of dust, then He said to him: ‘Be’ and he was.”
According to this verse, just as the birth of Adam took place without the agency of a father and a mother, so did the birth of Jesus without a father. The likeness of Jesus therefore is as the likeness of Adam; and this is the manifestation of the Almighty God’s will and power.
JESUS REVERED IN THE QURAN
To Muslims, Jesus is one of the greatest prophets of the Almighty God. His miraculous birth serves as the greatest sign of God and His mercy over mankind. In the following verses we see how Jesus has been revered:
In chapter 2 verse 87 God says: “We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear evidences, and aided him with the Holy Spirit.”
‘Holy Spirit’ in Islam, has a special significance. According to the Scholars of Islam, it is in reference to a very highly refined spiritual entity, whose function is to guide, inspire and infuse the prophetic spirit. It also equips the divinely selected individual to exercise miraculous powers. The repeated mention of ‘Holy Spirit’ with the name of Jesus in the Holy Quran clearly establishes the fact that he was particularly chosen for this distinction.
In chapter 5 verse 46 God, the Almighty says: “And We followed them with Jesus son of Mary, to confirm that which was brought before him of the Torah, and We gave him the Evangel containing guidance and light, confirming what was before it of the Torah, and as guidance and advice for the God wary.”
This verse explains that Jesus came to confirm and verify the basic doctrines of the universal religion of One God – unity and justice of the Almighty God, and truthfulness of all the prophets who preceded him. Jesus himself came with Evangel containing guidance and light. Herein therefore, there is a precise mention that the original Torah has been confirmed by the original Evangel; and in every book of God there was guidance to people who are God wary.
source : sibtayn
