Jesus & Mary in Islam
Honored beyond measure — but not deified.
The Place of Jesus
In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is one of the greatest prophets - born of a virgin, performing miracles by God's permission, and the Messiah promised to the Children of Israel. He is mentioned by name 25 times in the Quran, more than Muhammad himself. But he is not God, nor the son of God, nor part of a Trinity. He was a servant and messenger.
The Place of Mary
Mary (Maryam) is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran - and she has an entire chapter named after her (Chapter 19). The Quran says: 'O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.' (3:42)
Surah Maryam (Chapter 19)
The most beautiful verses about Mary and her son in the Quran.
19:16
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا
"And mention in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east."
Quran 19:16
19:17
فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
"And she took a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself as a well-proportioned man."
Quran 19:17
19:18
قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا
"She said, 'Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you.'"
Quran 19:18
19:19
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا
"He said, 'I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you news of a pure boy.'"
Quran 19:19
19:20
قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ
"She said, 'How can I have a boy while no man has touched me?'"
Quran 19:20
19:21
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ
"He said, 'Thus it will be; your Lord says, It is easy for Me.'"
Quran 19:21
19:22
فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَانتَبَذَتْ بِهِ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا
"So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place."
Quran 19:22
19:23
فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree."
Quran 19:23
19:24
فَنَادَاهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي
"But he called her from below her, 'Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.'"
Quran 19:24
19:25
وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا
"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe dates."
Quran 19:25
19:26
فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا
"So eat and drink and be contented."
Quran 19:26
19:27
فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ ۖ قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا
"Then she brought him to her people. They said, 'O Mary, you have done a thing unprecedented.'"
Quran 19:27
19:28
يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ
"O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."
Quran 19:28
19:29
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا
"So she pointed to him. They said, 'How can we speak to one who is in the cradle?'"
Quran 19:29
19:30
قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا
"Jesus said, 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.'"
Quran 19:30
19:31
وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ
"And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah."
Quran 19:31
19:32
وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا
"And made me dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant."
Quran 19:32
19:33
وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا
"And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive."
Quran 19:33
Islam & the Gospels
Where they agree — and where they differ.
| Topic | Islam | The Gospels |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of Jesus | A Prophet, Messenger, and Messiah - a servant of God | The Son of God, second person of the Trinity |
| Crucifixion | He was not crucified - God raised him up | He was crucified, died, and was buried |
| Birth | Virgin birth - by God's command Be | Virgin birth - by the Holy Spirit |
| Return | He will return before the Day of Judgment | He will return in glory |
| Message | Worship the One God alone, without partners | Salvation through faith in Christ |