MASVINGO| Who is the Virgin Mary? Both the Bible and the Quran acknowledge Mary as an important figure, with a special role in the birth and upbringing of Jesus. both traditions hold her in high esteem
In the Bible, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is acknowledged in several verses. In the New Testament, she is mentioned by name in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Here are some examples:
In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary with the words, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
In Luke 1:42, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, acknowledges Mary’s blessedness, saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
In Luke 1:48, Mary herself speaks of how God has looked favorably on her humble state, saying, “From now on all generations will call me blessed.”
In the Quran, Mary is also acknowledged as an important figure. She is mentioned by name in several chapters, including Al Imran, Al An’am, Maryam, and Al Tahrim. Here are some examples:
In Surah Maryam (Chapter 19), the Quran tells the story of Mary and her son Jesus. The chapter begins with the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear a son, despite being a virgin. The chapter also describes how Mary gives birth to Jesus and how she is honored by God.
In Surah Al Imran (Chapter 3), Mary is held up as an example of faith and devotion. The chapter describes how Mary’s mother dedicated her to God before she was even born and how Mary grew up to be a righteous and devout woman.
In Surah Al Ma’idah (Chapter 5), Mary is mentioned alongside other respected women, such as Eve and the mother of Moses. The chapter also affirms the Islamic belief that Jesus was a prophet and messenger of God, but not the son of God.
Overall, both the Bible and the Quran acknowledge Mary as an important figure, with a special role in the birth and upbringing of Jesus. While there are some theological differences between the Christian and Islamic views of Mary, both traditions hold her in high esteem.
Source Thomas Masimba