The Qur’an narrates the miraculous birth of Jesus (ʿĪsā ibn Maryam) in several chapters, most prominently in Surah Maryam (Chapter 19) and Surah Āl ʿImrān (Chapter 3). Here is the account with references and key Arabic terms:
In Surah Āl ʿImrān, the story begins with the dedication of Mary’s mother, the wife of ʿImrān:
"إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ""When the wife of ʿImrān said, 'My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.'" (Qur’an 3:35)
Maryam (Mary) is then placed under the guardianship of Prophet Zakariyyā (Zechariah). She grows up in piety and devotion:
"فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا""So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zakariyyā..." (Qur’an 3:37)
The angels announce her chosen status:
"وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ""And [mention] when the angels said, 'O Maryam, indeed Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.'" (Qur’an 3:42)
The annunciation occurs in Surah Maryam. The angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) appears to her as a man:
"فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا""And We sent to her Our Spirit (Jibrīl), and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man." (Qur’an 19:17)
Mary expresses her astonishment and seeks refuge from him:
"قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا""She said, 'Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you should be fearing of Allāh.'" (Qur’an 19:18)
He delivers the glad tidings:
"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.'" (Qur’an 19:19)
Mary questions how this can be, since no man has touched her:
"قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا""She said, 'How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?'" (Qur’an 19:20)
The angel explains it is a divine decree, easy for Allāh:
"قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِنَّا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَقْضِيًّا""He said, 'Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, "It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed."'" (Qur’an 19:21)
She conceives and withdraws to a remote place. During the pains of childbirth, she despairs, but a voice comforts her:
"فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَٰذَا وَكُنْتُ نَسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا""And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, 'Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.'" (Qur’an 19:23)
A voice from below her instructs her:
"فَنَادَاهَا مِنْ تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا""But he called her from below her, 'Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.'" (Qur’an 19:24)
She is told to shake the palm tree for fresh dates and to drink. When she returns to her people carrying the infant, they accuse her. In response, the baby Jesus speaks from the cradle, a miraculous sign:
"فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا""So she pointed to him. They said, 'How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?' [Jesus] said, 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allāh. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.'" (Qur’an 19:29-30)
This miraculous narrative establishes Jesus as a sign (āyah) and a mercy (raḥmah) from Allāh, born without a father by the sheer command "كُنْ" ("Be!").
Salam Alaikum
Comments
Post a Comment