Shared story · 6 min
Mary and the birth of Jesus
A young woman chosen above all women.
Shared Stories · Mary and the birth of Jesus
Mary (peace be upon her) is honoured by Christians and Muslims as chosen and pure, the virgin mother of Jesus (peace be upon him). She is the only woman named in the Qur'an, and a whole chapter is named after her.
In the Gospels and Christian tradition
Luke tells of the angel Gabriel's greeting, Mary's song of praise (the Magnificat), the birth in Bethlehem and the manger where there was “no room in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Catholic and Orthodox Christians honour Mary as Mother of God (Theotokos).
In the Qur'an
Mary grows up in the sanctuary in Zechariah's care, and he finds food with her that God has provided (3:37). She is chosen “above the women of the worlds” (3:42). In labour she holds a palm trunk; a stream flows below her and ripe dates fall (19:23-25). The infant speaks from the cradle: “I am the servant of God” (19:30).
Same and different
A miraculous birth and a woman honoured above all others, in both. Christians and Muslims differ on who Jesus is: for Christians the Son of God, for Muslims a prophet and the Messiah. We say so plainly. Jewish tradition has no Mary narrative.
We never picture any prophet or Mary. Each panel is checked by a reader from that tradition before this page goes public.
