Maryam (sura)
Encyclopedia
Sura
Maryam ' onMouseout='HidePop("77143")' href="/topics/Islamic_view_of_Virgin_Mary">Mary
") is the 19th sura
(chapter) of the Qur'an
and is a Makkan sura with 98 ayat (English: verses). It is named after Maryām, the actual (Semitic) name for Mary, Mother of Jesus
(Isa
). The popular variant of the name Maryam, Mary, is a Westernized or Anglicized version. Similarly, the popular, Westernized or Anglicized name Jesus is actually Yeshua
.
This sura begins with two narrations of 'miraculous births' of God's Elect: Yahya (John the Baptist
) and Isa (Jesus
). The two readings (from the Bible and the Qur'an) of this episode are complementary and serve to illuminate deeper spiritual meaning of Yahya's advent and spiritual mission. This is a very important sura in terms of providing a mutual, and supportive, reference to earlier revelations in the monotheist scripture, known as The Book
in the Qur'an
. A further matter of interest is that this sura numerically matches – i.e., Sura 1 is paired with last Sura 114, 2 with 113, etc. – Sura 96, Al-Alaq
, which begins with a short discourse on the 'miracle of life.'
The sura tells the story of the birth of Yahya after his father's desperation for having a successor. It goes on to say that God
Himself named him and that he was the first to carry this name. This account is immediately followed by the account of the annunciation
to the virgin, Mariam (Mary
). Jesus (known as Isa in Islam) is much revered by Muslims as a very important prophet of Islam, similar to Adam
, Ibrahim
, Musa
and Muhammad
but not as the Son of God as is the belief in Christianity. Islamic belief holds that he was born of a virgin birth but that neither he nor his mother were divine. Actually, in this Sura, Allah describes those who say that Isa was the Son of God as saying something blasphemous, as God is the omnipotent creator and that all the creatures in earth and in heaven are God's servants. Maryam is venerated but not as the mother of God.
Ja'far ibn Abu Talib read this verse to the Abyssinian King during the Migration to Abyssinia
.
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
Maryam ' onMouseout='HidePop("77143")' href="/topics/Islamic_view_of_Virgin_Mary">Mary
Islamic view of Virgin Mary
Mary , the mother of Jesus, is considered one of the most righteous women in the Islamic tradition. She is mentioned more in the Qur'an than in the entire New Testament and is also the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an. According to the Qur'an, Jesus was born miraculously by the will of...
") is the 19th sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
(chapter) of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and is a Makkan sura with 98 ayat (English: verses). It is named after Maryām, the actual (Semitic) name for Mary, Mother of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
(Isa
Islamic view of Jesus
In Islam, Jesus is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Masih who was sent to guide the Children of Israel with a new scripture, the Injīl or Gospel. The belief in Jesus is required in Islam, and a requirement of being a Muslim. The Qur'an mentions Jesus twenty-five times, more often, by...
). The popular variant of the name Maryam, Mary, is a Westernized or Anglicized version. Similarly, the popular, Westernized or Anglicized name Jesus is actually Yeshua
Yeshua
Yeshua, was a common alternative form of the name Joshua "Yehoshuah" in later books of the Hebrew Bible and among Jews of the Second Temple Period...
.
This sura begins with two narrations of 'miraculous births' of God's Elect: Yahya (John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
) and Isa (Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
). The two readings (from the Bible and the Qur'an) of this episode are complementary and serve to illuminate deeper spiritual meaning of Yahya's advent and spiritual mission. This is a very important sura in terms of providing a mutual, and supportive, reference to earlier revelations in the monotheist scripture, known as The Book
The Book
The Book can refer to:* The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, a 1966 book by Alan Watts* "The Book" , an unfinished, fragmentary short story by H. P...
in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. A further matter of interest is that this sura numerically matches – i.e., Sura 1 is paired with last Sura 114, 2 with 113, etc. – Sura 96, Al-Alaq
Al-Alaq
Sūrat al-ʿAlaq , is the 96th sura or chapter of the Qur'an. It is composed of 19 Ayat , and is traditionally believed to have been revealed at Mecca at cave Hira...
, which begins with a short discourse on the 'miracle of life.'
The sura tells the story of the birth of Yahya after his father's desperation for having a successor. It goes on to say that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
Himself named him and that he was the first to carry this name. This account is immediately followed by the account of the annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
to the virgin, Mariam (Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
). Jesus (known as Isa in Islam) is much revered by Muslims as a very important prophet of Islam, similar to Adam
Adam
Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis. According to the creation myth of Abrahamic religions, he is the first human. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim , and the first woman, Eve was formed from his rib...
, Ibrahim
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, Musa
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
and Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
but not as the Son of God as is the belief in Christianity. Islamic belief holds that he was born of a virgin birth but that neither he nor his mother were divine. Actually, in this Sura, Allah describes those who say that Isa was the Son of God as saying something blasphemous, as God is the omnipotent creator and that all the creatures in earth and in heaven are God's servants. Maryam is venerated but not as the mother of God.
Ja'far ibn Abu Talib read this verse to the Abyssinian King during the Migration to Abyssinia
Migration to Abyssinia
The migration known as the first Hijarat was made in two groups totalling more than a hundred persons. According to Islamic tradition, eleven male and five female Sahabah, the Muslims who originally converged in Mecca, sought refuge from Quraysh persecution in the Kingdom of Aksum in of in the...
.
See also
- Virgin Mary in Islam
- IsaIslamic view of JesusIn Islam, Jesus is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Masih who was sent to guide the Children of Israel with a new scripture, the Injīl or Gospel. The belief in Jesus is required in Islam, and a requirement of being a Muslim. The Qur'an mentions Jesus twenty-five times, more often, by...
- Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
- Prophets of IslamProphets of IslamMuslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...