Abstract:
This article explores the life and importance of Mary in Islam and Christianity, aiming at clarifying the criteria for which Mary has been revered in each tradition. It will be shown that Mary in Christianity is almost merely important because she was the mother of Jesus, while the Muslim reverence for her is based on her own noble characteristics. From the Muslim perspective, even if Mary had not been Jesus’ mother, she would have been a prominent figure and a great example for believers.
Machine summary:
Christian tradition reckons her the principal saint, naming her variously the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, and Mother of God. Biblical data on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is naturally found primarily in the New Testament, but also certain passages of the Old Testament as interpreted by inspired writers in the New Testament concern her (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 9: 238).
As the primary source among Christians, I will refer to all the instances of Mary being mentioned in the New Testament, because it is mainly from these texts that the doctrine and tradition concerning Mary`s person and mission in the history of salvation has been evolved.
The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles In Luke`s gospel we may distinguish two kinds of passages pertinent to Mary: first, a relatively extensive set of references to Mary in the infancy narrative of chapters 1-2, where she has an important role in the annunciation, the visitation, the birth at Bethlehem, the presentation in the Temple, and the finding of Jesus in the Temple; second, four brief passages in the narrative of Jesus’ public ministry.
He has a great position in Islamic theology, as well as eschatology and morality, but the interesting point is that when his name is mentioned in the Quran, it almost always comes before the name of his mother as Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary).
It can also refer to the Islamic view of Jesus as a human being, and not as the son of God. Chapter 19 of the Quran has been named after Mary and the third chapter has been named after her family.