NATIVITY IN QURAN

PART OF SERIES, "PASKO 2025: DISCOVER THE CHRISTMAS"

Author: Ken Klark L. Flores

Photo: Tinig Ng Katotohanan PuntoStaff/Facebook

Location: Mary Mother of Jesus Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Introduction

If how Matthew and Luke records the Nativity, it also recorded in Quran, a holy book of Islam. How is possible?

Isa's Birth in Quran

The Quranic nativity story describes Mary (Maryam) giving birth to Jesus (Isa) alone in a "distant place," near a palm tree and a miraculous stream, with the baby speaking from the cradle to defend her purity and declare himself a prophet, unlike the Bethlehem manger scene. The narrative primarily appears in two chapters: Surah Maryam (Chapter 19) and Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3) .

The Archangel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to Mary (Maryam) in the form of a man to announce she would bear a "pure son". When she questioned how this could be, given her chastity, she was told that such a matter is "easy for God" and that He simply says "Be" and it is (The Birth of Jesus in the Quran | about Islam, 2023). Upon returning to her people, Mary was questioned about the child. Following a divine command to take a vow of silence, she pointed to the infant. In a miraculous defense of his mother, the infant Jesus spoke from the cradle, declaring he is the a servant of God (The Story of Jesus and Mary in the Holy Quran (Part 1 of 3):Mary, n.d.).

Divine Nature

But, he declares as appointed prophet, instead of "Son of God", because in the Islam, the divine nature is strictly monotheism, similar to Judaism's Shema, Islam uses "Tawhid", which rejects any partners or intermediaries, just as Judaism centers on one indivisible God (Yahweh/Elohim) (Love, 2024).

Reference

Onepathincdev. (2018, December 27). An Islamic account of the miraculous birth of Jesus- OnePath Network. OnePath Network. https://onepathnetwork.com/quran/the-birth-of-jesus-in-the-quran/

The Birth of Jesus in the Quran | About Islam. (2023, December 25). About Islam. https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/understanding-islam/the-birth-of-jesus-in-the-quran/

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Love, C. of. (2024, December 5). A direct comparison of the Islamic account of Jesus’ birth versus the biblical nativity story. Call of Love Ministries . https://www.calloflove.org/post/islamic-account-of-jesus-birth-versus-the-bible

‌The Story of Jesus and Mary in the Holy Quran (part 1 of 3):Mary. (n.d.). Www.islamreligion.com. https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/621/story-of-jesus-and-mary-in-holy-quran-part-1

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