Islamic Center of Southern California

Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary

by Mahmoud Abdel-Baset, Ph.D.

Christmas is perhaps the most celebrated event in the world, transcending the barriers of religions and cultures. This article discusses the significance of Jesus' birth as presented in the Quran. This discussion is not intended to critique basic Christian doctrines, but rather to emphasize the reverence of Jesus in Islam.

The birth of Mary (Maryam), the mother of Jesus, is a significant event as presented in the Quran (3:35, 36):

"Behold! A woman of 'Imran said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things." When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!"- And Allah knew best what she brought forth- "And the male is not like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One (Satan), the Rejected." Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and grace."

The mother of Mary from the House of Imran, the descendents of Moses and Aaron, dedicated her unborn child to God and prayed that God would accept the child as His devout servant. This simple but dear wish of a mother from an honorable priestly family was to give birth to a son to be the heir to the family legacy of guarding the truth and serving God. This hope vanished when she gave birth to a girl - Mary - who could not be the keeper of the Temple. Disappointment of Mary's mother shows our limitations as humans to understand beyond the obvious. However, only God is fully aware of what an extraordinary girl she had given birth to. Only God knew that the destiny of this girl would far exceed the expectations of any human being.

Unlike any other man, Jesus is referred to by God as His word and spirit from Him.

"… Christ Jesus the son of Mary was but an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for God is One God. Glory is to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. and enough is God as a Disposer of affairs." (Quran 4:171)

The miracle birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary is illustrated in the Quran Surah Al-Imran, Chapter 3:45-51:

"O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is! "And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel, "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I bring life to the dead, by God's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe; "'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So be conscious of God, and obey me. "'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a way that is straight.'" Quran (3:42-51)

This is one of several Quranic narratives of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a Godly manifestation that cannot be understood solely based on human logic. One must invoke faith in the Creator, the All-knowing. When Mary received the glad tidings of a son who is referred to by God as "Word from Him," her instinct reaction is purely human: "My Lord, how can I have a child when no man has ever touched me?" The answer to Mary's human query is nothing less than a testimony of faith in God: "God creates what He wills: when He wills a thing to be, He but say unto it "Be" and it is."

Thus, the birth of Jesus is a divine manifestation of the will of God, who created everything.

"The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was." Quran (3:59)

Jesus Christ (PBUH) is designated by God to be the Messiah with great honor in this life and to be amongst these who are close to God in the Hereafter. Jesus' principle task was to be a messenger to the Children of Israel, to fulfill the truth of what had been revealed in the Torah. The essence of his message is the same as that of all the true prophets: "God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer, so worship Him (alone) and follow the straight path."

The evolution of Christian doctrines since the birth of Jesus (PBUH) until the revelation of the Quran in the 7th Century has established the Trinity, ascribing divinity to Jesus, as a basic doctrine in Christianity. The Quran presents a dialogue, perhaps on the Day of Judgment, where Jesus (PBUH) refutes the assertion of his divinity.

"And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto people, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though, I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. "I never said to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship God, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things. "If Thou dost punish them, they are Thy servant: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power, the Wise." God will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: God well-pleased with them, and they with God. That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires). To God doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, and it is He Who hath power over all things." Quran (5:116- 120)

The birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) should be honored by Muslims as a sign from God, His word and spirit from Him. Muslims may observe Christmas in the same spirit as Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) observed the Passover in Medina (Ashura) by fasting in memory of God's blessings in liberating Moses and the believers from tyranny.

Islamic Center of Southern California