Christianity & Islam
Mary (Maryam) in Islam and Christianity
Mary, Maryam in Arabic, is honoured in both Islam and Christianity as the virgin mother of Jesus. She is the only woman named in the Qur'an, which devotes an entire chapter to her and says God chose her above all women. The Gospels call her 'blessed among women.' Few figures unite the two faiths in reverence the way Mary does.
What the Qur’an says about Maryam
Mary is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an, and the 19th chapter is named after her, Surah Maryam. She is chosen, purified, and honoured above all women, and she conceives Jesus as a virgin by God’s word.
What the Gospels say about Mary
In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, a virgin, and announces the birth of Jesus. Her relative Elizabeth greets her with words Christians have treasured ever since.
Where Muslims and Christians agree about Mary
Both faiths honour Mary as a virgin, chosen by God, pure, and blessed among all women, and both hold that she conceived Jesus miraculously by the word and power of God. Her reverence is genuinely shared.
Where they differ
The difference is not about Mary but about her Son. Christians confess that the child she bore is God’s eternal Son made flesh; Islam honours the child as a great prophet. Christians also reflect theologically on Mary in ways Islam does not. But on her dignity and her 'yes' to God, the two traditions stand close together.
Qur’an quotations: Pickthall (1930, public domain); translations vary, compare others at quran.com. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its primary source.
The word itself
مريم (Maryam) → Μαρία (Maria) → Mary
Maryam in Arabic, Maria in Greek, Miriam in Hebrew, the same beloved name. In every tongue she is the mother who said yes to God.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mary in the Qur'an?
- Yes, and prominently. Mary (Maryam) is the only woman named in the Qur'an, the 19th chapter is named after her, and she is described as chosen and purified above all women.
- Do Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?
- Yes. The Qur'an clearly teaches that Mary was a virgin and conceived Jesus miraculously by God's word (Surah Maryam 19). Christians believe the same (Luke 1).
- Why is Mary important to both Muslims and Christians?
- Because both faiths honour her as the pure, chosen, virgin mother of Jesus. She is one of the strongest points of shared reverence between Islam and Christianity.
Come and see
The Qur’an itself honours the Injil (the Gospel) as “guidance and a light” (5:46). The most direct way to know who Jesus is, is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here, and no one has to know. You are welcome exactly as you are.
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