Islam and Mary: Maryam in the Quran

# Islam and Mary, Maryam in the Quran## Mary in Islam (Maryam)Maryam (Mary) occupies a unique place: she is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, who has an entire sura dedicated to her (Sura 19, Maryam). She is considered the most virtuous of women and the mother of one of the great prophets, Jesus (Isa). For the full article: Islam and Mary.## Mary in the QuranThe Quran mentions Mary in 34 verses across 11 suras. It affirms her virginity, the announcement by the angel (Anunciation), the virginal birth of Jesus under a palm tree in the desert, and her spotless purity without sin. However, it omits her maternal divinity (Islam rejects Jesus’ divinity) and her relationship to Redemption.## Convergences and Divergences**Convergences:** Virginity of Mary, Annunciation by an angel, miraculous birth, exemplary sanctity, role as the mother of a remarkable prophet. **Divergences:** Islam rejects Jesus’ divinity, thus Mary cannot be referred to as “Mother of God“. Theotokos (Mother of God) is the point of irreconcilable difference.## Dialogue and PilgrimageIn Marian shrines like Fátima and Lourdes, Muslim pilgrims come to venerate Mary. This phenomenon, little known, opens possibilities for inter-religious dialogue. The Vatican document *Nostra Aetate* (1965) mentions Muslim veneration of Mary as a point of contact.**Deepen your studies:** Explore Mariology, Theological Marian Studies, Marian Apparitions, and the Master’s in Mariology.—## Church Magisterium> **Citation:** *Ecclesia cum aestimatione quoque Muslimos respicit qui Abrahamum adorant. Qui Iesum quidem ut Deum non confitentur, Iesum tamen ut prophetam venerantur, matremque eius virginalem Mariam honorant.* > > **Translation:** The Church also looks with respect at Muslims who worship the one God. Although they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere him as a prophet and honor his virgin mother Mary. (From *Decl. Nostra Aetate*, n. 3, October 28, 1965)