Mary and her Son JESUS

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	Mary and her son, JESUS (Peace Be Upon them) The Noble Qur-an, the final testament which God Almighty revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as guidance for all 'Mankind, speaks' highly not- only of Mary, but also of Jesus, her son. According to the Noble Qur-an, Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) is a prophet as are Noah, Abraham, and Moses (Peace Be Upon Them All). As far as Mary is concerned, the Noble Qur-an has hailed her as a model for the women of the entire world. The following discussion, based on the Noble Qur-an, will further explain this fact.

	In the Noble Qur-an, Mary (Peace Be Upon Her) has been mentioned several times, especially in the chapters called "Al-Imran” and “Maryam”, the Arabic name for Mary. When Mary was born, her mother prayed that her daughter should be given the protection of God, so she would lead a good life. God Almighty heard her plea and accepted Mary into His protection, under the care of Zackariah, the father of John "the Baptist." Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Qur-an: "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 as the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan the outcast." (Qur-an- 3: 35-36)

	"Whenever Zackariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found her provided with food. He said: 'O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?' She said: "It is from Allah. Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure." (Qur-an-3: 37)

	"Behold! The angels said: O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee; chosen thee above the women of all nations. O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." (Qur-an, 3: 42)

	The Noble Qur-an further states that it is an awesome statement to accuse Mary of unchastity, as did the Jews: "That they rejected faith; that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge." (Qur-an, 4: 156)

	The Noble Qur-an also gives an account of the birth of Jesus by Mary. Just prior to Jesus' birth, Mary retired to an eastern place where she prayed. It was in this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not to invade her privacy. God Almighty says in the Noble Qur-an: "Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east. She placed a screen (to screen herself from them). Then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: 'I seek refuge from thee in (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near me) if thou dost fear Allah.' He said: 'I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.' She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste." (Qur-an, 19:16-20)

	Mary was naturally confused by this as she proclaimed that she had not been touched by any man, to which the, angel then replied: He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith: 'That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a mercy from Us: it is a matter (so) decreed. So she conceived him and she retired with him to remote place." (Qur-an, 19:21-22)

	Mary, being human, suffered the effects of childbirth as any expectant mother would during these times. Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Qur-an: "And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish: 'Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!' But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee. "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say: I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being." (Qur-an, 19:23-26)
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