4. THE PROPHET JESUS

 
05 JESUS, THE
MESSENGER
OF GOD
Family of Imran
Prophets and Messengers were sent by God continuously after the Prophet Noah, may God praise him.
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God, the Exalted, says:
“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of God and last of the prophets. And ever is God, of all things, Knowing.” (Qur’an 33:40)
The Prophet Jesus, the last Prophet from the Children of Israel, has a special place in the hearts of Muslims. He informed his people of the advent of and he is صلى الله عليه وسلم Prophet Muhammad mentioned in the Qur’an 25 times.
God has conveyed to us in the Qur’an some of the original passages that He revealed to Jesus. God also mentions details about the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is spoken of highly and is known for being pure and chaste.
God, the Exalted, says:
“Indeed, God chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ‘Imran over the worlds. Descendants, some of them from others. And God is Hearing and Knowing.” (Qur’an 3:33-34)
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Mary, may God praise her God has praised Mary, the mother of the Prophet Jesus. God describes Maryam as pure, chaste and pious.
He, the Exalted, says:
“And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.” (Qur’an 66:12)
The Qur’an clarifies that the birth of Mary was the result of a supplication that her own mother made.
God, the Exalted, says:
“[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran said, ‘My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’” (Qur’an 3:35)
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This supplication was the indirect cause through which she and her offspring were protected by God from the Devil.
God provided for Mary and reared her with His blessings.
Allah says:
“But when she delivered her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have delivered a female.’ And God was most aware of what she delivered, indeed the male is not like the female. ‘And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of God].’ So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance, caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah.
Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, ‘O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?’ She said, ‘It is from God. Indeed, God provides for whom He wills without account.’” (Qur’an 3:36-37)
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Mary was very pious in her worship of God. She was the best of women in her generation.
The Prophet, may God praise him, said:
“From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of following are: Mary, the daughter of Imrân; Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid; Fatima, the daughter of Muhammed and Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh.” (Tirmidhi).
God, the Exalted, says:
“And [mention] when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer].’” (Qur’an 3:42-43)
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God revealed an entire chapter in the Qur’an carrying her name. It is the 19th chapter in the Qur’an. It is the only chapter in the Qur’an named after a woman, and in it God praises Mary. A praise of a similar nature cannot be found in any of the previous Scriptures.
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