****All excerpts below are taken from the Penguin Classics English translation of the Koran****
Many non-Muslims are surprised to know that Jesus is mentioned in the Koran and that we honor him as a great prophet of God. Jesus is mentioned in the Koran over 25 times and in at least 11 chapters. Below are some of the mentions of him, beginning with the story of his birth.
The Story of the Birth of Jesus
"And you shall recount in the book the story of Mary: how she left her people and betook herself to a solitary place to the east.
We sent to her our spirit in the semblance of a full-grown man. And when she saw him she said: 'May the Merciful defend me from you! If you fear the Lord, [leave me and go your way].'
'I am but your Lord's emissary,' he replied, 'and have come to give you a holy son.'
'How shall I bear a child,' she answered, 'when I have neither been touched by any man nor ever been unchaste?'
''Thus did your Lord speak,' he replied. ' "That is easy enough for Me. He shall be a sign to mankind and a blessing from Ourself. Our decree shall come to pass."'
Thereupon she conceived him, and retired to a far-off place. And when she felt the throes of childbirth she lay down by the trunk of a palm-tree, crying: 'Oh, would that I had died before this and passed into oblivion!'
But a voice from below cried out to her: 'Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet, and ripe dates in your lap. Therefore eat and drink and rejoice; and should you meet any mortal say to him: "I have vowed a fast to the Merciful and will not speak with any man today."'
Carrying the child, she came to her people, who said her: 'Mary, this is indeed a strange thing! Sister of Aaron*, to your father was never a whore-monger, nor was your mother a harlot.'
She made a sign to them, pointing to the child. But they replied: 'How can we speak with a babe in the cradle?'
Whereupon he spoke and said: 'I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and ordained me a prophet. His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has exhorted me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness. Blessed was I on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day of my death and on the day I shall be raised to life.'
Such was Jesus son of Mary. That is the whole truth, which they still doubt. God forbid that He Himself should beget a son! When He decrees a thing He need only say: 'Be,' and it is." 19:13-36
"And remember the angel's words to Mary. They said: 'God has chosen you. He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind. Mary, be obedient to you Lord; bow down and worship with the worshippers.'" 3:44
"The angels said to Mary: 'God bids you rejoice in a word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favored. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life.'
'Lord,' she said, 'how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?'
He replied: 'Even thus. God creates whom He will. When He decrees a thing He need only say "Be," and it is. He will instruct him in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the gospel, and send him forth as an apostle to the Israelites. He will say: "I bring you a sign from your Lord. From clay I will make for you the likeness of a bird. I shall breath into it and , by God's leave, it shall become a living bird. By God's leave I shall heal the blind man and the leper, and raise the dead to life. I shall tell you what to eat and what to store up in your houses. Surely that will be a sign for you, if you are true believers. I come to confirm the Torah which proceeded me and to make lawful for you some of the things you are forbidden. I bring you a sign from you Lord: therefore fear God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord: therefore serve Him. That is the straight path."'
When Jesus observed that they had no faith, he said: 'Who will help me in the cause of God?'
The disciples replied: 'We are God's helpers. We believe in Your revelations and follow the apostle. Count us among your witnesses.'
They contrived and God contrived. God is the supreme Contriver. God said: 'Jesus, I am about to claim you back and lift you up to Me. I shall take you away from them till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me you shall all return and I shall judge your disputes. The unbelievers shall be sternly punished in this world and in the world to come: there shall be none to help them. As for those that have faith and do good works, they shall be given their reward in full. God does not love the evil doers.'
This revelation, and this wise admonition, we recite to you. Jesus is like Adam in the sight of God. He created him from dust and then said to him: 'Be,' and he was.
The Story of the birth of Mary:
"Remember the words of 'Imran's wife. 'Lord,' she said, 'I dedicate to Your service that which is in my womb. Accept it from me. You alone hear all and know all.'
And when she was delivered of the child, she said: 'Lord, I have given birth to a daughter'- God well knew of what she was delivered: the male is not like the female- 'and have called her Mary. Protect her and all her descendants from Satan, the Accursed One.'
Her Lord graciously accepted her. He made her grow a goodly child and entrusted her to the care of Zacharias.
Whenever Zacharias visited her in the Shrine he found that she had food with her. 'Mary,' he said, 'where is this food from?'
'It is from God,' she answered. 'God gives without measure to whom He will.' 3:35-38
*Muslim commentators deny the charge that there is confusion here between Miriam, Aaron's sister, and Maryam (Mary), mother of Jesus. 'Sister of Aaron,' they argue, simply means 'virtuous woman' in this context.
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