📌Mary was chosen above all women to be blessed with one of the greatest of God’s gifts to humanity. When she was a young woman an angel in the form of a man approached her. She feared him, though he only came to make her aware of her special purpose; she was to bear a son, an exceptional child who was to make an everlasting impression on the world. She was astonished by this information and defended herself by telling the angel that no man had ever touched her. He eased her concerns and reminded her that the Almighty has the ability to do whatsoever He pleased with the greatest of ease. So the angel told the Virgin Mary that God would manifest Jesus with a single word, “Be.”
📌The birth of Jesus was very painful to his mother. She cried out in agony wishing that she had died rather than feel the pain she was going through. God, in all His Mercy, delivered to her relief but told her to fast and not speak to anyone for a short while. When she went back to her village her townspeople were confounded by the sight of Mary and her child. They immediately, with an accusatory tone, interrogated her about the child. They called her by her honorable ancestral name to intensify the scathing they were about to inflict upon her. They said, “O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother a woman unchaste!” (Mary 19:28) Mary did not speak, keeping her promise to God. All she could do in this moment of intense scrutiny was point at the child as a last effort to protect herself from their vicious attacks. They sneered at her and mockingly asked her if she expected them to speak to an infant in a cradle. At this, a miraculous event occurred. The infant Jesus defended his mother’s purity and spoke the words, “I am indeed a servant of God: He has given me revelation and made me a Prophet…” (Mary 19:30) How else could Mary have explained this miraculous birth to a people that were accusing her of not preserving her chastity? Nothing she could have ever said would have made anyone believe her claims. So as a sign of His Mercy, God imparted this miracle upon Mary, the most honored woman in Islam.
📌Jesus was anointed by God and is held by Islam as one of the honorable Prophets of God, like Noah, Abraham, Moses and Muhammad. He is known as Jesus the son of Mary and the Messiah. He had a very important purpose in his lifetime. He was to reclaim and purify the religion of God that had become so corrupted by human hands and minds. The Gospel, (Injeel, as it is known in Arabic) is the word of God as revealed to Jesus. It was a message of peace, love and devotion to the One True God. Though the message was powerful and clear, Jesus was reinforced with miraculous abilities. The dead were brought back to life, the blind were made to see and those who were sick were healed. All these miracles were performed by Jesus who was enabled by God. Muslims respect and revere Jesus as a true Messenger and Prophet of God. He is the miracle of a word, his birth most exalted and his mission most honored. Jesus was, is and will be a source of great honor and respect in the hearts and minds of every believing Muslim.
