Epic Beard Man
Bearded Philosopher
Very much debate within the scholarship of the Muslim community has speculated whether or not Mary the mother of Jesus, was considered a prophet. A very small minority within the Shi'ite tradition (and Sunni) believe she is in accordance to verses in the Qur'an. Firstly, allow me to define the difference between a prophet (Anbiya) and messenger (Rasul). According to the Islamic tradition, a prophet is someone who receives revelation from divine providence, and a messenger is one who is given a message to deliver. So in essence a prophet is just one who receives a message from God but is not required to spread it, while a messenger is one who receives such a revelation and is given the task to spread it.
But what is the criteria of prophet-hood according to Islam?
1) Prophets receive revelation from divine providence that is assuredly from the Creator.
2) All prophets have a noble character
3) Prophets perform miracles
4) All prophets are devout
5) All prophets carry the same message as previous prophets
According to the Qur'an, it would appear that Mary qualified for all three:
"And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’ ‘O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down along those who bow down (in prayer).’ That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed,” (Quran 3:42-44).
What was the miracle she performed?
Giving birth to Jesus. Her body was uniquely "blessed" to spontaneously create a living organism that gestated into a developed human baby. No other woman or human in recorded history has ever done that so I'd argue that although God has given her body the ability to perform this act, it was through Mary's body alone that has done that. We see in the Qur'an when Mary questions Gabriel on how she would have the ability to birth a child:
"She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is."
Surah 3:45-51
What are your thoughts?
But what is the criteria of prophet-hood according to Islam?
1) Prophets receive revelation from divine providence that is assuredly from the Creator.
2) All prophets have a noble character
3) Prophets perform miracles
4) All prophets are devout
5) All prophets carry the same message as previous prophets
According to the Qur'an, it would appear that Mary qualified for all three:
"And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’ ‘O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down along those who bow down (in prayer).’ That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed,” (Quran 3:42-44).
What was the miracle she performed?
Giving birth to Jesus. Her body was uniquely "blessed" to spontaneously create a living organism that gestated into a developed human baby. No other woman or human in recorded history has ever done that so I'd argue that although God has given her body the ability to perform this act, it was through Mary's body alone that has done that. We see in the Qur'an when Mary questions Gabriel on how she would have the ability to birth a child:
"She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is."
Surah 3:45-51
What are your thoughts?
