Mary in the Quran, known in Arabic as Maryam, is the mother of Jesus and the most honored woman in Islam. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, the angels tell her that God has "chosen you above the women of the worlds," and an entire chapter, Surah Maryam, carries her name.
For Muslims, Maryam is a model of devotion, patience and trust in God. For Christian readers, it often comes as a surprise how much the Quran says about her, including her own birth, her years of worship, and the miraculous birth of Jesus. This guide tells her story verse by verse.
Key takeaways
- Maryam is the only woman named in the Quran, and her name appears 34 times in the Arabic text.
- The Quran affirms the virgin birth of Jesus and describes it as a sign from God (Quran 19:21).
- Surah Maryam is the 19th chapter of the Quran, has 98 verses and was revealed in Mecca.
- The Quran honors Mary as chosen and purified by God (3:42) and as an example for all believers (66:12), while teaching that she and Jesus were human servants of God.
- Authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim name Maryam among the best women who ever lived.
Who is Maryam in Islam?
In Islam, Maryam is the daughter of 'Imran, from a righteous family descended from the prophets. The Quran places her family among those God chose "over the worlds," alongside Adam, Noah and the family of Abraham (Quran 3:33).
She is honored in Islam as one of the greatest people who ever lived. In a hadith recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that many men reached perfection, but among women only Mary daughter of 'Imran and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh did. Another report in both collections names Mary and Khadijah, the Prophet's first wife, as the best women of their times.
The story of Maryam in the Quran
The Quran tells Mary's story in two main places: Surah Ali 'Imran (3:35–47) and Surah Maryam (19:16–34). Together they cover her whole life, from before her birth to the moment she presents her newborn son to her people.
Her birth and childhood
Mary's mother made a vow while pregnant to dedicate her child to God's service. When she gave birth to a girl, she named her Mary and asked God to protect her.
But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, "And 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 Allah]."
"Allah" is the Arabic word for God, used by Arab Christians as well as Muslims. God accepted the prayer, and Mary was raised in the care of the prophet Zechariah. A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim connects this prayer to a special protection: every newborn is touched by Satan except Mary and her son.
Even as a child, Mary showed remarkable closeness to God. Whenever Zechariah entered her prayer chamber, he found food with her that he had not brought.
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and 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 Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account."
Seeing this, the elderly Zechariah was inspired to pray for a child of his own, and God gave him John (Yahya). That story frames Mary's story in both chapters.
Chosen above the women of the worlds
The Quran records the angels speaking to Mary directly, a rare honor.
And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah 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]."
Commentators explain that she was chosen twice: first for her devotion and purity, and then for the unique role of being the mother of Jesus. The verse that follows calls her story "news of the unseen" revealed to the Prophet (Quran 3:44).
What does the Quran say about the virgin birth?
The Quran clearly affirms that Mary conceived Jesus without a father. In Surah Maryam, she withdraws to a private place and an angel appears to her in the form of a man.
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' "
Her first reaction, in Quran 19:18, is to seek refuge in God, which commentators highlight as a sign of her modesty. Surah Ali 'Imran gives the same news with the explanation that God "creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is" (Quran 3:47).
So the virgin birth is fully accepted in Islam. Where Islam differs from Christian teaching is in what it means. The Quran compares Jesus to Adam, who was created without father or mother: "Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam" (Quran 3:59). The miracle shows God's power rather than making Jesus divine.
Maryam under the palm tree
One of the most moving scenes in the Quran is Mary giving birth alone. It does not appear in the Bible, and it shows her as deeply human.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."
God answered her distress immediately. A voice told her not to grieve, pointed out a stream beneath her, and told her to shake the palm tree so that fresh dates would fall (Quran 19:24–26). Many Muslims draw comfort from this passage: even the most honored woman felt fear and exhaustion, and God's help came in that moment.
Jesus speaks from the cradle
When Mary returned to her people carrying the baby, they accused her. She had vowed silence, so she simply pointed to her son.
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
The newborn goes on to say that God made him "dutiful to my mother" (Quran 19:32). The miracle cleared Mary's name. Elsewhere the Quran condemns those who spoke "a great slander" against her (Quran 4:156).
People sometimes ask why the crowd calls her "sister of Aaron" in Quran 19:28. A hadith in Sahih Muslim explains that people of that time used to name themselves after earlier prophets and righteous people. Scholars also note it can mean she was from the noble line of Aaron.
Why is a surah named after Mary?
Surah Maryam, also written Surah e Maryam, is the 19th surah of the Quran. It has 98 verses and was revealed in Mecca before the Muslims' migration to Medina. It is the only chapter of the Quran named after a woman.
The surah begins with Zechariah and John, then tells Mary's story, and goes on to mention Abraham, Moses, Ishmael and Idris. Its recurring theme is God's mercy: the name "the Most Merciful" (ar-Rahman) appears in it more often than in any other surah. Naming the chapter after Mary places her among these great figures of faith.
The surah also has a special place in early Islamic history. When persecuted Muslims took refuge with the Christian king of Abyssinia, their spokesman Ja'far ibn Abi Talib recited the opening of Surah Maryam to him. According to the account recorded in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, the king wept and granted them protection.
Mary as an example for all believers
The Quran ends one of its chapters by presenting two women as examples for every believer, man or woman. The second is Mary.
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.
Her qualities in this verse are chastity, faith in God's words and devoted obedience. The Quran also makes clear that Mary was a human servant of God, calling her "a supporter of truth" and adding that she and her son "both used to eat food" (Quran 5:75). Honor in Islam does not mean worship.
To learn more about her son, see our guide to Jesus in the Quran. For other inspiring women in scripture, read what the Quran says about women, and for the wider relationship between faiths, see Christians and Jews in the Quran.
Read Surah Maryam on Quran Universe
You can read Surah Maryam and the Mary passages of Surah Ali 'Imran on Quran Universe with the Arabic, the Sahih International translation, word-by-word meanings, a short verse card for each verse, and the full Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mary mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Mary (Maryam) is mentioned by name 34 times in the Quran, more than in the New Testament. She is the only woman the Quran names, and Surah 19 is named after her.
Do Muslims believe in the virgin birth?
Yes. The Quran states that Mary conceived Jesus without any man touching her, as a sign and mercy from God (19:20–21). Muslims believe this was a miracle like the creation of Adam, not a sign that Jesus is divine.
What is Surah Maryam about?
Surah Maryam is the 19th chapter of the Quran, with 98 verses revealed in Mecca. It tells the stories of Zechariah and John, Mary and the birth of Jesus, and then Abraham, Moses and other prophets, with a strong focus on God's mercy.
Why is Mary so honored in Islam?
The Quran says God chose and purified Mary and chose her "above the women of the worlds" (3:42). Authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim also count her among the most perfect women who ever lived.
What is the story of Maryam in the Quran?
The Quran tells how Mary was dedicated to God before birth, raised by Zechariah, and visited by an angel who announced she would bear a son. She gave birth to Jesus alone under a palm tree, and when her people accused her, the infant Jesus spoke from the cradle to defend her.