The Islamic Mary as a Protagonist and Qur’anic Daughter

Abstract

Scholarship on Christian-Muslim relations often notes that the Islamic Mary (Maryam) is not seen as a figure in her own right but rather is viewed as ancillary to Jesus/‘Īsā. This paper will argue that the Islamic Mary is a protagonist, as the Qur’an defines her role, extols her spiritual state, and places her within its worldview. Maryam fits within the Qur’an’s larger framework of a daughter who is both similar to and distinct from the Christian Mary.