Quran and Hadith Studies‎

A Comparative Analysis of Commentators' Views on the Genealogy of the Virgin Mary in the Quran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

2 Quran and Hadith Department. Qom University. Qom. Iran

10.30497/qhs.2025.247242.4049

Abstract

The Virgin Mary is the only woman mentioned by name 34 times in the Quran, emphasizing her virtues. In some verses, she is called "daughter of Imran" and "sister of Aaron." This study examines why the Quran highlights Mary’s genealogy and analyzes interpretations of "Āl Imran" and "sister of Aaron" by Quranic scholars. Using an analytical-comparative approach, it advocates a literary interpretation of Quranic narratives. The findings show that the Quran attributes Mary’s lineage to the esteemed family of Imran to counter accusations by biased Jewish groups and address inconsistencies in Gospel genealogies. By excluding "Joseph the Carpenter" from Jesus’ lineage, the Quran underscores the maternal line of "Jesus, son of Mary." The study suggests that "Aaron" in "O sister of Aaron" refers to the prophet Aaron, with Mary’s connection being genealogical and indirect. Mary is identified as the direct daughter of Imran, though Imran’s historical identity remains unclear due to limited Quranic details. Additionally, the absence of "Amram," the father of Moses and Aaron, in the Quran, along with contextual evidence, supports the view that "Āl Imran" refers to Mary’s paternal family.

Keywords

Main Subjects

The Holy Quran.
The Bible.
Abul-Saud, Muhammad (1983), Irshad al-Aql al-Salim ila Mazaaya al-Quran al-Karim, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.
Al-Baydawi, Abdullah (1418), Anwar al-Tanzil wa Asrar al-Ta'wil, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.
Al-Qummi, Ali ibn Ibrahim (1363 SH), Tafsir al-Qummi, Qom: Dar al-Kitab.
Al-Sa’idi, Abdul-Muta’al (1313), “Maryam, Mother of Jesus (AS): Her Sisterhood to Aaron and Her Lineage to Imran”, Al-Manar Journal, No. 517, pp. 760-767.
Al-Suwa, Firas (2011), The Gospel According to the Quran, Damascus: Dar Alaa al-Din for Publishing.
Al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir (1291), Tarikh al-Tabari, Lucknow: Munshi Nawal Kishore Press.
Al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir (1412), Jami al-Bayan an Ta’wil Ay al-Quran, Beirut: Dar al-Ma’rifa.
Al-Tha’labi, Ahmad (1422), Al-Kashf wa al-Bayan, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.
Al-Tusi, Muhammad ibn Hasan (n.d.), Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir al-Quran, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.
Al-Zamakhshari, Mahmud (1407), Al-Kashshaf an Haqaiq Ghawamid al-Tanzil, Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi.
Bell, Richard (1925), The Origins of Islam in Its Christian Environment, London: Macmillan.
Celik, Ercan (2022), “From Miriam to Mary: A Messianic Lineage in the Quran”, Electronic Publication on Academia Website, available at: https://www.academia.edu/21983615/Miriam_to_Mary_A_Messianic_Lineage_in_the_Quran
Eyvazi, Heydar (1392), “A Girl in the Mihrab: A Comparative Study of the Character of Mary  in Christian-Islamic Tradition”, Journal of Ahl al-Bayt Interpretation, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 95-110.
Fakhr al-Razi, Muhammad ibn Umar (1420), Al-Tafsir al-Kabir – Mafatih al-Ghayb, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.
Ibn Kathir, Ismail (1419), Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya.
Javadi Amoli, Abdullah (1383), Tasnim, Qom: Markaz Nashr Isra.
Javadi Amoli, Abdullah (1402), “Interpretation of Verses 27 to 35 of Surah Maryam – Part Two”, Audio Publication on Iran Seda Website, available at: http://sokhanrani.iranseda.ir/detailsalbum/?g=536723
Khalafallah, Muhammad Ahmad (1402), The Art of Storytelling in the Holy Quran, Translated by Mohsen Amin, Tehran: Nashr Ney.
Khalafallah, Muhammad Ahmad (1999), Al-Fann al-Qasasi fi al-Quran al-Karim, London: Sina Publishing.
Mourad, Suleiman Ali (2008), “Mary in the Qurʾan: A Reexamination of Her Presentation”, in The Qurʾan in Its Historical Context, Edited by Gabriel Said Reynolds, London: Routledge, pp. 163–174.
Muqatil ibn Sulayman (1423), Tafsir Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath.
Neuwirth, Angelika (2005), “Mary and Jesus, Counterbalancing the Biblical Patriarchs: A Re-Reading of Surat Maryam in Surat al Imran”, Parole de l'Orient, Vol. 30, pp. 231-260.
Neuwirth, Angelika (2009), “Imagining Mary Disputing Jesus: Reading Súrat Maryam and Related Meccan Texts within the Qur'anic Communication Process”, in Studies in Islamic Origins: The Qurʾan in Its Historical Context, Edited by Benjamin Jokisch, Ulrich Rebstock, and Lawrence I. Conrad, Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 383-416.
Qutb, Sayyid (1425), Fi Zilal al-Quran, Beirut: Dar al-Shuruq.
Rad, Ali (1397), “Critical Analysis of Doubts Regarding the Lineage of Abraham”, Mishkat Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 26-28.
Reynolds, Gabriel Said (2010), The Qurʾān and its Biblical Subtext, New York: Routledge.
Rida, Muhammad Rashid (1414), Tafsir al-Quran al-Hakim, Beirut: Dar al-Ma’rifa.
Samaran, Charles (1370), Research Methods in Historical Sciences, Translated by a Group of Translators, Mashhad: Deputy of Cultural Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi.
Shabani, Azam Sadat; Parsa, Forough (1402), “Critical Analysis of Orientalists’ Views on the Quranic Expressions ‘Sister of Aaron’ and ‘Daughter of Imran’”, Journal of Quranic and Islamic Cultural Studies, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 75-97.
Shukri, Muhammad et al. (1395), “A Response to the Doubt Regarding the Application of the Title ‘Sister of Aaron’ to Mary in the Holy Quran”, Quranic Research Journal, Vol. 21, No. 79, pp. 96-109.
Tabatabai, Muhammad Hussain (1402), Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran, Beirut: Al-Alami Publishing House.
Tuyisarkani, Rouzbeh (1386), “Mary the Holy is Not the Sister of Aaron!”, Electronic Publication on the Jewish Think Tank Website, available at: https://jscenter.ir/judaism-and-islam/israiliyyat/15413/
Quran and Hadith Studies‎
Volume 18, Issue 2 - Serial Number 36
March 2025
Pages 1-29