Editing Jesus in Islam (section)

=== Birth narratives ===
The Islamic faith echoed some strands within the Christian tradition that Mary (or Maryam) was a literal virgin when Jesus was conceived. The most detailed account of the annunciation and birth of Jesus is provided in [[Surah]] 3 ([[Al Imran]]) and 19 ([[Maryam (surah)|Maryam]]) of the Quran, where the story is narrated that God (Allah) sent an angel to announce that Maryam could shortly expect to bear a son, despite being a virgin.<ref name=Sarker >Sarker, Abraham,''Understand My Muslim People'', 2004, {{ISBN|1-59498-002-0}}, p. 260.</ref>

Some academics have noted that the account in [[Surah]] 19 is particularly close to that in the Christian [[Gospel of Luke]].<ref>Jackson, Montell, ''Islam Revealed'', 2003, {{ISBN|1-59160-869-4}}, p. 73.</ref> The Annunciation to Mary is mentioned twice in the Quran, and in both instances Mary/Maryam is told that she was chosen by God to deliver a son. In the first instance, the bearer of the news (who is believed by most Muslims to be the archangel Gabriel), delivered the news in ({{qref|3|42-47|pl=y}}) as he takes the form of a man ({{qref|19|16-22|pl=y}}).<ref name="Peters23">{{cite book|last=Peters|first=Francis Edward|author-link=Francis Edward Peters | title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HYJ2c9E9IM8C&pg=PA23|year=2009|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-2548-6|page=23}}</ref><ref name="Phyllis558">Jestice, Phyllis G., ''Holy people of the world: a cross-cultural encyclopedia, Volume 1'', 2004, {{ISBN|1-57607-355-6}}, pp. 558–559</ref> The details of the conception according to {{qref|66|12|pl=y}} and {{qref|21|89|pl=y}}, Mary conceives Jesus by being blown into her womb through the spirit (i.e. archangel Gabriel), Mary asks how she can bear a son in view of her chastity, she is told that God creates what he wills and that these things are easy for God.<ref name=Peters23 />

The 8th-century Muslim historian [[Ibn Ishaq]] (704–767), wrote the account entitled {{transliteration|ar|Kitab al-Mubtada}} ('In the Beginning'), reporting that Zechariah is Mary's guardian briefly, and after being incapable of maintaining her, he entrusts her to a carpenter named George. Secluded in a church, she is joined by a young man named Joseph, and they help one another fetching water and other tasks. The account of the birth of Jesus follows the Quran's narrative, adding that the birth occurred in [[Bethlehem]] beside a palm tree with a manger.{{Sfn|Watt|1991|p=39}}

The 10th-century Persian scholar [[al-Tabari]] (839–923) mentions envoys arriving from the king of Persia with gifts (similar to the [[Biblical Magi|Magi from the east]]) for the Messiah; the command to a man called Joseph (not specifically Mary's husband) to take her and the child to Egypt and later return to [[Nazareth]].{{sfn|Watt|2013|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=_qxlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA46 46]}}

The [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid]] [[Isma'ilism|Ismaili]] jurist [[Al-Qadi al-Nu'man|Qadi al-Nu'man]] also contributed to the narrative, explaining that the virgin birth of Jesus is meant to be interpreted symbolically. In his interpretation, Mary was the follower ({{transliteration|ar|lāḥiq}}), of the Imam Joachim ('Imran). However, when Joachim realized that she was not suited for the {{transliteration|ar|[[Imamate in Ismaili doctrine|Imamah]]}}, he passed it to Zechariah, who then passed it to John the Baptist. Meanwhile, Mary received spiritual inspiration ({{transliteration|ar|mādda}}) from God, revealing that he would invite a man (to the faith) who would become an exalted Speaker ({{transliteration|ar|nāṭiq}}) of a revealed religion ({{transliteration|ar|sharīʿa}}). According to al-Nu'man, the verses "She said: Lord! How can I have a child when no man has touched me?" ({{qref|3|47|pl=y}}) and "neither have I been unchaste" ({{qref|19|20|pl=y}}) are symbolic of Mary's saying, "How can I conduct the invitation ({{transliteration|ar|daʿwa}}) when the Imam of the Time has not given me permission to do so?" and "Nor shall I be unfaithful by acting against his command", respectively. To this, a celestial hierarch replies "Such is God. He creates [i.e., causes to pass] what he wills" ({{qref|3|47|b=y|pl=y}}).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Virani|first=Shafique|title=Hierohistory in Qāḍī l-Nuʿmān's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asās al-Taʾwīl): The Birth of Jesus|url=https://www.academia.edu/41992496|journal=Studies in Islamic Historiography|year=2019|pages=147–169|language=en|doi=10.1163/9789004415294_007|isbn=9789004415294|s2cid=214047322}}</ref>