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- Welcome to "Let The Quran Speak."

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With Christmas around the corner,

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many people are reflecting on the story of Jesus.

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Did you know that Jesus has a central place

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in Islam as well?

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Today we'll be exploring the birth of Jesus in the Quran.

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With me is Dr. Shabir Ally.

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Dr. Shabir, welcome to "Let The Quran Speak."

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- Pleasure to be on.

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- Let's talk about Jesus.

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And of course, we cannot talk about Jesus

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without talking about Mary as well,

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who was a remarkable woman who brought Jesus into being

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so let's talk about that, Dr. Shabir.

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- Yeah, the Quran depicts the story of the birth of Jesus

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in two extensive narratives in the Quran.

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One is in the third chapter of the Quran,

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starting with the 42nd verse.

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The other is in the 19th chapter of the Quran,

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starting with the 16th āyah, the 16th verse.

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Both of these chapters are named

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after persons related to Jesus.

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Surat Maryam is the most obvious one,

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the 19th chapter named Surat Maryam

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after the Hebrew name of Jesus's mother, Maryam.

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And in the third chapter of the Quran, that one is named

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after the grandfather of Jesus, Al Imran.

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It's called the Family of Imran,

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Imran being Jesus's grandfather

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from the Quranic perspective.

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- Mm-hmm, it's interesting that there's no chapter

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of the Quran with Jesus's name reflected in the name

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so that's interesting. - Yes.

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- You mentioned Maryam and the grandfather, but no Jesus.

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- Yes, yes, though Jesus's name

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is mentioned in the Quran 25 times,

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Maryam, his mother, is mentioned even more times,

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probably three dozen times.

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- Wow. - Yes.

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Because often her name is mentioned

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in conjunction with her son because her son is identified

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as Jesus, son of Mary,

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so Mary's name gets automatically mentioned,

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but as a standalone,

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her name gets mentioned several times more.

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- Mm-hmm, and how does that compare to the mention

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of Muhammad's name in the Quran, Prophet Muhammad?

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Is it similar in terms of the way Jesus is mentioned?

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- The word Muhammad for the name of the Prophet Muhammad,

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peace be upon him, occurs four times in the Quran.

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And then there is a fifth mention that we can count,

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the word Ahmad, being an alternative name

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of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,

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derived from the same root as Muhammad.

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And this occurs, coincidentally, in one of the prophecies

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that Isa Alayhi al-Salam, Jesus, on whom be peace, offers.

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He speaks about a prophet to come after him

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whose name will be Ahmad.

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So the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, you can say,

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is mentioned by name four or five times if we include Ahmad.

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- Hmm, interesting.

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So, Dr. Shabir, let's move on to the birth of Jesus.

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Tell me a little bit about how it transpires in the Quran

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and maybe how it kind of differs

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from the biblical narrative as well.

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- Yes. So let's start with the Quranic narrative then.

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So in the third chapter, we read that the angels come

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to address Mary, and first Mary rises to prominence.

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Even before the angels address her,

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the Quran gives a bit of a background

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by saying God has chosen the family of Imran.

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So we see that this is a blessed family

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coming all the way down.

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And the mother of Mary dedicates the child in her womb,

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this would be Mary in her womb, to the worship of God.

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And then Mary grows up under God's care,

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and she is miraculously provided for according to the Quran.

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Then eventually, the angels address Mary

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and speaks to her in very respectful language,

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saying that God has chosen her and preferred her

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over all of the women of the world.

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- Hmm.

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- And then she's given the good news

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that she will have a child.

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And she says, "How can I have a child

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when no mortal has touched me?"

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And she's told, "So it will be."

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When God decrees the thing, He only says to it, Kun,

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the Arabic word, to be, and it is.

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Many Muslims know this phrase, "Kun faya kun," be and it is.

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So the birth of Jesus is therefore shown in the Quran

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to be a miraculous event.

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It's accompanied by this presaging

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of the angelic announcement.

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This is known in Christian circles

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as the Annunciation that is given to Mary.

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The 19th chapter of the Quran is in a similar vein.

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There too, we find there is a bit

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of a background information.

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In both narratives,

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the story of John the Baptist is told first,

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Zechariah and his son Yahya, John the Baptist.

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And then we come to the story of Mary there too.

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And Mary is told that she will have a child.

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She asks how it can happen,

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and she's told that this is easy for God

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and God has made this a thing determined

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so this is going to definitely happen.

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This chapter goes into details about Mary secluding herself

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and the, you know, we see the pain

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that a woman goes through

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as she is ready to give birth in the story of Mary here.

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So the story becomes very much touching

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to women in particular, but to Muslims in general.

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- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

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So she gives birth, right, Dr. Shabir,

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and then what happens next?

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- Naturally, people want to know, you know,

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well, how do you explain all of this?

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So this- - Because she goes back

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to her town, right? - Yes.

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- Yes. - The Quran says,

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(Dr. Shabir speaks in Arabic)

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then she got pregnant with him

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and she went to an eastern place.

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And then after all is done, she gives birth.

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She comes back to her people and the people say,

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(Dr. Shabir speaking in Arabic)

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"Mary, how do you explain this?"

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And she pointed to the child and the child spoke

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and said, "Inni Abdullah, I am a servant of God.

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(Dr. Shabir speaks Arabic)

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God has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

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(Dr. Shabir speaks Arabic)

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And has made me blessed wherever I shall be," and so on.

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So basically, the child speaks.

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And that, is in a way, in defense of his mother,

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in case someone might cast aspersions on her.

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How did she have a child

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when obviously her husband is not accounted for?

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So the Quran gives a realistic account

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of how things would be expected to happen

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in a situation like that and at the same time,

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clears the name of Jesus and of his mother, Mary.

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- What lessons do we learn

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from the birth of Jesus in the Quran, Dr. Shabir?

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- Well, in the Quran, we have a number of important lessons.

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If we reflect on what Jesus was saying, even as a child,

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God has, you know, enjoined upon him,

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(Dr. Shabir speaks Arabic)

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"God has enjoyed upon me prayer and charity

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as long as I am alive."

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So these are important commandments and teachings

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in the Quran for Muslims, prayer and charity.

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He says, (speaks Arabic)

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"And he has been made dutiful to his mother. (speaks Arabic)

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And I have not been overwhelming over my mother

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and unblessed in the way that I treat my mother,

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like as a wretched child."

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So these are all important lessons

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because after the important commandment of being kind,

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of being dutiful to God, worshiping God,

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we are enjoined to be kind towards our parents,

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and here we see that reflected in Jesus himself.

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Many other important lessons.

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The birth of Jesus is told in two of the gospels,

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in the Gospel according to Luke,

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the Gospel according to Matthew,

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and each is told from a different perspective.

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You know, I'll cut it short by saying that the Quranic story

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is very much reflective of details

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which are mentioned in both of these,

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but especially so in the Gospel according to Luke.

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- All right, we'll leave it at that. Thank you, Dr. Shabir.

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- You're welcome.

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(both speaking Arabic)

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Reflecting on Jesus: Exploring the Quranic Narrative

In the midst of the Christmas season, it's essential to delve into the central role of Jesus in Islam. The birth of Jesus holds a significant place in the Quran, shedding light on the story from a unique perspective. Dr. Shabir Ally guides us through the intricate details, highlighting the portrayal of Jesus and Mary in the Quran.

Jesus and Mary in the Quran

The Quran intricately weaves the narratives of Jesus and Mary in two chapters, showcasing their importance in Islamic teachings. Maryam, the mother of Jesus, is mentioned abundantly in the Quran, emphasizing her remarkable stature. Unlike chapters named after Jesus, the Quran's focus underscores the pivotal roles of Mary and the family of Imran, Jesus' grandfather.

The Miraculous Birth of Jesus

The Quran paints a vivid picture of the miraculous birth of Jesus through angelic announcements to Mary. Emphasizing Mary's purity and divine selection, the Quran narrates the miraculous conception of Jesus, surpassing human understanding. This divine event, echoed by angelic proclamations, sets the stage for Jesus' revered birth.

Lessons from the Quranic Narrative

Through the birth of Jesus, the Quran imparts essential lessons on prayer, charity, and honoring parents. Jesus' devotion to God and his exemplary treatment of his mother serve as timeless teachings for Muslims. The Quranic narrative resonates with the broader Christian perspectives found in the Gospels, emphasizing shared values and details.

Embracing Diversity at Muslim Media Hub

Transitioning to "Muslim Media Hub," Dr. Shabir and Safiyyah continue their mission of spreading positivity and understanding Islam. Their commitment to inclusivity and education shines through, creating a space for dialogue and appreciation of diverse perspectives.

As we reflect on the Quranic narrative of Jesus' birth, we are reminded of the universal values of love, devotion, and compassion that bind us together across faith traditions. The story of Jesus in the Quran serves as a beacon of hope and unity, bridging hearts and minds in the spirit of shared humanity.