The role that Mary has played in the history of religion is a topic that can be debated. According to the Koran, the only importance of Mary, is that she is undisputedly the mother of Jesus. Also, the only proper name of a woman to be used in the Koran, is the name, Mary (Maryam). However, she has never been referred to as the Virgin Mary in either the Bible or the Koran.1 This is significant in comparing and contrasting some of the importance of this woman and her son to Christianity and Islam religions.

The woman known as Mary, is a name that many religions of the world honor. She was born to Anna, the wife of 'Imran and when she was born her mother Anna prayed to God:2

O my Lord, I vow to thee what is in my belly

dedicated (to thy service); accept (it) from me

verily thou art one who hears and knows."3

After she had made this vow to God, she was then confused when He gave a female child. She did not understand how greatness was to come from a female child.

As written in the third sura of the Koran, Mary was raised in a way which was devoted to serving God. She worshiped in the temple, just as her mother promised she would if God

4. The Holy Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

The virgin birth is also agreed upon by Muslims, and is discussed in the Koran. It does not reject these views about a virgin birth, unlike the Jews who do. In sura 3, 37/42, it states that:

Muslims and Jews also recognize the importance of Mary to their religions. They agree that she is the true mother of the prophet Jesus. Muhammad, when clearing and cleansing the Ka'ba of idols, is said to have spared the removal of a picture of Mary and Jesus.6 The phrase, Son of Mary is also written more times in the Koran than it is in the Bible. She is also highly respected in Judaism, and it is considered 'a mighty slander' for a Jewish person to speak against her. Although these and other stories may not be true, it shows that Muhammad and Muslims hold a great deal of respect for Mary and her son Jesus.7

The book of Mark is believed to have been one of the first books to be written, and the referral to Jesus being Mary's son is written here only . Parrinder believes that the reference to Jesus being the son of Mary is no longer mentioned in the scriptures that follow Mark because there was just no need to write it again. Other names for Jesus were used in these chapters instead, like "son of the carpenter, Son of God, Lord, and Christ."16

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2016
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)