Mary and the Birth of Jesus

• Matthew 1:16-18
• Luke 1:26-27

Matthew and Luke identify Mary as a virgin pledged to Joseph. Joseph is connected with the house of David, but neither Gospel narrates Mary's own birth.

• Q 3:35-37
• Q 3:44
• Q 66:12

Mary is the daughter of Imran. Her mother dedicates her before birth, and Zechariah becomes her guardian after lots are cast.

• Matthew 1:18-25
• Matthew 2:13-23
• Luke 2:4-5
• Luke 2:39-52

Joseph is Mary's betrothed and later husband. He receives angelic dreams, takes Mary as his wife, travels with her, protects Jesus, and raises him.

• Q 3:35-49
• Q 19:16-36

Joseph is not named and has no role in Mary's annunciation, pregnancy, birth, defense, or Jesus' childhood.

• Luke 1:26-35

Gabriel is sent to Mary and tells her she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and that the child will be called Son of God.

• Q 3:42-47
• Q 19:16-21

Q 3 describes angels announcing a Word from God; Q 19 says God's Spirit appears to Mary as a man and announces a pure son.

• Matthew 1:18-20
• Luke 1:34-35

Jesus is conceived from the Holy Spirit; Luke says the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and the power of the Most High will overshadow her.

• Q 3:47
• Q 19:19-22
• Q 21:91
• Q 66:12

God's messenger announces a son, and other passages say God breathed into Mary of His Spirit and creates by command when He decrees a matter.

• Matthew 1:21-23
• Luke 1:31-35
• Luke 2:11

The child is called Jesus, Savior, Emmanuel, Son of the Most High, Son of God, and heir to David's throne.

• Q 3:45-46
• Q 4:171
• Q 5:72-75

He is announced as the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, a Word from God, honored in both worlds, and one of the righteous, while later passages reject calling him divine.

• Matthew 2:1
• Luke 2:1-7

Jesus is born in Bethlehem after Joseph and Mary travel there; Luke places him in a manger because no guest room is available.

• Q 19:22-25

Mary withdraws to a remote place and gives birth beside the trunk of a palm tree. The location is not named Bethlehem in the text.

• Matthew 2:1-12
• Luke 2:4-20

Joseph is with Mary. Luke narrates shepherds and angels; Matthew later narrates eastern visitors and Herod.

• Q 19:22-26

No human companion is named during Mary's labor. A voice from beneath her comforts her with a stream and dates from the palm tree.

• Matthew 2:1-12
• Luke 2:8-20

The signs include angelic praise, a manger sign for shepherds, a star, scriptural appeal to Bethlehem, and the visit of the Magi.

• Q 19:24-33

The signs include a stream, fresh dates from a palm tree, Mary's commanded fast from speaking, and the infant Jesus speaking in her defense.

• Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph considers divorcing Mary quietly until an angel tells him the conception is from the Holy Spirit.

• Q 19:27-33

Mary carries the child to her people, who accuse her of an unprecedented thing; she points to the infant, who speaks for himself and his mother.

• Luke 1:5
• Luke 1:27
• Luke 1:36

The New Testament does not call Mary sister of Aaron. Luke identifies her relative Elizabeth as a daughter of Aaron.

• Q 19:28

Mary's people address her as "sister of Aaron." The Qur'anic passage does not explain the expression or identify which Aaron is meant.

• Matthew 1:18-2:23
• Luke 1:26-2:52

Neither Matthew nor Luke records Jesus speaking from the cradle or defending Mary as an infant.

• Q 19:29-33

The infant Jesus declares himself God's servant, says he has received scripture and prophethood, and speaks of prayer, charity, and resurrection.

• Matthew 2:1-23
• Luke 2:21-52

Matthew narrates the Magi, Herod's massacre, flight to Egypt, and return to Nazareth; Luke narrates circumcision, presentation at the temple, and Jesus at age twelve.

• Q 19:34-36

The birth account moves from the cradle speech to a theological conclusion. It does not narrate the Magi, Herod, Egypt flight, circumcision, temple presentation, or age-twelve visit.