Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem,
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ,
While studying the topic of the “Immaculate” conception of Mary (the Mother of the Jesus), I came across a really contentious quote. Before I show the quote, I’d like us first to read this interpretation of an ayah of the Qur’aan[1]:
5:116 And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I had ever said it, then Thou wouldst have known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden?
Usually, this ayah is misinterpreted by both Muslims (laymen) and Christians (laymen and scholars). Theoretically speaking the argument against this ayah is that no group of “real” Christians believe in Mary to be a God, or have God-like attributes.
I’d now like you to see what I have found:
The salutation of the angel Gabriel — chaire kecharitomene, Hail, full of grace (Luke 1:28) indicates a unique abundance of grace, a supernatural, godlike state of soul, which finds its explanation only in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. But the term kecharitomene (full of grace) serves only as an illustration, not as a proof of the dogma.[2]
God like state of soul? This is sufficient evidence to state that the Qur’aan’s claim is not only valid, but absolutely prophetical in it’s statement. I’d like to add another quote to support the Qur’aan’s claims, to further support it’s statement:
she was created in a condition more sublime and glorious than all other natures.[3]
and one more for the fun of it:
To St. Ephraem she was as innocent as Eve before her fall, a virgin most estranged from every stain of sin, more holy than the Seraphim, the sealed fountain of the Holy Ghost, the pure seed of God, ever in body and in mind intact and immaculate.[4]
Insha Allah (God willing) this is sufficient evidence to calm the quarrelsome nature of the Christians who deny this fact, based upon the writings of the Church Fathers. As much as you hate Islam, the truth is before you and the Qur’aan is indeed among the signs (ayat) of Allah (swt).
Citations:
Holweck, Frederick. “Immaculate Conception.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 17 Feb. 2011 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm.
Theodorus of Jerusalem in Mansi, XII, 1140.
Carmina Nisibena.
wa Allahu Alam.