Why the Quran identifies Mary as the greatest woman to have ever lived

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mary, or Maryam, holds a singular status in Islam as the only woman named in the Quran. Revered as the greatest woman of all time, her story spans multiple chapters, detailing a miraculous virginal conception and a life of profound purity that continues to shape Islamic theology and tradition today.

In the Quran, Mary is identified as the daughter of Imran and is described as being chosen by God above all other women. Her narrative is consistent across both Meccan and Medinan surahs, with the nineteenth chapter, Surah Maryam, named in her honor. Islamic tradition generally upholds her perpetual virginity, interpreting the Quranic mention of her purification from the touch of men as a sign of her lifelong chastity. She is frequently grouped among the four ladies of heaven, alongside Fatima, Asiya, and Khadija.

Modern scholars often trace the Quranic account of Mary to Christian apocryphal texts like the Gospel of James and the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. While the Quranic narrative shares elements with these sources—such as Mary’s upbringing in the Temple and the role of the archangel Gabriel—it also diverges significantly. For instance, the Quran places Mary in the care of Zechariah rather than Joseph and features a unique nativity scene where Mary, alone beneath a date-palm, is provided with water and fruit during labor. Some researchers, such as Suleiman Ali Mourad, suggest these accounts may also draw on broader ancient mythological traditions, including birth narratives of the Greek god Apollo.

The interpretation of Mary’s life has evolved through diverse theological lenses. While traditional exegesis focuses on her literal role as the mother of Jesus, some esoteric traditions, such as those of the tenth-century Ismaili jurist Qadi al-Nu'man, offer symbolic readings. In this view, Mary’s virginity and the birth of Jesus are metaphors for spiritual instruction and the transmission of divine knowledge. Despite these varying interpretations, Mary remains a central figure of veneration, with historical sites like the Bath of Mary in Jerusalem serving as focal points for devotion and prayer for centuries.

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