The Koran

The two stories that we had to read from the Koran were quite interesting. The first one, entitled Maryam, is some what of the story of Jesus' birth, according to Islamic view. The second one, House of Imran, give the basic rules for living according to Allah's word. I read both of the surahs is the Shakir translation.


Maryam, or Mary is the twist on the Biblical version of Mary's virginal conception, the birth of Jesus, and all that comes after. There were certain parts of the surah that were strikingly similar to the Bible, for example, when she says "When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste?", this is the exact same thing she says in the Bible when the Angel Gabriel appears to her to tell her she is with child. There are some differences as well. For example, the Koran states that Mary gave birth to Jesus under a palm tree, while the Bible says this occured in the stable. One thing I found particularly interesting is that the Koran has Jesus speaking and performing miracles while he is still an infant, which there is no trace of in the Bible. Muslims do not view Jesus as a reincarnation of God, but instead the hold him as a very wise prophet who could perform miracles, which is a major difference between Christianity and Islam.

The second surah, entitled Al-E-Imran, or The House of Imran, covers several different things. The first few verses tell readers what it means to be a good Muslim, and how to honor Allah. "Our Lord! make not our hearts to deviate after Thou hast guided us aright, and grant us from Thee mercy; surely Thou art the most liberal Giver. " This verse was probably my favorite from this surah, because it is asking Allah to guide the Muslims and show them mercy even when they have done wrong. The surah goes on to tell about the birth of Mary, daughter of Imran, and her upbringing. It give the family tree of Imran, tracing roots to Jesus the prophet. The remainder of the verse states that followers of Allah must fear and be patient, and thier time in heaven will come. There were a few frightening things in this surah, and isnt for the closed minded. It requires complete subordination from those who choose to follow and live Islamic law. I personally don't know if I have that much trust in anyone to place my life in their hands completely, no questions asked.