The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-12-07
THE MOTHER OF JESUS IN THE KORAN

and motherhood is clearly expressed
in the Koran, and reading of the mys-
terious interference of Gods messen-
ger breathing the spirit of the Lord
into the Virgins face, who does not
think of the words written by st. Luke
Il. 35), "The power of the Most High
shall overshadow thee?" Even the
necessary consent of the Virgin to
this mysterious motherhood is alluded
to: 'She believed the word of the
Lord she was submissive and
obedient."
This doctrine of the Koran concern
ing the supernatural character of
Mary, is very distant from the Cath
olic conception of the Mother of God,
still it evidently impressed the fol-
lowers of the Prophet, for some years
later he thought it advisable to insist
upon the quality of veneration which
is due her. So, in Chapter iii. 115,
we read: "On judgment day, Allah
will say: o Jesus, Son of Mary, didst
Thou say to men: take Me and My
Mother as Gods next to God?" And
Jesus will answer: Far be it from
Me to assume a name which cannot
be Nine"
Doctrine of Original Sin.
The doctrine of the fall of man at
the origin of human history is clearly
taught in the Koran and in the Sunna,
as also the possibility of new saliva
tion, although, very illogically, in no
instance is there question of a real
redemption. "The Lord taught Adam
the manner of imploring his forgive
ness" (I, 35), and, ibid. SO, "I will
teach you the way of salvation"
The expression, original sin," with
the full meaning it brings to the Cath
olic theologian, is unknown to Mo-
hammed, but the universal sinfulness
of man is admitted by him. The Ara
bian tradition and especially the Per-
sian School of Commentators of the
Koran is very explicit ON this point
Every man." says one of the Persian
expounders of Koranic doctrine,
every man put by his mother into
this world is buffeted by Satan, except
Mary and her Son.
Immaculate Conception Not Taught.
Some Mohammedan theologians at
tribute original sinlessness to all the
Prophets and the Apostles; but among
all those God has preserved from sin,
Mary and her Son are especially
praised. In the Koran, chapter III, 81,
we read: "The Angel said unto Mary,
God hath chosen thee; He hath puri-
fed thee; He hath selected thee from
amongst all women" And in chapter
XXI, 81, "Sing the glory of Mary who
kept herself immaculate; we (God)
breathed into her our spirit she and
her Son are the glory and the ad-
miration of the whole world" 1t would
be pleasing indeed if, from those ex-
alted praises of the Mother of Christ,
we could infer, not only what is
clearly taught here, the moral beauty
and purity, the supernatural sanctity
of her life, but also her preservation,
by Gods grace, from original sin,
namely, her Immaculate Conception.
MOudmACO duu LuOSC WIZ
and after him wrote and completed
the Koran might very well have found
this teaching in the popular belief of
their days.
But whatsoever ones opinion be i'm
this matter it remains fact that
the glorious Mother of Jesus lives i'm
the Koran, in the Mohammedan Ira
dition and theological schools. She
lives in the admiration and venera-
tion of nearly three hundred million
enemies of the Christian faith. Her
influence upon them is not living
and inspiring one, as it is in the Cath
olic world, but it is consoling to know
that even Islam-herein better in
spired than Protestantism-is fulfill
ing the prophecy of the handmade of
the Lord:
Behold, from henceforth all gener-
ations shall call me blessed"