What did Ibn Kathir say about Maryam (Mary)?
The Qurʾan names Maryam more times than the Christian Gospels do. Ibn Kathir traces her life from her miraculous birth to Zakariyyā's guardianship, to her conception of ʿĪsā without a father.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
Ibn Kathir honors Maryam as among the greatest women ever to live. He records the Prophet ﷺ naming her among the four women who suffice as the best of the world's women, and lists "the women of Paradise" as Khadīja, Fāṭima, Maryam, and Āsiya. He recalls the supplication of Maryam's mother seeking protection from Shayṭān "for Maryam and her offspring," and affirms her son's exalted rank in Allah's own words — "Christ, the son of Mary" — declaring ʿĪsā "a statement of the truth" who, as the Prophet ﷺ said, "has no father."
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Ibn Kathir, Ibn Battuta, and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"of Paradise are Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid, Fatima daughter of Muhammad, Maryam Mary daughter"
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"Maryam's mother's supplication for protection from shaitan for Maryam and her offspring"
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"The highest station of Mary would then be, as Allah said, Christ, the son of Mary, was"
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"upon him, said, Sufficient for you among the women of the world are four, Maryam Mary,"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"with Imam Abu Isa Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Surah al-Tirmidhi, the author of the great compendium"
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"Near this city, amidst its gardens, lies the zawiyah of the pious worshipper Abu Muhammad bin Abi Bakr bin Isa from Dhofar."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"to his messenger, That is Isa the son of Maryam, a statement of the truth about which they"
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"he said, That is Isa, Jesus, the son of Maryam, a statement of the truth about which they"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Isa turned back. Maimun's son asked why he didn't offer dinner, and Isa replied, It is"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"A man was named Abu Isa, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, Isa has no father."
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