The Islamic Mary

David/Dawud is represented in the Islamic tradition as a righteous ruler who combines worship and kingship, piety and authority.  One story that emerges in the Biblical and Qur'anic literature is that David/Dawud sees Bathsheba bathing, leading him to have an affair with her, kill her husband and then marrying her.  Various Muslim commentators struggled with this story, with some saying that...

One of the most fascinating stories in the Qur'an is the Story of Solomon/Sulyaman and the ant.  An ant see Solomon/Sulyman's army approaching and warns her tribe to take shelter to protect themselves.  Solomon/Sulayman hears the ants cry which leads him to pray for God to make him grateful and live a righteous life.  The story speaks to the idea of humility, gratitude and conservation....

I got the opportunity to do a book talk at the AbuSulayman Center at George Mason University .  The Center focuses on Global Islamic Studies and is a leader in digital Islamic studies and humanities.  I also got to interact with my good friend Professor Maria Dakake who influenced my work on the Quran and the Islamic Mary.   Send me a text regarding your feedback, comments and questions Subscribe...

I had the opportunity to do a program with the Institute for Islamic, Christian Jewish Studies , especially with my good friend Mathew Taylor.  We discuss issues related to new the book the Islamic Mary such as how various Christian groups approach the figure.  We also discuss how various biblical stories regarding Mary emerge in the Qur'an.     Abstract: Join us for a conversation with Younu...

One of the questions that I have gotten on the book tour is "What Can Maryam Do?"  I discuss how Maryam can bring unique audiences together, from Middle Eastern Studies, to Religious Studies to Chaplaincy.  She also brings up overlooked issues and topics such as motherhood, daughterhood, female spirituality and leadership.   Send me a text regarding your feedback, comments and questions...

When I first started my graduate education, I was attracted to the framework of Abrahamic Religions or the idea that Jews, Christians and Muslims should return back to their founder, Abraham, to better understand their faiths and move beyond contemporary differences.  In the last several years, I have been traveling to Southeast Asia through the Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning at Sh...

My father passed away this week so I reshare an older episode of Zechariah/Zakariyya who resembled my father in his age, spirituality and caretaking.   Verse 3 and 4 of the chapter of Mary (surat Maryam) captures about the private call of Zechariah/Zakariyya as he prays to have a child.  Before he makes his please, he speaks about his weakness - his brittle bones and white hair - and emphasizes hi...

As I revise my second edition of my book "The Bible and the Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition" , I continue to read new articles and research regarding the various prophetic and righteous figures.  One argues that Adam is connected to Maryam in that Adam was taught "all of the names" of his future progeny which included that of Maryam.   Send me a text rega...

One of the questions that Maryam raises is the level of agency and power of women in religion, especially within scriptures such as the Qur'an and Bible.  In this episode, I speak about the Queen of Sheeba, known as Bilqis in the Islamic tradition, and how she is seen as a wise, sensible and pious ruler.  I also speak about the various stories and traditions that developed around the Bilqis,...

One of the questions I received in presenting on The Islamic Mary is why is Maryam silent?  This question is connected to a larger question about women and religion and their speech, agency, and power in various scriptures.  I analyze Maryam's speech in the Qur'an and contend that it represents spirituality, vulnerability and agency.    Send me a text regarding your feedback, comments an...

As I speak about the book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries , I keep getting the question: how is your book different?  In this show, I review the books on Maryam in the last ten years and discuss how they are similar and different in terms of themes, style and approach.  I then share how they influenced my own writing and eventual publication of my book.   Send me a text regarding yo...

In the climax of the story, Maryam makes a remarkable statement: "I wish I had died before this and been a thing forgotten".  Qur'anic commentators understood this statement as part of the pain and suffering of the righteous and that when trials became too difficult believers would some times wish that they did not exist.  The statement also connects with the larger theme of life an...

Here I present a short commentary on Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other religions.  Specifically, I focus on the paragraphs on Muslims and how it open up modern possibilities for Christian-Muslim relations, such as shared spirituality, figures and social justice.  Send me a text regarding your feedback, comments and questions Subscribe to the Islamic Ma...

When I was writing The Islamic Mary , I became further interested in the field of Christian and Muslim dialogue and its relevancy today and in the future.  This led me to various books published on the topic, such as Amir Hussain's new book One God and Two Religions: Christians and Muslims as Neighbors .  Amir's book is unique in that it speaks about Christians and Muslim worshipping the...

Today, we revisit the first episode of my commentary of the chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam).  I have now done commentaries of over 30 of the first verses of the chapter that you can follow on the podcast archives.  The Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam) is unique with a special rhyme scheme, opening letters and emphasis on love and mercy.  I speak about its context, relationship with other Qur'ani...

I had the opportunity to speak at Georgetown University on the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a Catholic document on the church's relationship with other religions.  Specifically, I spoke on the panel on Christian-Muslim relations and how Nostra Aetate continues to be relevant in terms of prayer and spirituality, social justice and moral welfare and shared figures such as Abraham and Mary...

When I started writing my book The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries , I was drawn to the Qur'anic chapter of Mary or Surat Maryam.  As I started to research the chapter, I came across the work of Shawkat Toorawa who focuses on the sound, rhyme and rhythm of the Qur'an and points out some of Surat Maryam's unique qualities and characteristics.  I was thus excited to see tha...

One of the reasons I became interested in Biblical and Qur'anic figures is because I did my dissertation and initial research on the medieval Ibn Kathir (d. 774/1373) and Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328).  Both Ibn Kathir and Ibn Taymiyya engaged the Arabic Bible and wrote on Biblical literature and its relationship to the Qur'an.  These figures today would be understood as "salafis"...

When I started my career, I was interested in the figure of Abraham/Ibrahim and how he could be a bridge figure between Christians, Jews and Muslims.  However, as I wrote my book on "The Bible and the Qur'an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition," I became more interested in the figure of Mary and how she could bring Christians and Muslims together.  This led me to the work of...

When Maryam returns to her people, she mocked and told that she come from a righteous family, her father was a good man and her mother was chaste.  In response, she points to her child leading the people to once again criticize her saying "how can we speak to an infant"?  The verse speaks once again to the idea of speech and silence in the Qur'an and how God is the ultimate speaker....

I sit down with Alexander Massad to discuss his new book " Witnessing God: Christians, Muslims, and the Comparative Theology of Missions" .  Alex is a strong proponent of Evangelical and Muslim dialogue and with wrestling with the claims of each religion.  In the interview, we discuss his spiritual biography, interest in Christian-Muslim dialogue, program at Wheaton College and theologic...

I speak about a recent keynote address that I gave at the Pacific Northeast Virtual Exchange conference where I connect my research on the Islamic Mary or Maraym to COIL Virtual Exchange.  Growing up in the 90s, there was a strong push for the "Clash of Civilizations" thesis, or that the "West" was in an intrinsic conflict with "Orient" and "Islam".  It was...

One of the reason I have been drawn to the Islamic Mary or Maryam is the idea of a shared figure between various religious traditions and the interactions between them.  This led me to the emerging field of Interreligious Studies and to the new book Interreligious Studies: An Introduction by Rachel Mikva.  I sit down with Rachel to talk about defining Interreligious Studies, how it is different fr...

As part of the slander against Maryam, her people reference her family.  They say that she comes from a noble lineage and her father was a decent man and her mother was not unchaste.  The verse connects Maryam once again to Moses/Musa and his mother and speaks to the idea of criticism and family expectations.   Send me a text regarding your feedback, comments and questions Subscribe to the Islamic...

After Maryam has her child Jesus/'Isa, she has to return to her people and face their judgement and criticism.  Maryam "carries" her child which echoes how Noah was "carried" in the ark.  Also, Maryam is attacked for her perceived sexual immorality which is similar to other figures in the life of the Prophet Muhammad, such as his wife 'Aisha.  The slander, accusations...