Muslims respect and honor Jesus and His mother Mary. Many Muslims name their children after them as Isa (Jesus) and Maryam (Mary). There is indeed a chapter in the Qur’an named Maryam. There is also another chapter named after her father, Imran. According to the Qur’an, Mary was a chaste and virgin woman who miraculously gave birth to Jesus: “And when the angels said: O Mary, surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world.” (Al-i ‘Imran, 3/42)
Muslims believe that Jesus was born from a noble virgin. Muslims do not, however, accept the virgin birth of Jesus as an evidence to the divinity of Jesus. “She (Mary) said: ‘O My Lord! How can I have a child when no man has touched me?’ (God) said: ‘Even so; Allah creates what He pleases. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be!”, and it is.’” (Qur’an 3/47). “The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: ‘Be.’ And he was.” (Al-i ‘Imran, 3/59). Adam’s creation was even more miraculous because he was born without a father or mother. When Mary brought the baby to her people, they said: “O Mary! Truly, you have brought a strange thing! O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother a woman unchaste!” Mary then pointed to the baby. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” Then a miracle occured. In defense of his mother, baby Jesus spoke, and said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; and He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live; He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; so peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!” (Maryam, 19/27-33)