Answering Questions Through The Holy Qur'an: Did the Qur’an confuse Mary, the mother of Jesus, with Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron?

Did the Qur’an confuse Mary, the mother of Jesus, with Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron?

66:12 And Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into it of Our Spirit, and she believed in the Words of her Lord and His Books and was of the devoutly obedient.

19:27 Then she came with him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, certainly, you have brought an amazing thing. 19:28 O sister (yaukh’ta) of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste."

(According to the Book of Exodus, Amram was father of Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And according to the Qur’an, Imran was the father of Mary (Maryam), the mother of Jesus. And according to the Qur’an the “Jews said” that she was the “sister of Aaron”. But according to other Verses of the Qur’an, there is no such relation between Mary and Moses in the Qur’an)(Then, one interpretation is that because the words “O sister of Aaron” came out from Jews’ mouths, and the Jews think that Aaron was responsible for the golden calf, then “O sister of Aaron” was used pejoratively or derogatorily by them. So, the Qur’an tells what the Jews said, regardless of whether it was right or wrong. Similarly, the Qur’an says that Pharaoh said about himself, “I am your Lord, the Most High” (79:24), but it does not mean that it is true because it is not confirmed by other Verses, so the Qur’an just tells what he said. And similarly, women said that Joseph was not a man, but an angel (12:31), but it is not supported by other Verses, so the Qur’an just tells what they said)(Another interpretation is that they were different people bearing the same/similar names (Amran vs. ‘Imran). It is also very common in the Bible to find different characters sharing the same name, and no one makes any objection about it, because it is something normal or common (e.g. Adna who took foreign wives vs. Adna the priest; Gemariah son of Shaphan vs. Gemariah son of Hilkiah; Hananiah son of Zerubbabel vs. Hananiah son of Azoor; Mary, mother of Jesus vs. Mary Magdalene; and a long etc.)(Actually, according to the article “Amram” in wikipedia, “Amram” means “friend of the most high” / “the people are exalted”. While the root of “Imran” in the Qur’an is “Ayn-Miim-Ra”, and it means “to inhabit, dwell, build, cultivate, populate, to visit, to colonize; Imaaratun: keeping in a good and flourishing state, etc”. So, the words “Amram” and “Imran” are not related. Hebrew and Arabic have many common words, and with the same root, because both are Semitic languages, but the meaning of these two particular words prove that Amram and Imran were two different persons. On the other hand, it is said that Joachim is the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and according to the article “Joachim (given name)” in wikipedia, the name Joachim means “raised by Yahweh” in Hebrew. The word “raised” is somewhat similar to the meaning of “Imran” in Arabic (build, cultivate, flourishing), so it may confirm that Imran refers to Joachim, the father of Mary, rather than Amram, the father of Miriam, Moses and Aaron)(Another interpretation is that the Verse establishes her lineage, notice that Mary’s father and mother are also mentioned. Similarly, the Bible establishes lineages too, and it is considered correct (E.g. Children of Israel, instead of “descendants of Israel”))(Another interpretation is that Mary is her sister in religion)(Allah knows best)

3:37 So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance, and reared her - a good rearing, and put her in the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah entered her prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this to you?" She said, "This is from Allah. Indeed, Allah gives provision to whom He wills without measure."

(Luke 1:36 confirms that Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, is a relative of Mary. And Luke 1:5 confirms that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth are descendants of Aaron, so Mary may also be a descendant of Aaron. On the other hand, the root of the word “ukh’ta” (sister), mentioned in Verse 19:28, is “Alif-Kha-Waw”, and it also means “kinsman, person of the same descent/land/creed/faith with others, conformity/similarity and combination/agreement or unison in action, etc”)(So, the meaning of the word “sister” in Arabic, confirms that the word sister may also imply being a relative (e.g. a descendant), and also a brother in religion. Other Verses use that word, and according to the context, it might imply other than blood relation, or other than having the same parent/s; Verse 29:36 says, “and to Madyan, their brother Shu’ayb, and he said, “O my people...”. Notice that, according to Verse 11:91, they respond to Shu’ayb, “if not for your family, surely we would have stoned you”, so those who are called brothers, were not of his family; Verse 27:45 says, “And We had certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih...”; Verse 26:161 says, “When their brother Lot said to them...”; Verse 26:106 says, “When their brother Noah said to them...”. In regard to the adopted sons, Verse 33:5 says, “they are your brothers in religion...”. In religion, a father and his descendants (son/daughter) can be brother/sister among each other)(Another point, if Muslims were to use non-Muslims’ or Christians’ strategy, we could say that the Bible confused Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, with Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth. According to Biblehub(dot)com, Meshelemiah was a “temple gate-keeper in the time of David”, while the husband of Elizabeth is from the time of Mary and Jesus)(Allah knows best)

28:38 And Pharaoh said, "O chiefs, I do not know of a god for you other than me. So kindle upon the clay for me, O Haman, and make for me a lofty tower so that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I think he is of the liars."

(In regard to the interpretation in which “O sister of Aaron” was said by Jews, regardless of whether it was right or wrong; similarly, in Verse 28:38, Pharaoh said he was a deity, but such a claim is not supported by other Verses, so, they Qur’an just tells what he said)(Allah knows best)

12:30 And the women in the city said, "The wife of Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave boy; indeed, he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we surely see her in clear error." 12:31 So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and she prepared a banquet for them and she gave each one of them a knife and she said, "Come out before them." Then when they saw him, they greatly admired him, and cut their hands, they said, "Forbid Allah, this is not a man; this is not but a noble angel."

(Similarly, the women in the city are the ones who said that Joseph was not a man but an angel. It does not mean that he was an Angel, and it is not supported by other Verses in the Qur’an)(Allah knows best)

46:10 Say, "Do you see if it is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel testifies to the like thereof, then he believed, while you are arrogant?" Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

(Establishment of lineage, by calling “children / sons” to all the descendants)(Allah knows best)

9:11 But if they repent, and establish prayer and give zakah, then (they are) your brothers in religion. And We explain the Verses in detail for a people (who) know.

33:5 Call them by their fathers; it is more just near Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are your brothers in religion and your friends. But there is no blame upon you if you made a mistake therein, but what your hearts intended. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

61:6 And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic."

(The Qur’an confirms that Jesus, the son of Mary, was the second last Messenger (61:6))(Jesus is considered from a much later generation than Moses)(Allah knows best)

2:246 Did you not see the chiefs of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to their Prophet, "Appoint for us a king, that we may fight in the way of Allah?" He said, "Would you perhaps not fight if it was prescribed upon you?" They said, "And why should we not fight in the way of Allah while surely we have been driven out from our homes and our children?" Yet, when fighting was prescribed upon them they turned away, except a few among them. And Allah is All-Knowing of the wrongdoers. 2:247 And their Prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allah has surely raised for you Saul as king." They said, How can he have kingship over us, while we are more entitled to kingship than him, and he has not been given abundant wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique. And Allah gives His kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing." 2:248 And their Prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the ark will come to you in which is tranquility from your Lord and a remnant left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron carried by the Angels. Indeed, in that is a sign for you if you are believers." 2:249 Then when Saul set out with the forces, he said, "Indeed, Allah will test you with a river. So whoever drinks from it then he is not of me, and whoever does not taste it then indeed, he is of me, except whoever takes in the hollow of his hand." Then they drank from it except a few of them. Then when he crossed it, he and those who believed with him, they said, "We have no strength today against Goliath and his troops." Those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, "How many by Allah’s permission has a small company overcome a large company. And Allah is with the patient ones." 2:250 And when they went forth to (face) Goliath and his troops, they said, "Our Lord, pour patience on us and make firm our feet, and help us against the disbelieving people." 2:251 So they defeated them by permission of Allah , and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingdom and the wisdom and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for the repelling by Allah, [the] people - some of them with others, the earth would have certainly been corrupted, [and] but Allah is Possessor of bounty to the worlds.

(The Qur’an mentions other people between the time of Moses and Jesus (Saul, David, Solomon). If Jesus was Moses’ nephew, he would have been appointed after Moses, but Saul was appointed (2:246-247). So, the Qur’an does not support that Jesus was Moses’ nephew)(Allah knows best)

27:16 And Solomon inherited David. And he said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. Indeed, this is surely an evident favor."

(According to the Qur’an, Saul was king after Moses. David was present at the time of Saul. Solomon inherited David. On the other hand, Zechariah and John were present at the time of Mary. So, the Qur’an supports that Moses and Mary are not from the same period)(Allah knows best)

38:30 And to Dawood/David We gave Sulaiman/(Solomon), an excellent slave. Indeed, he (was) one who repeatedly turned.

2:87 And indeed We gave Moses the Book and We followed him up with Messengers. And (wa) We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not so, that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what yourselves did not desire, you acted arrogantly? So a party you denied and another party you killed.

(“And” (wa) in Arabic is not sequential, but non-sequential information or sentence is added. The Qur’an does not use the word “fa” after “Moses” which would have indicated that it was soon after or right behind, but it is not the case. So, the Qur’an does not say that Moses and Jesus (or Mary) are from the same period)(Allah knows best)

57:26 And certainly We sent Noah and Abraham, and We placed in their offspring Prophethood and the Scripture; and among them (is) a guided one, but most of them are defiantly disobediently. 57:27 Then (thumma) We sent Our Messengers on their footsteps and (wa) We followed with Jesus, son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy. But the monasticism they innovated - We did not prescribe it for them - only seeking the pleasure of Allah, but they did not observe it with right observance. So We gave those who believed among them their reward, but most of them are defiantly disobediently.

(Verse 57:26 speaks about the offspring of Abraham, after that, there were other Messengers. Verse 57:27 says “thumma” (then), which indicates that it is not “soon after”. Then the word “wa” (and) is used in the Verse in regard to Jesus, which does not indicate time)(Allah knows best)

20:87 They said, "We did not break (our) promise to you by our (own) will, but we were made to carry burdens from the ornaments of the people, so we threw them, and thus threw the Samiri (l-samiriyu)."

(The Bible confirms that Jews used to call people in derogatory ways. John 8:48 says, “The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”. Jews were against Samaritans; so they used that word in a derogatory or pejorative way against Jesus, while Jesus was not Samaritan)(John 4:9 confirms that Jesus was not Samaritan: “The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” For Jews do not associate with Samaritans”. Notice that it is confirmed by a Samaritan)(So, the Bible confirms that calling someone in a derogatory way, whether true or false, is a Jewish thing or practice)(Allah knows best)

4:156 And for their disbelief and their saying against Mary a great slander.

(Verse 4:156 might support the interpretation that the purpose of the Jews, in Verse 19:28, was to say a slander against Mary)(It was alleged that, in the past, Christians censored the Talmud because it contained slanderous references to Jesus and his mother, Mary)(Another point is that, according to the article “Jesus in the Talmud” in wikipedia (source: Peter Schaferr, pp 15-24, 133-141), “a suggestion is made that the mother Mary committed adultery”. And notice that Verse 19:28 of the Qur’an, in which Mary is called “sister of Aaron”, exactly refers to that event in which Jews wrongly thought that Mary committed adultery)(Allah knows best)

3:33 Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah, and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran over the worlds.

3:45 When the Angels said, "O Mary, indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, his name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honored in this world and in the Hereafter and among those brought near.

(While this matter does not prove the Qur’an to be wrong anyhow. Paradoxically, Christians confused two characters in the Gospel; but, in that case, it proves Christianity to be wrong and false: There is a distinction in the Bible between “Jesus, the son of Mary / the Messiah” and “Jesus, son of the father (referring to God)”. The Aramaic name “Barabbas” literally means “son of the father” (referring to God). Ancient manuscripts of Matthew 27:16-17 have the name “Jesus Barabbas”, not just “Barabbas”; (see the translations that are more faithful to the oldest sources: “New International Version” or “contemporary English Version”, or “Good News Translation”, or “Net Bible”); according to the Bible, Pilate, the governor of Judea, asked the crowd which prisoner was to be released “Jesus son of the father” (aka “Jesus Barabbas”), or “Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 27:17). So, the Gospel explicitly says that there are two characters bearing the same name (Jesus). And it seems that Christians mixed stories of two different characters; Jesus Barabbas blasphemed by bearing such a name “the son of father (referring to God)”, while Jesus the Messiah never said that he was the son of God, because the words “Barabbas / son of the father” and “Messiah / son of Mary” are used to distinguish one Jesus from the other)(Another point is that someone who claims to be the “king of the Jews”, he is going to have to lead the rebellion against Rome. Jesus Barabbas is the one who rebelled against Rome. The punishment for rebellion is crucifixion; so Jesus Barabbas was crucified, not Jesus the Messiah. A proof that Jesus Barabbas was the “king of the Jews”, while “Jesus the Messiah” had not such a title, is that Matthew 2:1-2 say that Jesus, “the king of the Jews”, was born in Bethlehem in Judea, while the earliest Gospel says that Jesus came from Nazareth, so the two accounts are contradictory, but, in fact, they are two different persons bearing the same name (Jesus); so, one Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and another Jesus was born in Nazareth. The Qur’an confirms that Jesus the Messiah is from Nazareth, because the word “Christian” is literally translated as “Nazarene” (follower/s of the Nazarene). Matthew 2:2 says, “and asked, where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”. So, Matthew 2:1-2 explicitly say that the one who was born in Bethlehem is the king of the Jews, rather than the one who was born in Nazareth)(According to Matthew 27:11, the governor asked the one who was to be crucified: “are you the king of the Jews? You have said so, Jesus replied”. So, according to the context (Matthew 27:11-13), despite Jews wanted to crucify the Messiah, they took “the King of the Jews” instead, (the one from Bethlehem); Matthew 27:37 confirms that: “above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews”. On the other hand, “Acts 3:6, 4:10, 10:38” confirm that “Jesus of Nazareth” is the Messiah (aka anointed one), rather than the one from Bethlehem)(The “Jesus” who uses the term “my father” and so, in Matthew, he is Jesus Barabbas (aka “Jesus son of the father))(Christian scholars were aware of this controversy, but instead of giving an answer, traditionally the word “Barabbas” is not translated, and the word “Jesus” before “Barabbas” was traditionally omitted)(Allah knows best)