Deep love for Mary in Islam...

from OnBelief blog...the blogger is Hesham A. Hassaballa, a Chicago doctor and writer. He is co-author of the Beliefnet Guide to Islam, and his newest book is Noble Brother, the story of the Prophet Muhammad told entirely in poetry.

During my days as an undergraduate at Marquette University, I always enjoyed the 8th day of December. That's because it would be day off from school for a holiday of which heretofore I had never known: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I had always thought that this day was to commemorate the conception of Jesus Christ, and was surprised to learn, however, that this day actually celebrates the conception of the Virgin Mary.

Although I do not officially celebrate this day, it still brings a warm feeling to my heart, for it reminds me of the Virgin Mary, who has a very exalted place in Muslim belief. The very story of the birth of Mary, which the feast day commemorates, is found in the Quran:

"A woman of (the House of Imran) prayed: 'O my sustainer! Behold, unto Thee do I vow (the child) that is in my womb to be devoted to Thy service. Accept it, then, from me: verily, Thou alone art all-hearing, all-knowing!' But when she had given birth to the child, she said: 'O my sustainer! Behold, I have given birth to a female' - the while God had been fully aware of what she would give birth to - 'and the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and verily, I seek Thy protection for her and her offspring against Satan, the accursed.'" (3:35-36)

The Holy Virgin is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, and the entire 19th Chapter of the Quran is named specifically after her.

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