After Maryam shakes the palm tree, she is told "to eat, drink, and be glad".  This phrase connects her with other Qur'anic mothers, such as the mother of Moses/Musa, and a larger Qur'anic theme of finding joy with your family.  Muslim...

When I started writing my book

After Maryam calls out in pain and anguish, a voice calls telling her to shake a palm tree and ripe dates will fall upon her.  This is similar to other Qur'anic figures, such as Moses/Musa, who are told to act when they are in trying and d...

Happy to share the third and final installment of the 2025 ICJS Silber-Obrecht Lectures where I respond to Rachel S. Mikva's lecture "What Does it Mean to Be Huma...

Happy to share the second of the 2025 ICJS Silber-Obrecht Lectures where Rachel S. Mikva discusses "What Does it Mean to Be Human?" She touches on issues relating...

Happy to share the first of the 2025 ICJS Silber-Obrecht Lectures where Rachel S. Mikva discusses "What Does it Mean to Be Human?" She touches on issues relating ...

After Maryam laments and wishes she was dead and long forgotten, she hears a call from below.  This voice guides her on what to do next and informs her that she should not worry or be sad.  This "call" connects her to Zechariah/Zakari...

Happy to share this 2025 ICJS Silber-Obrecht Lecture Conversation Event where Rachel S. Mikva, ...

I am super excited to announce that my book

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 ...

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

Subscribe to the Islamic Mary podcast as we explore the chapter of Mary or Maryam!  In our second season, we will examine how the chapter (sura) has a unique rhyme scheme, emerges from an era of hopelessness and desperation, and emphasizes...

In the Chapter of Mary (Maryam), Zechariah/Zakariyya foreshadows the coming of Maryam.  I sit down with Maria Barga to discuss her article "Redeeming Zachariah" which uses the Qur'an to understand the Biblical narrative and to argue that Z...

We now have reached the climax of the story where Maryam is about to give birth to her son Jesus.  However, she begins to experience pain and retreats to a trunk of a palm tree.  The Qur'an signals that relief comes after hardship and...

Join me for one of the most popular episodes of 2024 where I interview Martin Nguyen on his edited book

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 Mu...

Before she gives birth to Jesus/'Isa, Maryam withdraws for a second time.  The word that is used for "withdrawal" is a hapax or a word that is only used in the Chapter of Mary (Surat Maryam).  The Qur'an is highlighting that something...

In this episode, I join Roshan Iqbal, Celene Ibrahim, and Oludamini Ogunnaike ...

Join me in one of the most popular episodes of 2024.  While writing my book the Islamic Mary, I came across various works on Christian-Muslim relations, in particular the groundbreaking Catholic document of Nostra Aetate which speaks about...

As the month of Ramadan approaches, I wanted to explore the word "fasting" (sawm) in the story of Maryam.  While most Muslims understand the word "fasting" as abstaining from food and drink, the word "fasting" is used in the Chapter of Mar...

After Maryam asks how she will have a child when no man has touched her, the Angel Gabriel/Jibril responds that this is a decree from God and the Jesus/'Isa will be a sign from God and a mercy.  Maryam is then silent, accepting God's decre...

Join me for this throwback interview with Asma Afsaruddin, which was one of our most popular episodes of 2024.  When writing my forthcoming book the Islami...

When Maryam hears the news that she will have a child, she immediately asks a question: "How can I have a child when no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"  Here question represents a theme in Qur'anic and Biblical figures as...

After Maryam is initially scared of Gabriel/Jibril, he responds and explains that he is a divine messenger and that he is there to bestow upon her a son.    Gabriel/Jibril speaks directly to Maryam and describes Jesus as "pure" in com...

When the Angel first approaches Maryam, she is afraid and seeks refuge.  This is similar to how other Qur'anic and Biblical figures, such as Abraham/Ibrahim, react to Angels in that they don't immediately recognize them or have questions a...