'Mar-i-am' in Arabic, meaning, adopted - pending marriage - by God. Mother of Jesus Christ. Father - Imran (66:12) Mother - Hannah (Y.Ali # 375) Of Aaron's line, a Levite.

Question: Why is the parentage and ancestors of Mary shrouded in mystery? Every Christian is tutored to be silent on questions of her lineage!

Answer: Because by father and mother Mary was an Imranite (Qur'an 3: 35) She was a descendant of Aaron (Luke 1:5) of the tribe of Levi (Ex.4:14)

Why the secrecy? Because Jesus was a Jew of David's line of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10)

The reason: She a Levite, he a Jew, how can mother and son be in union if Jesus is not linked by a biological father?

Mankind's search for God - page 277:

'Over the centuries, one result of the Trinity teaching has been that the one true God Jehovah has been submerged in the quagmire of Christiandom's God-Christ theology. The next logical consequence of that theology was that if Jesus really was God Incarnate, then Jesus' mother, Mary, was obviously the "Mother of God." Over the years, that has led to veneration of Mary in many different forms, this in spite of the total lack of texts that speak of Mary in any role of importance except as the humble biologic mother of Jesus. Over the centuries the Mother-of-God teaching has developed and adorned by the Roman Catholic Church, with the result that many Catholics venerate Mary far more fervently than they worship God.' 'Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mentioned by name or as his mother in 24 different texts in the four Gospels and once in Acts. She is not mentioned in any apostolic letter.'

History of Mary: Joachim (Imran), husband of Hannah was a wealthy farmer of Nazareth. Aggrieved over their years of childlessness, God at length last answered their prayers and Mary was born to them. By their vow, the child should have been dedicated to the service of God; but Mary, being a girl, this could not happen. They entrusted Mary into God's guardianship. God's obligation was (a) her protection (b) her marriage (c) an offspring.

For their vow to be fulfilled Mary was dependant upon to produce a righteous son.

That was the concern. So she was named Mar-i-am. God accepted the responsibility and had Mary placed under the adoption of Zacharias pending her marriage. The affair was by the design of God. Look how the other side will coincide in His overall scheme!

The Qur'an says that she was chosen over the women of the worlds (Qur'an 3:41)and under the protection of God The Almighty. It also testifies that she was a truthful woman who guarded her chastity and that her parents were also righteous (19:28).

Anticipating the Messiah: The iniquities of Israel deprived them of a righteous son. Like in the time of Abraham when he pleaded on behalf of Sodom and Gomarrah and failed to find 10 righteous persons, Zacharias in his plead to God was unable to identify one single Jewish male other than himself. God was provoked. Zacharias and Elizabeth were beyond parenthood. But God was left with them alone. God exercised His Mercy. In the union of this pair, by their flesh and blood he brought forth John. This John was told by the Angel, will go in power and spirit of Elias (Luke 1:17). John was Elias that "was for to come" (Matt 11:14).

Two vital points right here: Figure them out:

(1) John is the miracle birth, not Jesus!

(2) If there was an incarnation of someone, it was not God Almighty (God forbid). It was Elias - he was the earthly God by Jewish Law.

Points to Note: Why did God go through the miracle of creating John through the old couple of Zachariah and Elizabeth? If Jesus is only six month younger than John then why is it necessary for John to come to herald the coming of the Messiah? Most will say that the events happened just to fulfill a Prophecy. The truth is that Hannah started the fulfillment of the prophecy by willing her child, Mary, to be in the service of God (Qur'an Ch 3). Zachariah recognized the importance of Mary and started the fulfillment of Prophecy from the Davidic side by praying for someone to inherit him (Quran Ch.19). Mary was a woman in waiting for the advent of the Prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder ; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace". The Quran verifies that John was the Prince of peace in 19:15. In 19:17 god sent Ruhanaa (John, Hanaa, Yuhanaa - See Elias Modern Dictionary, English - Arabic) to Mary to give her a child. When the angel Mary visited Elizabeth during Elizabeth's pregnancy, she knew the the plan od God and greeted her with "blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Luke 1:42). Mary was not pregnant at that time as many believe; the angel had just announced the news to her pending pregnancy. This was to be verified by Mary's visit to Elizabeth. When John was born, Zachariah declared "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;" (Luke 1:68 & 69). Thus the way is paved for the coming of the Messiah from the Seed of David.

How God's Overall Plan Materialized:

Mary was God's handmaid - a Levite. John was the outcome of God's intervention - of Davidic descent. They were not only legally married husband and wife but divinely so. Jesus was their biological son.