Mary (a.s.) is Mentioned More Times in the Qur’an than the Bible

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Mary (a.s.), the Virgin Mother of Jesus (a.s.), is Mentioned more times in the Qur'an than in the entire Bible.  She also has an entire chapter Named after her, Surah Maryam.  Her family also has a chapter Named after them, Surah Ali ‘Imran, since she is Maryam bint ‘Imran (a.s.).  Jesus (a.s.) is not Mentioned without Mary (a.s.) also being Mentioned.  He is referred to as “‘Isa bint Maryam”; “Jesus, the son of Mary”. 

Surah an-Nisa’, the chapter “Women” is also indirectly Named after her.  Every chapter is numbered such for a reason.  Surah an-Nisa’ is the fourth chapter.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) said that four women are the foremost of the believing women in Paradise.  They are Sayyidatina Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (r.a.), his first wife; Sayyidatina Fathimah az-Zahrah (r.a.), his daughter; Sayyidah Asiyah bint Muzahim (r.a.), the wife of Fir’awn; and Maryam bint ‘Imran (a.s.). 

It is the opinion of scholars who believe in the possibility of female prophets that she could have been one herself.  Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qurthubi (r.a.) cited the following verses from the chapter in the Qur’an Named after her: 

سُوۡرَةُ مَریَم

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مَرۡيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتۡ مِنۡ أَهۡلِهَا مَكَانً۬ا شَرۡقِيًّ۬ا (١٦) فَٱتَّخَذَتۡ مِن دُونِهِمۡ حِجَابً۬ا فَأَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرً۬ا سَوِيًّ۬ا (١٧) قَالَتۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّ۬ا (١٨) قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَـٰمً۬ا زَڪِيًّ۬ا (١٩) 

Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east.  She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We Sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.  She said, “I seek Refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear Allah.”  He said, “Nay, I am only a Messenger from your Lord (to announce) to you the Gift of a holy son.” (Surah Maryam:16-19)