In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Christ in Islam

by Ahmed Deedat

Chapter One : Christian Muslim Responses

Debate on TV

At the end of the debate - "Christianity and Islam" - which appeared on

the SABC-TV program "Cross Questions" on Sunday 5th June 1983, the

Chairman, Mr. Bill Chalmers commented: "I think it can be said from this

discussion that there is, at present, somewhat more accommodation on the

Islamic side for the founder of Christianity than there is on the Christian side for the founder of Islam. What the

significance of that is, we leave it to you, the viewer, to determine, but I do think you will agree that it is a good

thing that we are talking together."

"Bill" as he is popularly addressed, without any formalities, on all his programs, by all his panelists, is

extremely charming and stupendous in his humility. He is a picture of what the Holy Quran portrays of a good

Christian:

"...And nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say: 'We are Christians': because

among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world. And they are not arrogant."

(The Holy Quran 5:82)

Jesus - His Status

Were the Muslims on the panel trying to placate the viewers out policy, deceit or diplomacy? Nothing of the

kind! They were only articulating what God Almighty had commanded them to say in the Holy Quran. As

Muslims, they had no choice. They had said in so many words: "We Muslims believe, that Jesus was one of

the mightiest messengers of God that he was the Christ, that he was born miraculously without any male

intervention (which many modern-day Christians do not believe today), that he gave life to the dead by God's

permission and that he healed those born blind and the lepers by god's permission. In fact, no Muslim is a

Muslim if he or she does not believe in Jesus!"

Pleasant Surprise

Over 90% of the people who witnessed this debate must have been pleasantly, but skeptically, surprised. They

might have not believed their ears. They must have surmised that the Muslims were playing to the gallery - that

they were trying to curry favor with their fellow Christian countrymen; that if the Muslims would say a few

good words about Jesus, then in reciprocation the Christians might say a few good words about Muhammed

(may the peace and the blessings of God be upon all His righteous servants, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed...etc.);

that I scratch your back and you scratch my back - which would be a sham or hypocrisy.

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Christ in Islam

Hate Cultivated

We cannot blame the Christians for their skepticism. They have been so learned for centuries. They were

trained to think the worst of the man Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, and his religion. How aptly

did Thomas Carlyle say about his Christian brethren over a hundred and fifty years ago: "The lies which wellmeaning

zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to ourselves only." We Muslims are

partly responsible for this. We have not done anything substantial to remove the cobwebs.

Ocean of Christianity

South Africa is an ocean of Christianity. If Libya boasts the highest percentage of Muslims on the continent of

Africa, then the Republic of South Africa would also be entitled to boast the highest percentage of Christians.

In this ocean of Christianity the R.S.A. - the Muslims are barely 2% of the total population. We are a voteless

minority - numerically, we count for nothing; politically, we count for nothing; and economically, one white

man, as Oppenheimer, could buy out the whole lot of us, lock, stock and barrel.

So if we had feigned to appease, we might be excused. But no! We must proclaim our Master's Will; we must

declare the Truth, whether we liked it or not. In the words of Jesus: "Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set

you free" (John 8:32).

Chapter Two : Jesus in the Quran

Christians Unaware

The Christian does not know that the true spirit of charity which the Muslim displays, always, towards Jesus

and his mother Mary spring from the fountainhead of his faith - the Holy Quran. He does not know that the

Muslim does not take the holy name of Jesus, in his own language, without saying Eesa, alaihi assalam

("Jesus, peace be upon him")

The Christian does not know that in the Holy Quran Jesus is mentioned twenty five times. For example:

"We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit" (The Holy Quran

2:87)

"O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary..."

(3:45)

"...Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of god..." (4:171)

"...And in their foot steps we sent Jesus the son of Mary..." (5:46)

"And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous." (6:85)

Jesus - His Titles

Though Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Holy Quran, he is also addressed with respect

as: Ibn Maryam, meaning "The son of Mary"; and as the Maseeh (in Hebrew it is the Messiah), which is

translated as "Christ". He is also known as Abdullah, "The servant of Allah"; and as Rasul u Allah, the

messenger of Allah.

He is spoken of as "The Word of God", as "The Spirit of God", as a "Sign of God", and numerous other

epithets of honor spread over fifteen different chapters. The Holy Quran honors this mighty messenger of God,

and the Muslims have not fallen short over the past fourteen hundred years in doing the same. There is not a

single disparaging remark in the entire Quran to which even the most jaundiced among the Christians can take

exception.

Eesa Latinised to "Jesus"

The Holy Quran refers to Jesus as Eesa, and this name is used more times than any other title, because this was

his "Christian" name. Actually, his proper name was Eesa (Arabic), or Esau (Hebrew); classical Yeheshua,

which the Christian nations of the West latinised as Jesus. Neither the "J" nor the second "s" in the name Jesus

is to be found in the original tongue - they are not found in the Semitic languages.

The word is very simply "E S A U" a very common Jewish name, used more than sixty times in the very first

booklet alone of the Bible, in the part called "Genesis". There was at least one "Jesus" sitting on the "bench" at

the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Josephus the Jewish historian mentions some twenty five Jesus' in his

"Book of Antiquities". The New Testament speaks of "Bar-Jesus" a magician and a sorcerer, a false prophet

(Acts 13:6); and also "Jesus-Justus" a Christian missionary, a contemporary of Paul (Colossians 4:11). These

are distinct from Jesus the son of Mary. Transforming "Esau" to (J)esu(s) - Jesus - makes it unique. This unique

(?) name has gone out of currency among the Jews and the Christians from the 2nd century after Christ.

Among the Jews, because it came to be a name of ill - repute, the name of one who blasphemed in Jewry; and

among the Christians because it came to be the proper name of their God. The Muslim will not hesitate to name

his son Eesa because it is an honored name, the name of a righteous servant of the Lord.

Chapter Three : Mother And Son

Mary Honored

The birth of Jesus Christ is described in two places of the Quran - chapter 3 and chapter 19. Reading from the

beginning of his birth, we come across the story of Mary, and the esteemed position which she occupies in the

House of Islam, before the actual annunciation of the birth of Jesus is given:

"'Behold'! the angels said: 'O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee, and chosen thee above the

women of all nations" (3:42)

"Chosen thee above the women of all nations." Such an honor is not to be found given to Mary even in the

Christian Bible! The verse continues:

"O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly: prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow

down." (3:43)

Divine Revelation

What is the source of this beautiful and sublime recitation which, in its original Arabic, moves men to ecstasy

and tears? verse 44 below explains:

"This is part of the tidings, of the things unseen, which We reveal unto thee (O Muhammad!) by inspiration:

Thou wast not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care

of Mary: nor wast thou with them when they disputed (the point)." (3:44)

Mary's Birth

The story is that the maternal grandmother of Jesus, Hannah, had hitherto been barren. She poured out her

heart to God: If only God will grant her a child, she would surely dedicate such a child for the service of God

in the temple.

God granted her prayer and Mary was born. Hannah was disappointed. She was yearning for a son, but instead

she delivered a daughter; and in no way is the female like the male, for what she had in mind. What was she to

do? She had made a vow to God. She waited for Mary to be big enough to fend for herself.

When the time came, Hannah took her darling daughter to the temple, to hand over for temple services. Every

priest wanted to be the god-father of this child. They cast lots with arrows for her - like the tossing of the coin -

head or tail?

eventually she fell to the lot of Zakariya, but not without a dispute.

The Source of His Message

This was the story. But where did Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, get this knowledge from? He

was an Ummi, Arabic for "unlettered". He did not low how to read or write. He is made by God Almighty to

answer this very question in the verse above, by saying that it was all by divine inspiration. "No!", says the

controversialist. "This is Muhammed's own concoction. He copied his revelations from the Jews and

Christians. He plagiarized it. He forged it."

Knowing full-well, and believing as we do, that the whole Quran is the veritable Word of God, we will

nevertheless agree, for the sake of argument, with the enemies of Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam,

for a moment, that he wrote it. We can now expect some cooperation from the unbelievers.

Ask him: "Have you any qualms in agreeing that Muhammed was an Arab?" Only an ignorant will hesitate to

agree. In that case there is no sense in pursuing any discussion. Cut short the talk. Close the book!

With the man of reason, we proceed. "That this Arab, in the first instance, was addressing other Arabs. He was

not talking to Indian Muslims, Chinese Muslims, or Nigerian Muslims. He was addressing his own people, the

Arabs. Whether they agreed with him or not, he told them in the most sublime form, words that were seared

into the hearts and minds of his listeners that Mary the mother of Jesus, a Jewess, was chosen above the

women of all nations. Not his own mother, nor his wife nor his daughter, nor any other Arab woman, but a

Jewess! Can one explain this? Because to everyone his own mother or wife, or daughters would come before

other women.

Why would the prophet of Islam honor a woman from his opposition! and a Jewess at that! belonging to a race

which had been looking down upon his people for three thousand years? Just as they still look down upon their

Arab brethren today."

Sarah and Hagar

The Jews learn, from the Bible, that their father, Abraham, had two wives Sarah and Hagar. They say that they

are the children of Abraham through Sarah his legitimate wife; that their Arab brethren have descended

through Hagar, a "bondwoman", and that as such, the Arabs are an inferior breed.

Will anyone please explain the anomaly as to why Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, if he is the

author, chose this Jewess for such high honor? The answer is simple, he had no choice he had no right to

speak of his own desire. "It is no less than an inspiration sent down to him." (53:4)

The Chapter of Maryam

There is a Chapter in the Holy Quran, named Surat u Maryam "Chapter Mary", named in honor of Mary the

mother of Jesus Christ, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; again, such an honor is not to be found

given to Mary in the Christian Bible. Out of the 66 books of the Protestants and 73 of the Roman Catholics,

not one is named after Mary or her son. You will find books named after Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter,

Paul and two score more obscure names, but not a single one is that of Mary!

If Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, was the author of the Holy Quran, then he would not have failed

to include in it with Mary, the mother of Jesus, his own mother Aamina, his dear wife Khadija, or his beloved

daughter Fatima. But No! No! This can never be. The Quran is not his handiwork!.

Chapter Four : The Good News

" 'Behold!' the angels said: 'O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him: his name will be Jesus,

the son of Mary; held in honor in this world and the hereafter; and (of the company of) those nearest to Allah."

(3:45)

"Nearest to God," not physically nor geographically, but spiritually. Compare this with "And (Jesus) sat on the

right hand of God." (Mark 16:19). The bulk of Christendom has misunderstood this verse as well as many

others in the Bible. They imagine the Father (God) sitting on a throne, a glorified chair, and His Son, Jesus,

sitting on His right hand side. Can you conjure up the picture? If you do, you have strayed from the true

knowledge of God. He is no old Father Christmas. He is beyond the imagination of the mind of man. He

exists. He is real, but He is not like anything we can think of, or imagine.

In eastern languages "right hand" meant a place of honor, which the Holy Quran more fittingly describes as "In

the company of those nearest to Allah." The above verse confirms that Jesus is the Christ. and that he is the

Word which God bestowed upon Mary. Again, the Christian reads into these words, a meaning which they do

not carry. They equate the word "Christ" with the idea of a god-incarnate; and the "Word" of God to be God.

"Christ" Not a Name

The word "Christ" is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah Arabic Maseeh Root word masaha meaning

The word Christ is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah, Arabic Maseeh. Root word masaha, meaning

"to rub", "to massage", "to anoint". Priests and kings were anointed when being consecrated to their offices.

But in its translated Grecian form, "Christ" seems unique: befitting Jesus only.

Christians like to translate names into their own language; like Cephas to "Peter" , Messiah to "Christ". How

do they do that? Very easily. Messiah in Hebrew means "Anointed". The Greek word for anointed is Christos.

Just lop off the 'os' from Christos, and you are left with "Christ"; a unique name!

Christos means "Anointed", and anointed means appointed in its religious connotation. Jesus, peace and

blessing be upon him, was appointed (anointed) at his baptism by John the Baptist, as God's Messenger. Every

prophet of God is so anointed or appointed. The Holy Bible is replete with the "anointed" ones. In the original

Hebrew, he was made a Messiah. Let us keep to the English translation "anointed."

Not only were prophets and priests and kings anointed (Christos-ed), but horns, and cherubs and lamp-posts

also.

"I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar ..." (Genesis 31:13)

"If the priest that is anointed do sin ..." (Leviticus 4:3)

"And Moses... anointed the tabernacle and all things that was therein..." (Leviticus 8:100)

"..the Lord shall...exalt the horn of his anointed" (I Samuel 2:10)

"Thus saith the Lord to his anointed to Cyrus..." (Isaiah 45:1)

"Thou art the anointed cherub..." (Ezekiel 28:14)

There are an hundred more such references in the Holy Bible. Every time you come across the word

"anointed" in your Bible, you can take it that that word would be christos in the Greek translations, and if you

take the same liberty with the word that the Christians have done, you will have Christ Cherub, Christ Cyrus,

Christ Priest and Christ Pillar, ...etc.

Some Titles Exclusive

Although, every prophet of God is an anointed one of God, a Messiah, the title Maseeh or Messiah, or its

translation "Christ" is exclusively reserved for Jesus, the son of Mary, in both Islam and in Christianity. This is

not unusual in religion. There are certain other honorific titles which may be applied to more than one prophet,

yet being made exclusive to one by usage: like "Rasulullah", meaning "Messenger of God", which title is

applied to both Moses (19:51) and Jesus (61:6) in the Holy Quran. Yet "Rasullullah" has become synonymous

only with Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, among Muslims.

Every prophet is indeed a "Friend of God", but its Arabic equivalent "Khalillullah" is exclusively associated

with Father Abraham. This does not mean that the others are not God's friends. "Kaleemullah", meaning "One

who spoke with Allah" is never used for anyone other than Moses, yet we believe that God spoke with many

of His messengers, including Jesus and Muhammed, may the peace and blessings of God be upon all His

servants. Associating certain titles with certain personages only, does not make them exclusive or unique in any

way. We honor all in varying terms.

Whilst the good news was being announced (verse 45 above) Mary was told that her unborn child will be

Whilst the good news was being announced (verse 45 above) Mary was told that her unborn child will be

called Jesus, that he would be the Christ, a "Word" from God, and that...

"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

(3:46)

"At length she brought the (babe) to her people carrying him. They said: 'O Mary! truly a strange thing has

thou brought!'. 'O sister of Aaron!, thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!' " (The

Holy Quran 19:27-28)

Jews Amazed

There is no Joseph the carpenter here. The circumstances being peculiar, Mary the mother of Jesus had retired

herself to some remote place in the East (19:16). After the birth of the child she returns.

A. Yusuf Ali, comments in his popular English translation of the Quran:

"The amazement of the people knew no bounds. In any case they were prepared to think the worst of her, as

she had disappeared from her kin for some time. But now she comes, shamelessly parading a babe in her arms!

How she had disgraced house of Aaron, the fountain of priesthood!

"Sister of Aaron": Mary is reminded of her high lineage and the unexceptionable morals of her father and

mother. How, they said, she had fallen, and disgraced the name of her progenitors!

What could Mary do? How could she explain? Would they, in their censorious mood accept her explanation?

All she could do was to point to the child, who, she knew, was no ordinary child. And the child came to her

rescue. By a miracle he spoke, defended his mother, and preached to an unbelieving audience."

Allah azza wa jall says in the Quran:

"But she pointed to the babe. They said: 'How can we talk one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: 'I

am indeed a servant of Allah (God) : He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet: 'and He hath made

me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live. '(He hath made me)

kind to my mother, and not overbearing or unblest; 'So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die,

and the day that I shall be raised up to life again)'!" (19:29-33)

His First Miracle(s)

Thus Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, defended his mother from the grave calumny and innuendoes of

her enemies. This is the very first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Holy Quran that, he spoke as an infant from

his mother's arms. Contrast this with his first miracle in the Christian Bible which occurred when he was over

thirty years of age:

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus

was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him,

they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.' His

mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of

stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto

them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out

no and bear nto the go ernor of the feast And the bare it When the r ler of the feast had tasted the ater

now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water

that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor

of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine;

and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." (John

2:110)

Since this miracle, wine has flowed like water in Christendom. Many reason that what was good for the Master

is good enough for them. Jesus was no "kill-joy" they say. Didn't he make good potent wine, that even those

"well drunk", those whose senses had been dulled could make out the difference ? "That the best was kept for

the last.". This was no pure grape juice. It was the same wine that, according to the Christian Bible, enabled the

daughters of Lot to seduce their father (Genesis 19:32-33).It was the same wine which the Christian is advised

to eschew in Ephesians 5:18 - "And be not drunk with wine..."

It is that innocent (?) 1% potency that eventually leads millions down into the gutter. America has 10 million

drunkards in the midst of 70 million "born-again" Christians! The Americans call their drunkards "Problem

Drinkers". In South Africa, they are called "Alcoholics"; drunkard is too strong a word for people to stomach.

But the Prime Minister of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, does not hesitate to call a spade a spade. He says, "I

am not prepared to lead nation of drunkards", referring to his own people who drink intoxicants.

Whether the water "blushed" or not "seeing" Jesus, we cannot blame him or his disciples for the drinking

habits of his contemporaries. For he had truly opined, "have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot

bear them now" (John 16:12). Mankind had not reached the stage of receiving the whole Truth of Islam. Did

he not also say "You cannot put new wine into old bottles"? (Matthew 9:17).

"Mother" or "Woman"?

According to St. John, in the fourth verse above, describing the marriage feast at Cana, we are told that Jesus,

peace and blessings be upon him, behaved insolently towards his mother. He calls her "woman," and to rub

more salt into the wound he is made to say "what have I to do with thee?" What connection is there between

you and me, or what have I got to do with you? Could he have forgotten that this very "woman" had carried

him for nine months, and perhaps suckled him for 2 years, and had borne endless insults and injuries on

account of him? Is she not his mother? Is there no word in his language for "mother"?

Strange as it may seem, that while the missionaries boast about their master's humility, meekness and longsuffering,

they call him the "Prince of Peace" and they sing that "he was led to the slaughter like a lamb, and

like a sheep who before his shearer is dumb, he opened not his mouth", yet they proudly record in the same

breath, that he was ever ready with invectives for the elders of his race, and was always itching for a

showdown i.e. if their records are true:

"Ye hypocrites!"

"Ye wicked and adulterous generation!"

"Ye whited sephulcres!"

"Ye generation of vipers!"

and now to his mother: "Woman..."

Jesus Defended

Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, the Messenger of God, is made to absolve Jesus from the false

charges and calumnies of his enemies.

"And He (God Almighty) hath made me (Jesus) kind to my mother, and not overbearing or unblest" (19:31).

On receiving the good news of the birth of a righteous son Mary responds:

"She said: 'O My Lord! how shall I have a son, when no man hath touched me?"

The angel says in reply:

"He said: 'Even so: Allah (God) createth what He willeth: when He hath decreed a matter He but sayth o it

'Be,' and it is! And Allah (God) will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah (Law) and the Gospel,"

(3:47-48).

Chapter Five : Quranic and Biblical Versions

Meeting the Reverend

I was visiting the "Bible House" in Johannesburg. Whilst browsing through the stacks of Bibles and religious

books, I picked up an Indonesian Bible and had just taken in hand a Greek - English New Testament, a large,

expensive volume. I had not realized that I was being observed by the supervisor of the Bible House. Casually,

he walked up to me. Perhaps my beard and my Muslim headgear were an attraction and a challenge? He

inquired about my interest in that costly volume. I explained that as a student of comparative religion, I had

need for such a book. He invited me to have tea with him in his office. It was very kind of him and I accepted.

Over the cup of tea, I explained to him the Muslim belief in Jesus, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. I

explained to him the high position that Jesus occupied in the House of Islam. He seemed skeptical about what I

said. I was amazed at his seeming ignorance, because only retired Reverend gentlemen can become

Supervisors of Bible Houses in South Africa. I began reciting from verse 42 of chapters 3 of the Holy Quran:

"'Behold!' The angels said: 'O Mary, Allah hath chosen thee...'"

I wanted the Reverend to listen, not only to the meaning of the Quran, but also to the music of its cadences

when the original Arabic was recited. Rev. Dunkers (for that was his name) sat back and listened with rapt

attention to "Allah's Words".

When I reached the end of verse 49, the Reverend commented that the Quranic message was like that of his

own Bible. He said, he saw no difference between what he behaved as a Christian, and what I had read to him.

I said: "that was true". If he had come across these verses in the English language alone without their Arabic

equivalent, side by side, he would not have been able to guess in a hundred years that he was reading the Holy

Quran. If he were a Protestant, he would have thought that he was reading the Roman Catholic Version, if he

had not seen one, or the Jehovah's Witness Version or the Greek Orthodox Version, or the hundred and one

other versions that he might not have seen; but he would never have guessed that he was reading the Quranic

version.

The Christian would be reading here, in the Quran, everything he wanted to hear about Jesus, but in a most

noble, elevated and sublime language. He could not help being moved by it.

In these eight terse verses from 42 to 49 we are told:

(a) That Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virtuous woman, and honored above the women of all nations.

(b) That all that was being said was God's own Revelation to mankind.

(c) That Jesus was the "Word" of God.

(d) That he was the Christ that the Jews were waiting for.

(e) That God will empower this Jesus to perform miracles even in infancy.

(f) That Jesus was born miraculously, without any male intervention.

(g) That God will vouchsafe him Revelation.

(h) That he will give life to the dead by God's permission, and that he will heal those born blind and the

lepers by God's permission, ... etc.

"Chalk and Cheese"

The most fervent Christian cannot take exception to a single statement or word here. But the difference

between the Biblical and the Quranic narratives is that between "chalk and cheese". "To me they are identical,

what is the difference?" the Reverend asked. I know that in their essentials both the stories agree in their

details, but when we scrutinize them closely we will discover that the difference between them is staggering.

Now compare the miraculous conception as announced in verse 47 of the Holy Quran with what the Holy

Bible says:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they

came together, (as husband and wife) she was found with child of the holy ghost."(Matthew 1:18)

Master Dramatizer

The eminent Billy Graham from the United States of America dramatized this verse in front of 40,000 people

in King Park, Durban, with his index finger sticking out and swinging his outstretched arm from right to left,

he said: "And the Holy Ghost came and impregnated Mary!" On the other hand St. Luke tells us the very same

thing but less crudely. He says, that when the annunciation was made, Mary was perturbed. Her natural

reaction was :

"How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34) meaning se