Maryam in tafsir tradition

Maryam is the only woman who is explicitly mentioned by name in the Quran. In the Holy Quran, the name "Maryam" is mentioned thirty-four times in twelve different surahs (chapters of Quran) and an entire surah (Surah 19, Maryam) is named after her, which makes Maryam special. The importance that the Quran attaches to this exceptional woman has been discussed in the sources of tafsir (books of Quranic commentary, interpretation and explanation) and they have provided information about her. Maryam, who was made a cult figure in the West, has been widely discussed in western sources; however, the Quran that prioritizes faith and monotheism addresses Maryam on the basis of her exclusiveness, servitude and devotion. This study determines comments about Maryam in tafsir books and the ideas on which these comments were based are discussed. The Chapter I identifies the status of Maryam in Christianity and Judaism. Chapter II, which discusses historical personality of Maryam, examines the tafsir books in terms of issues such as Maryam's family, the fact that her mother devoted her to serve the temple, that she was given the name 'Maryam', the way she was raised and grown like a beautiful plant, and her care and protection. Chapter III addresses the theological identity of Maryam within the context of the process in which she became a mother, whether she is an element of trinity, and the fact that she was made a sign and honored with revelation or divine inspiration. This study shows that tafsir books in general have discussed the subject by adopting a similar approach of the Quran that emphasizes Maryam's chastity against the slander that Jews inflicted on her and that opposes, with harsh denials, Christians' understanding that she is the mother of the god. Tafsir tradition includes information about Maryam in the form of Isrâiliyât (narratives assumed to be of foreign import from other religions especially from Judaism); however, unlike the works in Christian theology, Islam uses a style of expression that reflects the importance it gives to tawhid (unification or oneness of God).