Discussions of the Islamic Mary or Maryam frequently engage the Qur’an, especially the chapter that is named after her (Surat Maryam). However, it is important to point out that Maryam exists throughout Islamic literature and Muslim memory and her name appears across various texts of exegesis (tafsīr), hadith, and theology. Likewise in Islamic mystical literature, often referred to as Sufism, she plays a prominent role. There, Maryam is treated as a model for Muslim mystics, ascetics and saints seeking to foster an intimate relationship with God. In particular, her legacy serves as a template for female spiritual figures to follow and for Muslim historians to analyze.
