This is the text:
“But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" ( in the Arabic text though the word”babe” does not appear)
He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; “
Most comments take this text in a literal way and therefore see here the description of a miracle.
But still the text can be read differently if we take into account the Injil, namely, that the word “child “ ( sabi) can be understood also as a young boy.
Two texts from the Bible confirm this understanding thus harmonizing the 2 books, Bible and Koran, at least on this topic.
The similar story is found in the gospel according Luke:2: 41 Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he became twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival 43 and completed the days. But when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not notice it. 44 Assuming that he was in the company traveling together, they covered a day’s distance and then began to hunt him up among the relatives and acquaintances. 45 But, not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, making a diligent search for him. 46 Well, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. 47 But all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and his answers. 48 Now when they saw him they were astounded, and his mother said to him: “Child, why did you treat us this way? Here your father and I in mental distress have been looking for you.” 49 But he said to them: “Why did YOU have to go looking for me? Did YOU not know that I must be in the [house] of my Father?” 50 However, they did not grasp the saying that he spoke to them.
It may seem that the Koran gives just a reference to this story when Jesus as a young child gave evidence that he was a prophet in the temple.
the context also shows that as a baby, prophecies were given about him by 2 persons in the temple, confirming also that evidence was given to the Jews about this miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus:
Luke 2: 25 And, look! there was a man in Jerusalem named Sim´e·on, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for Israel’s consolation, and holy spirit was upon him. 26 Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah. 27 Under the power of the spirit he now came into the temple; and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in to do for it according to the customary practice of the law, 28 he himself received it into his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Now, Sovereign Lord, you are letting your slave go free in peace according to your declaration; 30 because my eyes have seen your means of saving 31 that you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel.” 33 And its father and mother continued wondering at the things being spoken about it. 34 Also, Sim´e·on blessed them, but said to Mary its mother: “Look! This one is laid for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel and for a sign to be talked against 35 (yes, a long sword will be run through the soul of you yourself), in order that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered.”
36 Now there was Anna a prophetess, Phan´u·el’s daughter, of Ash´er’s tribe (this woman was well along in years, and had lived with a husband for seven years from her virginity, 37 and she was a widow now eighty-four years old), who was never missing from the temple, rendering sacred service night and day with fastings and supplications. 38 And in that very hour she came near and began returning thanks to God and speaking about [the child] to all those waiting for Jerusalem’s deliverance.
Another text shows that the expression “young child” or “ babe” can be applied in a more general way:
Matthew 21: 15 When the chief priests and the scribes saw the marvelous things he did and the boys that were crying out in the temple and saying: “Save, we pray, the Son of David!” they became indignant 16 and said to him: “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them: “Yes. Did YOU never read this, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have furnished praise’?”
Here the boys were old enough to run into the temple court yard and praise GOD. but Jesus applied a prophecy to them , speaking figuratively of them as babes, even sucklings.
This prophecy is found in psalm 8: 2.
So, both the context of the Koran’s story, and the similar stories in the Ingil, allow a larger (not literal) application , and may have referred to the time when Jesus as a child went to the temple.
I hope this is clear and informative to you. In this explanatory process, I’ve taken into account the several Koranic verses saying that it was “given, to confirm” (unzila, musaddiqan) the Bible (including Torat, Zabur and Injil). I believe that this is a beneficial exercise, and hope that you might also find it so. If you have any other questions on this topic or would like to know about more parallels between these Books, I will be happy to send you as much as I know.
Sincerely,
Yahya
2 Corinthians 13: 11 Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with YOU.
