The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 2 Joseph's dream and the flight to safety. The Qur'an's picture of Mary's motherhood, and the question of whether a fatherless birth by itself implies divinity:
The Angel Warns Joseph in a Dream
Mary having known the will of God, fearing the people, lest they should take offence at her being great with child, and should stone her as guilty of fornication, chose a companion of her own lineage, a man by name called Joseph, of blameless life: for he as a righteous man feared God and served him with fastings and prayers, living by the works of his hands, for he was a carpenter.
Such a man the virgin knowing, chose him for her companion and revealed to him the divine counsel.
Joseph being a righteous man, when he perceived that Mary was great with child, was minded to put her away because he feared God. Behold, whilst he slept, he was rebuked by the angel of God saying, 'O Joseph, why art thou minded to put away Mary thy wife? Know that whatsoever hath been wrought in her hath all been done by the will of God. The virgin shall bring forth a son, whom thou shall call by the name Jesus; whom thou shalt keep from wine and strong drink and from every unclean meat, because he is an holy one of God from his mother's womb. He is a prophet of God sent unto the people of Israel, in order that he may convert Judah to his heart, and that Israel may walk in the law of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses. He shall come with great power, which God shall give him, and shall work great miracles, whereby many shall be saved.
Joseph, arising from sleep, gave thanks to God, and abode with Mary all his life, serving God with all sincerity.
Mary, knowing the will of God, feared that the people would take offense at her pregnancy and stone her for sexual immorality. She therefore chose as her companion a man of her own lineage named Joseph, who led a blameless life. As a righteous man, he feared God and served him with prayer and fasting, living by the work of his hands, for he was a carpenter.
Knowing that Joseph was such a man, the virgin took him as her companion and revealed the divine counsel to him.
Because Joseph was a righteous man, when he perceived that Mary was pregnant, he intended to send her away because he feared God. While he slept, the angel of God rebuked him, saying: 'O Joseph, why do you intend to send away Mary your wife? Know that everything that has taken place within her has been done by the will of God. The virgin will give birth to a son, whom you will call Jesus. You will keep him from wine, strong drink, and every unclean food, because he is a holy one of God from his mother's womb. He is a prophet of God sent to the people of Israel, so that he may turn Judah to his heart and Israel may walk in the law of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses. He will come with great power, which God will give him, and will work great miracles by which many will be saved.'
When Joseph awoke, he gave thanks to God and remained with Mary all his life, serving God with complete sincerity.
Mary having known the will of God, fearing the people, lest they should take offence at her being great with child, and should stone her as guilty of fornication, chose a companion of her own lineage, a man by name called Joseph, of blameless life: for he as a righteous man feared God and served him with fastings and prayers, living by the works of his hands, for he was a carpenter.
Such a man the virgin knowing, chose him for her companion and revealed to him the divine counsel.
Joseph being a righteous man, when he perceived that Mary was great with child, was minded to put her away because he feared God. Behold, whilst he slept, he was rebuked by the angel of God saying, 'O Joseph, why art thou minded to put away Mary thy wife? Know that whatsoever hath been wrought in her hath all been done by the will of God. The virgin shall bring forth a son, whom thou shall call by the name Jesus; whom thou shalt keep from wine and strong drink and from every unclean meat, because he is an holy one of God from his mother's womb. He is a prophet of God sent unto the people of Israel, in order that he may convert Judah to his heart, and that Israel may walk in the law of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses. He shall come with great power, which God shall give him, and shall work great miracles, whereby many shall be saved.
Joseph, arising from sleep, gave thanks to God, and abode with Mary all his life, serving God with all sincerity.