THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM
The Magi entered a house
“(…) The star they had seen in the East went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Gospel according to Matthew 2:9-11.
In the Quran, Jesus is born under a palm tree
The birth of Jesus, or “Issa” in Arabic, is a key event in the Quran, where he is often described as a prophet and messenger of God. According to the Quranic account, Mary, or Maryam, is a central figure in this story. In surah 19, titled “Maryam,” the Quran describes how Mary received the news of her pregnancy from the angel Gabriel. Due to her immaculate conception, she withdrew to a remote place to avoid suspicion. In this context, she gave birth to Jesus under a palm tree. The text describes a moment of great intensity and pain for Mary. When she gave birth, she felt overwhelmed. However, a miracle occurs: a stream of water bursts forth at her feet, and the palm tree offers her ripe dates to relieve her suffering. This birth, though humble, is surrounded by miracles and bears witness to divine power. Jesus is presented as a sign for humanity, a messenger who preaches the word of God and performs miracles. The Quran emphasizes the importance of his birth and his role in history, respecting the Christian tradition while providing its own perspective.