Investigative Study: Was Jesus Truly Born in December?

The question of determining the time of the birth of Prophet Jesus, the son of Mary (peace be upon him), brings several points to light:

1. 1. Uncertainty of Knowledge: The exact time of Christ’s birth falls under matters of the unseen, which no one can ascertain except those to whom Allah has directly revealed this knowledge. There is no definitive way to establish this due to the lack of credible chains of transmission and varying accounts over the centuries.

1. 1. Insignificance of Timing: Knowing the exact date of Christ’s birth is neither beneficial knowledge nor harmful ignorance. If there were a significant purpose behind knowing this, we would have had clear textual evidence. Moreover, if we were to determine Christ’s birth date, should we also ask about the birth dates of Moses, Abraham, and other prophets? What purpose would it serve? This point naturally leads to the next.

1. 1. Focus on the Prophet Muhammad’s Birth: The birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is historically closer to us than the birth of Christ. Despite being born in Makkah, a city of global attention, as the son of noble leaders, scholars still differ regarding the exact day of his birth. However, the consensus is that he was born on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the Year of the Elephant. Muslims commemorate his birth annually with acts of worship and by recalling his life and legacy.

Differing Views on the Birth of Jesus

Christians, who claim to follow the religion of Christ and revere him as either their Lord or the son of their Lord, differ widely among themselves regarding the date of his birth. Muslims, too, have varying interpretations based on verses from the Qur’an that reference events surrounding his birth.

For Muslims, some interpret the mention of fresh dates on a palm tree at the time of Christ’s birth as evidence that it occurred during summer when dates naturally ripen. Others argue that this was a divine miracle, with dates provided out of season, much like the water stream that Allah caused to flow beneath Mary during childbirth and the infant Christ speaking in her defense. Allah’s power to perform such miracles is without limits.

Some scholars have elaborated further:

• • Some suggest that the palm tree Mary was instructed to shake was barren, and Allah miraculously made it bear fresh dates.

• • Others argue the tree was alive but unfruitful until Allah caused it to produce dates.

• • Another view is that the tree was naturally fruitful, and Mary was simply instructed to shake it for the dates to fall.

The Qur’anic narrative indicates that these events, including the flowing stream and the speaking infant, were extraordinary miracles designed to comfort Mary during her trial and prove her innocence. Such divine interventions are not unusual in the Qur’anic accounts of miracles granted to Allah’s messengers.

Was Jesus Truly Born in Winter?

Western Christians celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th, while Eastern Christians mark it in January. However, the Gospel of Luke mentions that shepherds were tending their flocks in the fields at night near Bethlehem during Christ’s birth. This setting makes a winter birth highly unlikely, as the cold temperatures and snowfall on Palestine’s hills would make nighttime grazing impossible.

The claim that Jesus’ birth occurred in winter appears to have been introduced centuries later. For example:

1. 1. Bishop Barnes noted in his book The Rise of Christianity that there is little evidence supporting the belief that Christ was born on December 25th. He argued that a winter birth is incompatible with the Gospel of Luke’s account of shepherds in the fields.

1. 1. The Encyclopedia Britannica and Chambers Encyclopedia also state that early church leaders settled on December 25th as Christ’s birth date around the 4th century CE to coincide with the winter solstice, a time of major pagan festivities.

Historical evidence suggests Jesus’ birth likely occurred in August or September. Dr. John Davis, in A Dictionary of the Bible, noted that dates ripen during the Jewish month of Elul, corresponding to August-September. Similarly, The Bible Commentary by Peake supports this timeframe.

Conclusion

Based on historical research and Islamic interpretation, it is clear that Christ was not born in December or January. Evidence points instead to a birth in August or September. The Qur’anic narrative aligns with this conclusion, as Mary shook a date palm tree and drank from a nearby stream—both conditions that fit the summer season in Palestine.

The Islamic perspective, rooted in the Qur’an, offers an account that aligns with historical and environmental realities. Allah says:

“And shake the trunk of the palm tree toward you; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented.” (Surah Maryam: 25-26)