SAEDNEWS: Muslims regard Jesus (peace be upon him) as one of the great prophets who brought divine guidance to humanity before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Christmas is the Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated by most Christians on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or the entire day before Christmas Day and is observed in many countries as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of the celebration.
Together, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day form one of the most culturally significant religious observances in Christian and Western societies.
Although December 25 has become widely accepted as Jesus’ birthday, some historians and theologians argue that his birth may have occurred in another season.
In Islam, Jesus (ʿĪsā ibn Maryam) is regarded as one of the greatest prophets and messengers of God and the Messiah sent to guide the Children of Israel. Muslims believe he was given a divine revelation called the Injīl (Gospel).
The Qur’an describes Jesus as:
The Messiah (al-Masīḥ)
Born miraculously to the Virgin Mary
A performer of miracles by God’s permission
A servant and messenger of God — not divine
Unlike Christian belief, Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified, did not die on the cross, and was not resurrected. Instead, he was saved by God and raised to Heaven.
The name ʿĪsā (Jesus) appears 25 times in the Qur’an, and the title al-Masīḥ (the Messiah) appears 11 times.
One of the key verses about Jesus’ birth states:
“O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter and among those nearest to God.”
(Qur’an 3:45)
The Qur’an also describes Jesus:
Speaking in the cradle (5:110)
Healing the blind and the lepers by God’s permission (5:110)
Being strengthened by the Holy Spirit (2:87)
Being a sign for all people (21:91)
Muslims believe his mission was to call people to worship God alone and live righteous lives.
Islam and Christianity are the two largest religions in the world, with approximately 1.8 billion Muslims and 2.3 billion Christians. Both are:
Monotheistic
Abrahamic
Originating in the Middle East
Both faiths believe in:
One God
Prophets such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
Moral accountability
The afterlife
The return of Jesus before the end of time
The Qur’an emphasizes spiritual unity among the prophets:
“We believe in God and what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them.”
(Qur’an 2:136)
The main theological difference is the nature of Jesus:
Christianity | Islam |
|---|---|
Jesus is divine, the Son of God | Jesus is a prophet and servant of God |
Jesus was crucified and resurrected | Jesus was raised alive and not crucified |
Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) | Absolute oneness of God (Tawḥīd) |
While Muslims and Christians differ in their understanding of Jesus’ nature, both traditions honor him deeply and regard him as one of the greatest figures in religious history. His message of faith, compassion, justice, and devotion to God remains central to both religions and continues to inspire billions of people around the world.
