Iran (IMNA) - Christmas Eve marks the evening or the full day preceding Christmas, the festival commemorating the birth of Prophet Jesus. Christmas Day is observed across the world, and Christmas Eve is widely recognized as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of it. Together, the two days form one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.
Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated by the majority of Christians on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar. Over time, December 25 has become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, although some believe he may have been born in a different season.
Jesus in Islam
In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is believed to be the penultimate prophet and messenger of God and the Messiah sent to guide the Children of Israel (Banī Isra'īl) with a revealed book known as the Injīl (Gospel).
The Quran describes Jesus as the Messiah (al-Masīḥ), born of a virgin, performing miracles by God’s permission, supported by his disciples, and rejected by the Jewish religious establishment. In contrast to the traditional Christian narrative, the Quran states that Jesus was neither crucified nor killed, nor did he die on the cross or resurrect; rather, he was miraculously saved by God and raised to heaven.
The Quran places Jesus among the greatest prophets and refers to him with several titles. His prophethood follows that of Yahya (John) and precedes that of Muhammad, whom Jesus is reported in the Quran to have foretold under the name Ahmad.
Mentions of Jesus in the Quran
The name Isa (Jesus) appears 25 times in 25 verses of the Quran. The title Masih (Messiah), meaning “the anointed one,” is mentioned eleven times. Masih is the term commonly used by Arab Christians for Christ and has been adopted by both Christians and Muslims in several languages influenced by Arabic.
Quranic Verses About Jesus
Prophet Isa is described as the son of Maryam (Mary), peace be upon her. His miraculous birth without a father is emphasized in the Quran. Islam firmly rejects the belief that Jesus is the son of God, affirming instead that he was sent solely as a messenger to guide people toward righteousness and devotion to God alone. Despite being granted many miracles, his primary mission was to call people to belief in Allah.
The Quran states:
“Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God.’” (Quran 3:45)
Muslims believe this verse, like others in the Quran, to be the direct word of God. The Quran also affirms that Jesus was strengthened with the Holy Spirit (2:87), that he is a sign for all peoples (21:91), and that his virgin birth was questioned by Mary when she asked, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?” (3:47).
According to the Quran, Jesus spoke from the cradle and, by God’s permission, healed the blind and the leper (5:110). God further states: “We gave (Jesus) the Gospel (Injīl) and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers.” (57:27)
Shared Spiritual Foundations
The Quran calls on believers to recognize the unity of God’s message through all prophets:
“Say ye: ‘We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.’” (2:136)
Common Ground Between Islam and Christianity
Christianity and Islam are the world’s two largest religions, with approximately 2.3 billion and 1.8 billion followers, respectively. Both are Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths that originated in the Middle East and emphasize belief in one God.
While both Muslims and Christians believe in God and honor Jesus, they differ on his nature. Muslims do not believe Jesus was divine or the son of God, but view him as a prophet sent to guide humanity to the true faith. Islam strictly affirms monotheism, whereas Christianity holds the doctrine of the Trinity—God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Muslims believe that Jesus did not die on the cross but was raised alive to heaven, where he remains with God. Both Muslims and Christians believe in the afterlife, in the importance of obeying God to achieve peace and harmony, and in the return of Jesus from heaven at the end of times.
Despite theological differences, both faiths share reverence for Jesus as a central figure and a messenger who called people to faith, morality, and devotion to God.
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