[Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah (God) . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah (charity)as long as I remain alive
And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.
And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.”
That is Jesus, the son of Mary – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.
It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.
BIRTH OF JESUS
45. The Angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, well-esteemed in this world and the next, and one of the nearest.
46. He will speak to the people from the crib, and in adulthood, and will be one of the righteous.”
47. She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child, when no man has touched me?” He said, “It will be so. God creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
48. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.
49. A messenger to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you out of clay the figure of a bird; then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the leprous, and I revive the dead, by God’s leave. And I inform you concerning what you eat, and what you store in your homes. In that is a sign for you, if you are believers.”
50. “And verifying what lies before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord; so fear God, and obey me.”
51. “God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”
[Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah (God). He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah (charity)as long as I remain alive.
And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.
And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.”
That is Jesus, the son of Mary – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.
It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.
SURAH/ CHAPTER AL IMRAN
BIRTH OF MARY, BIRTH OF JOHN (Jesus’ cousin as the Prophet Zakariah’s/ Zechariah’s son) andBIRTH OF JESUS- Verses
35. The wife of Imran said, “My Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated, so accept from me; You are the Hearer and Knower.”
36. And when she delivered her, she said, “My Lord, I have delivered a female,” and God was well aware of what she has delivered, “and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and have commended her and her descendants to Your protection, from Satan the outcast.”
37. Her Lord accepted her with a gracious reception, and brought her a beautiful upbringing, and entrusted her to the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah entered upon her in the sanctuary, he found her with provision. He said, “O Mary, where did you get this from?” She said, “It is from God; God provides to whom He wills without reckoning.”
38. Thereupon Zechariah prayed to his Lord; he said, “My Lord, bestow on me good offspring from Your presence; You are the Hearer of Prayers.”
39. Then the angels called out to him, as he stood praying in the sanctuary: “God gives you good news of John; confirming a Word from God, and honorable, and moral, and a prophet; one of the upright.”
40. He said, “My Lord, how will I have a son, when old age has overtaken me, and my wife is barren?” He said, “Even so, God does whatever He wills.”
41. He said, “My Lord, give me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days, except by gestures. And remember your Lord much, and praise in the evening and the morning.”
42. The angels said, “O Mary, God has chosen you, and has purified you. He has chosen you over all the women of the world.
43. “O Mary, be devoted to your Lord, and bow down, and kneel with those who kneel.”
44. These are accounts from the Unseen, which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their lots as to which of them would take charge of Mary; nor were you with them as they quarreled.
45. The Angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, well-esteemed in this world and the next, and one of the nearest.
46. He will speak to the people from the crib, and in adulthood, and will be one of the righteous.”
47. She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child, when no man has touched me?” He said, “It will be so. God creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
48. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.
49. A messenger to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you out of clay the figure of a bird; then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the leprous, and I revive the dead, by God’s leave. And I inform you concerning what you eat, and what you store in your homes. In that is a sign for you, if you are believers.”
50. “And verifying what lies before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord; so fear God, and obey me.”
51. “God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”
52. When Jesus sensed disbelief on their part, he said, “Who are my allies towards God?” The disciples said, “We are God’s allies; we have believed in God, and bear witness that we submit.”
53. “Our Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed, and we have followed the Messenger, so count us among the witnesses.”
While Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birth in December, biblical clues and historical analysis strongly suggest He was likely born in the fall (autumn), around September or October, due to shepherds with flocks outdoors, the census timing, and calculations based on John the Baptist‘s conception, linking to Jewish festivals like Tabernacles.
Evidence for an Autumn Birth:
Shepherds in Fields: Luke 2:8 mentions shepherds tending flocks at night; this would be more plausible in mild autumn weather than cold, snowy winter, when sheep are housed.
Priestly Calendar:Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, served in the Jerusalem Temple (Abijah’s course, around June) when Gabriel appeared.
John’s Conception/Birth:After Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth conceived (late June/July). John was born about March.
Jesus’ Conception/Birth: Mary conceived Jesus six months after John’s conception (late December/early January). Adding nine months to this places Jesus’ birth in September/October.
Feast of Tabernacles: An autumn birth coincides with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), a major pilgrimage festival when Jerusalem would be crowded, fitting the census narrative.
Why December 25th?
The Bible doesn’t state Jesus’ birth date. December 25th was adopted later (3rd Century AD in North Africa) to coincide with existing winter solstice festivals, a practice sometimes linked to “redeeming” pagan dates.
Matthew 22:36-40New International Version – Greatest Commandment
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Luke 2: – The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The Rich and the Kingdom of God- Mark 10:18
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
Notes: Prophet Jesus taught to worship God Alone (monotheism/ Islam – Submission to God- no on is Good but God; love/ worship God with all you mind, all your soul and all your mind); “trinity” was a concept in minority later introduced by the church – during Emperor Constantine – 325CE –
Jesus’ Birth – in Quran Kareem –
45. The Angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, well-esteemed in this world and the next, and one of the nearest.
46. He will speak to the people from the crib, and in adulthood, and will be one of the righteous.”
47. She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child, when no man has touched me?” He said, “It will be so. God creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” 48. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.
49. A messenger to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you out of clay the figure of a bird; then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the leprous, and I revive the dead, by God’s leave. And I inform you concerning what you eat, and what you store in your homes. In that is a sign for you, if you are believers.”
50. “And verifying what lies before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord; so fear God, and obey me.”
51. “God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”
52. When Jesus sensed disbelief on their part, he said, “Who are my allies towards God?” The disciples said, “We are God’s allies; we have believed in God, and bear witness that we submit.” 53. “Our Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed, and we have followed the Messenger, so count us among the witnesses.”
54. They planned, and God planned; but God is the Best of planners. 55.˹Remember˺ when Allah(God) said, “O Jesus! I will take you1 and raise you up to Myself. I will deliver you from those who disbelieve, and elevate your followers above the disbelievers until the Day of Judgment. Then to Me you will ˹all˺ return, and I will settle all your disputes.
56. As for those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe punishment, in this world and the next, and they will have no helpers. 57. And as for those who believe and do good works, He will give them their rewards in full. God does not love the unjust.”
58. This is what We recite to you of the Verses and the Wise Reminder. 59. The likeness of Jesus in God’s sight is that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, “Be,” and he was. 60. The truth is from your Lord, so do not be of those who doubt.
61. And if anyone disputes with you about him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, “Come, let us call our children and your children, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, and let us invoke God’s curse on the liars.” 62. This is the narrative of truth: there is no god but God. God is the Mighty, the Wise. 63. But if they turn away—God knows the corrupt.
64. Say, “O People of the Book, come to terms common between us and you: that we worship none but God, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us takes others as lords besides God.” And if they turn away, say, “Bear witness that we have submitted.”
Abu Huraira reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “Who is most deserving of my good company?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your father.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5971, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2548 Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
This First Person article is the experience of Sara DuBreuil, a producer with CBC Montreal. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
I never imagined that I would need therapy to process my daughter’s birth.
From the moment my husband, Matt, and I found out we were expecting a girl, we named her Cecilia and started daydreaming about meeting her. I couldn’t wait for her to be placed on my chest and have that first snuggle. I believed my daughter’s birth day would be the best day of my life. But that’s not how it played out.
Up to 45 per cent of new mothers report experiencing a traumatic childbirth, according to a 2018 study published in The Journal of Perinatal Education.
It’s difficult to pin down the exact number of women in Canada who’ve been traumatized during childbirth. “It often goes unacknowledged, undertreated and underdiagnosed”, said Rosa Caporicci, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in reproductive mental health. She is also the person I turned to for help recovering from my own experience.
I’ve decided to speak out about my birth trauma in hopes of normalizing the experience for other parents.
A difficult entry into the world
The day Cecilia was born, June 14, began with an incredible sunrise. I asked Matt to photograph it because we were just hours away from meeting our girl, and I wanted to document the beautiful morning.
I started pushing not long after that and that’s when, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
Cecilia’s heart rate dropped, and the doctor said they had to get her out immediately. She had swallowed a significant amount of meconium, which is a baby’s first stool. If it’s released while still in the womb, it can cause health problems. Also, Cecilia’s umbilical cord was around her neck.
Seconds after birth, Cecilia was surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses who cleared her lungs before moving her to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). My strongest memories from Cecilia’s birth day are not beautiful. They are painful.
bismillahschool.net 