When was Jesus (as) really born, and why is Christmas celebrated in December?

Jesus (as) was not born in December, but, according to the picture given in the Holy Qur’an, at the time of ripe dates, roughly in autumn. The 25th of December was originally a pagan feast of the sun god that was later reinterpreted as the birth of Jesus (as).

The Holy Qur’an gives no date. But it describes Mary giving birth beneath a date palm and being able to eat fresh, ripe dates. That fits the time when dates ripen, in autumn, around September or October, perhaps early November. It does not fit December. Most Christian scholars today also say that the 25th of December was not the birthday of Jesus (as).

The year is not exactly right either. Jesus (as) was probably born some years before the start of the Christian calendar, around four to eight years earlier.

So why December? Christian researchers who have studied the origin of the feast agree on this. Christmas was originally neither a Jewish nor a Christian festival. In the Roman Empire, many pagans celebrated the birth of the sun god at this time of year. When they became Christians, they did not want to give up their old festival. Had it been forbidden, many would sooner have left Christianity. So the church of that time said: keep celebrating this day, but call it the birth of Jesus (as).

In this way many followers were won. But something more important was lost, the real Jesus (as), who disappeared behind a Roman myth. This can still be seen today. Eating a great deal, drinking a great deal and spending the time on outward things have nothing to do with what Jesus (as) came for. That is not how the birthday of any prophet is honoured.