The early Church never celebrated Christmas – An explanation.
Posted on January 22nd, 2012
By A. Abdul Aziz.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is in reference an article titled above (Sunday Times ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” PLUS ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 25.12.2011 by Rev. Brian D. Blacker), in which the writer indirectly accept the birth of Jesus Christ did not take place in December 25. Instead, he keeps on mentioning the celebration of Christmas. In open words we can say Jesus did not born on December 25. In support of this view, let me elaborate further for the benefit of the readers.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Was Jesus (Prophet Isa ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” alaihissalam – peace be on him) born on December 25th? According to the Holy QurƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢an, the birth of Jesus took place at a time when fresh dates are found on palm-trees in Judaea. That season evidently is in the month of August-September, but, accordingly to the view generally held by Christians, Jesus was born on 25th December which day is celebrated all over the Christian world every year with great fervor. Now this Christian view is contradicted not only by the Quran but also by history and even by the New Testament itself. Writing about the time of JesusƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s birth, Luke says; ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-And there were shepherds in the same country (Judaea) abiding in the field and keeping watch by night over their flocksƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. (Luke: 2; 7,8) Commenting on this statement of Luke, Bishop Barns in his famous book, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The Rice of ChristianityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, on page 79 says: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-There is, moreover, no authority for the belief that December 25 was the actual birthday of Jesus.
If we can give any credence to the birth-story of Luke, with the shepherds keeping watch by night in the field near Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus did not take place in winter when the night temperature is so low in the hill country of Judaea that snow is not uncommon. After much argument our Christian day seems to have been accepted about A.D.300ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. This view of Bishop Barns is supported by Encyclopedia Britannica and Chambers Encyclopedia under ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”ChristmasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. Moreover, in his book ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Commentary on the BibleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ on page 727, Peake says: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The season (of JesusƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s birth) would not be December; our Christmas day is a comparatively late tradition found first in the WestƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
In his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Dictionary of the BibleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Dr. John D. Davis, under the word, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-YearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ writes that dates become ripe in the month of Elul corresponds to the months of August-September. From the above records, the fact becomes quite clear that Jesus was born in the Jewish month of Elul which corresponds to the months of August-September when dates ripen in Judaea, and not on December 25th as the Christian Church would have us believe. And that is the view which is expressed by the Holy QurƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢an (19: 24 – 26). It says:
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-And the pains of child-birth drove her unto the trunk of a palm-tree. She said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”O, would that had died before this and had become a thing quite forgotten.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚Then the angel called her from beneath her saying, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Grieve not. Thy Lord has placed a rivulet below thee; ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will drop upon thee fresh ripe datesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
As it appears from the Gospels, there was no room in the inn in which Jesus was in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary must have stayed in the open field and Mary might have betaken herself to the trunk of a palm-tree in order to take rest under its shade and possibly also to find some support in her throes of child-birth, as Holy QurƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢an states.
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:04 pm
The foundation of Christianity in all forms based baseless. Truth will prevail.
January 22nd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
CROSS broken into pieces – a Mission of later day Messiah – as foretold by Holy Prophet of Islam (Sal).
January 23rd, 2012 at 12:13 am
rohana,
Truth is always BITTER for those who are unable to bear it up. Your statements evidently proves it from the style of your addressing, a noble Prophet. Kindly refrain from this bad terms.
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:00 am
The basic tenet of Christianity i.e. Jesus’ death on CROSS, Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, his coming back all have been proven false. Now, what a pity condition – his date of birth also proven false. In short, this religion full of fiction and funny. This is the subject under discussion.
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:03 am
I wish to repeat the same thing which I have mentioned above, as It’s like “pouring water on the duck’s back.”
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:10 am
Here the matter is with our Lord Jesus. At least, we must avoid saying Dec. 25 as our Lord’s birthday from this year. Just we can say as ‘Christmas’ without any reason behind this festival. O.K. Let’s change ourselves, as our Lord’s birthday itself incorrect.
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:29 am
Nesta, Good suggestion.
January 24th, 2012 at 5:50 am
To all,
If you have the courage, reply to the author of this article under subject dealt with. Also learn to answer in a well manner. Indecent replies did not reach to the heart of the people.
January 25th, 2012 at 2:45 am
Devinda,
Let me in religious term say to you, Sir, Have fear of Allah. Fear for wrath of God.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:12 am
Devendra,
you may comment as you like.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:45 am
Ruq,
Mohammad and Allah are different.
Allah will love those who tell the truth no matter how hurtful it is to you.
Allah never chose Mohommad as his messenger. Mohommad self appointed himself as the messenger.
Islam is the bane of the world. You fail to see the filthy behaviour of your prophet and the violence which is part of your religion.
January 25th, 2012 at 10:11 am
truth will prevail, I believe. Filthy and false comments will not be a barrier in its way. Truth will be exposed, that is destined.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:13 am
Cassandra.
Thank you for your comment.
Really birth date not the issue here. More over, no intention to hurt the feelings of others. If certain issue raised and the same matter is seen in other religious scriptures as well as it supports the sayings of scriptures of that religion in which certain belief deeply rooted, then, concerned matter need to be brought to surface. That’s what the writer does with solid proofs from the relevant scriptures. . May be, it hurts the feelings. May be, against the religious harmony as some think. Here, only to expose truth. Nothing else. If he writes something against the scriptures he quotes, then we must certainly correct him in a gentle way and related to the same matter.
January 26th, 2012 at 7:01 am
Ruq,
Of course, the birth date was the subject of the article, and if you think people could write articles like this and not give offence, they must be naive in the extreme.
What are the “solid proofs from the relevant scriptures” Abdul Aziz offers? Quoting one source as against another is NOT “solid proof”. He and you want us to accept that what the Koran says is the truth. I have no problem with you accepting that. But there is no reason why others should.
What you insist is the truth is merely your PERCEPTION of what the truth is – it is not necessarily the truth. If you think you have a unique claim to the truth, you are entitled to rest happy with that feeling. But, as I said previously, most of us are not so bigoted as to think we have a monopoly of the truth.