where was prophet isa born?
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
There is a difference of opinion among the Christian scholars regarding the birth place of Nabi ‘Isa عليه الصلاة و السلام (Jesus, May peace and blessing be upon him). According to Christian tradition, he was born in Bethlehem; some say he was born in Nazareth, hence the term ‘Jesus of Nazareth’; and others say Galilee.
See http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmaswwjb.htm
However, as stated in the Holy Quran, Hazrat Maryam عليها السلام (Mary, May Allah be pleased with her) gave birth to Nabi ‘Isa عليه الصلاة و السلامat a place where there had been a Date palm.
فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَانْتَبَذَتْ بِهِ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا (22) فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا وَكُنْتُ نَسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا (23) فَنَادَاهَا مِنْ تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا (24) وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا
“She conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said “Oh I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten. But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.” (Surah Maryam v.22, 23, 24)
كان ذلك على ثمانية أميال من بيت المقدس، في قرية هناك يقال لها: “بيت لحم“.
قلت: وقد تقدم في حديث (2) الإسراء، من رواية النسائي عن أنس، رضي الله عنه، والبيهقي عن شدَّاد بن أوس، رضي الله عنه: أن ذلك ببيت لحم، فالله أعلم، وهذا هو المشهور الذي تلقاه الناس بعضهم عن بعض، ولا يشك فيه النصارى أنه ببيت لحم، وقد تلقاه الناس
Ibni Katheer mentions in his Tafseer on the commentary of these verses that the birth place of Nabi ‘Isa عليه الصلاة و السلام was at a place called “Bayt al Lahm” (in Arabic meaning “House of Meat”). In English it is “Bethlehem”. This is also the majority view of Christian scholars.
There is a narration in his Tafseer regarding the opening verses of Surah Isra; it states that the final messenger of Allah-Prophet Muhammedصلى الله عليه و سلم – performed Salaah at the birthplace of Nabi ‘Isa عليه الصلاة و السلام (i.e. Bethlehem) on the night of Mi’raaj (ascension to the heavens). However, this is a very weak narration.
فأجاءها المخاض إلى جذع النخلة أي فألجأها واضطرها الطلق إلى جذع النخلة وهو بنص الحديث الذي رواه النسائي بإسناد لا بأس به عن أنس مرفوعا والبيهقي بإسناد وصححه عن شداد بن أوس مرفوعا أيضا ببيت لحم
Nevertheless, in “Al Bidaya Wa Nihaya” (also authored by Ibni Katheer) it is mentioned (above) that the place Hazrat Maryam عليها السلام gave birth was Bethlehem; and this is authentic. (Al Bidaya Wa Nihaya vol.2 p444 Dari Hajr)
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Zakariyya bin Ahmed,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah