Why Muslims Love Jesus but Don’t Celebrate Christmas

Many of us probably grew up celebrating Christmas as kids. Schools organised carols, a visit to friends and families who are christians to  felicitate with them especially if we grew up in a cosmopolitan city. Christmas in those days was seen as a form of social gathering where rice and chicken were served as a feast.

As we grew older, more awareness is being made on the essence of the celebration which is in vast contradiction to the doctrine of Islam (Monotheism) and a lot of us have desisted from participating in this festival and celebrations.

Lately, when the holiday season arrives, many wonder why Muslims don’t celebrate it even though we claim to deeply revere and respect Jesus (peace be upon him). This reason isn’t far-fetched from who Jesus (Isa) is to Muslims, and how Islamic teachings shape the way Muslims express their love and respect for him.

Jesus in Islam

In Islam, Jesus—known as ’Isa in Arabic—is one of the greatest prophets that Allah has sent down to mankind. The Quran speaks highly of him, describing him as a man of truth, virtue, and miraculous abilities. Every truthful Muslim at the core of their belief upholds the following:

1. Jesus was born miraculously: Like Christians, Muslims believe Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary (Maryam), without a father, through Allah’s command. This miraculous birth is a sign of Allah’s might. This is easy for Allah just like HE did in the case of Adam, it’s only a commandment – Be and he was.
2. Jesus performed miracles: By Allah’s will, Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and even brought the dead back to life. These miracles are mentioned in the Quran as evidence of his prophethood and not a sign of divinity as Christians proclaim.
3. Jesus preached monotheism: Muslims believe Jesus taught people to worship the One God, just as all prophets—including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all)—did. This is why Muslims also believe that Jesus was a Muslim and not the founder of modern Christianity whose doctrine hinges on Trinity.
4. Jesus was not crucified: While Christians believe in the crucifixion and resurrection, Muslims hold that Jesus was not crucified. Instead, Allah saved and raised him up to Heaven, and he will return before the Day of Judgment to restore justice.
5. Jesus is coming back: As the Christians believe likewise, Muslims also hold this belief that he will return. His coming back is a major sign of the end of the world. He will not be coming as a Prophet with a new mission but to defeat the anti-Christ Massih Dajjal.

Why Muslims Don’t Celebrate Christmas

Part of the articles of faith in Islam is to believe in all the Prophets sent by Allah. What this means is that you cannot claim to believe in Muhammad while you downplay your faith in Jesus as a Prophet and messenger of God. Although Muslims deeply love and respect Jesus, there are several reasons why we don’t celebrate Christmas:

1. Jesus was not God or the Son of God: Parallel to the Christian claim to the trinity, Muslims believe in the absolute oneness of God At-Tawhid. For us, Jesus was a beloved prophet who was given the gospel but not part of divinity. The Quran clearly states that attributing divinity to Jesus goes against Islamic teachings:
   

    “Say: He is Allah, The One. Allah The Eternal Being. He begets not nor was He begotten. And there is no one comparable unto Him.” – Quran 112[Al-Ikhlas]:1-4

2. Christmas is not part of Islamic tradition: History shows that the celebration of Christmas originated from the paganistic celebration of the winter solstice which was a practice alien to Christianity. For this reason, Muslims honor Jesus in other ways—such as reading about his life in the Quran, naming children after him or his mother Mary, and emulating his humility and devotion to God Almighty.
3. Islam has its Festivals: Muslims have their religious celebrations, including Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice for his son as ordered by Allah. These holidays are rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
4. No evidence of Jesus celebrating his birthday: There’s no historical record that traces the birth of Jesus to the 25th day of December. As Muslims, we follow prophetic traditions – Sunnah and the Quran, which don’t mention celebrating birthdays, including that of Jesus or our beloved Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, true honor lies in following a prophet’s teachings, not commemorating specific dates of birth.
5. A capitalist holiday: Christmas has metamorphosed over time to become a season for making money. People go out of their way to buy gifts for families and friends. While gift sharing is commendable, it doesn’t have to be tied to a particular season. A reason why you’d rarely hear the phrase of felicitation proclaimed as “Merry Christmas” anymore. What is popularly said today is “Happy Holidays”.

How Can Muslims Show Love for Jesus

Muslims honor Jesus every day in ways that align with Islamic teachings. And these are not limited to the following:

1. Believing in him: Faith in Jesus as a prophet is a fundamental part of Islam as mentioned earlier. Rejecting him would mean rejecting Islam itself.
2. Remembering his mother, Mary: Mary is one of the most revered women in Islam, with an entire chapter of the Quran named after her – Surah Maryam. In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, he said, she was one of the few women who attained the peak of righteousness.
3. Upholding his message: As Muslims, we should strive to live by the values Jesus taught—faith in the Oneness of God, compassion, and humility. Jesus also declared,
   

   “Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him Alone. This is the straight path. – Qur’an 19[Maryam]:36

4. Anticipating his return: Muslims believe that Jesus will return to lead humanity back to worshiping God alone and to establish peace and justice on earth. Part of his mission will be to defeat the anti-Christ and destroy the cross and swine.

Conclusion

Muslims and Christians share a deep respect for Jesus, but their beliefs about him differ. For Christians, Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birth and divinity, while for Muslims, Jesus is a beloved prophet whose teachings guide their lives but whose birth is not marked with a holiday.

Our love for Jesus is rooted in faith, reverence, and daily remembrance, rather than in festive celebration. This difference doesn’t diminish our admiration for him; instead, it reflects the distinct ways Islam and Christianity approach the life and legacy of one of history’s most remarkable figures.

Ultimately, the season can be an opportunity for mutual understanding. While Muslims may not celebrate Christmas, we are highly encouraged to remain civil and respect diversity in belief with others.

As the Qur’an proclaims:

“… for you is your religion and for me is mine.” – Qur’an 109[Al-Kafiroon]:6