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Christmas in the Koran — how Maryam gave birth to Jesus under a date palmThe Koran says that Mary, a young virgin, is told by God she will produce a “pure son.” When the birth pangs come she retires to a palm tree. Suffering alone (Joseph is not mentioned), God tells her to shake the tree, from which fresh dates fall. Again there is a parallel: in the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, when the holy family stops off on the way to Egypt.