Bethlehem, West Bank – Palestine
Coordinates: 31.704306, 35.207639
The Grotto of the Nativity is an underground space which forms the crypt of the Church of the Nativity. It is said to be the exact spot of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام birth.
According to christians traditions, the Gospel of Luke states that Bibi Maryam رضي الله عنها gave birth to Hz. Isa عليه اسلام and placed him in a manger “because there was no place for them in the inn”.
Muslims traditions
There is no denying the fact that birth of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام took place underneath the palm three as it is mentioned in the Quran. Whether the grotto is on that exact place where the palm tree once was is debatable.
Some Muslim scholars don’t believe the location of this church to be the birthplace of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام but a place a few kilometres away.
Nevertheless throughout all the christians sects, this is the place where the birth took place.
Grotto
It is situated underneath its main altar, and it is normally accessed by two staircases on either side of the chancel.
The Grotto is part of a network of caves, which are accessed from the adjacent Church St Catherine’s.
A 14-point silver star on the marble floor of the Grotto of the Nativity bears the words “Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est” (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.
Note: Some of the information in this article comes from Christians sources.
