Greetings,
Thank you for those explanantions, glo and Grace Seeker. Previously, I didn't really understand the full story behind "Mary and Joseph" and the shepherds going to the barn etc, but now it seems to be a bit clearer.
As far as I know in the Islamic version of events, Mary was not married to anyone, although she was from the family lineage of David and lived under the care of her brother-in-law, Zakariyya, who was a Prophet of the Children of Israel at that time. He was a great man among them, whom they would refer to in their religious matters.
Mary was dedicated to the service of the Mosque of the Sacred House in Jerusalem and was well-known for her remarkable acts of worship, devotion and perseverance.
It is interesting to note that Zakariyya saw astonishing miracles occur from Mary that amazed him, which are mentioned in the Qur'an:
Every time Zakariyya entered the Mihrab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this'' She said, "This is from Allah.'' Verily, Allah provides to whom He wills, without limit. [3:37]
It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during the summer and summer fruit during the winter. Is there anything similar to this in Christianity?
With regards to the conception and birth of Jesus, an interesting account has been mentioned in the exegesis of these verses (by the scholar Ibn Katheer), where we find mention of Joseph (Yusuf):
The Conception and the Birth
Allah, the Exalted, informs about Maryam that when Jibril had spoken to her about what Allah said, she accepted the decree of Allah. Many scholars of the predecessors (Salaf) have mentioned that at this point the angel (who was Jibril) blew into the opening of the garment that she was wearing. Then the breath descended until it entered into her vagina and she conceived the child by the leave of Allah. Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "When she conceived him and filled her water jug (at a well), she returned (to her people). After this, her menstrual bleeding ceased and she experienced what the pregnant woman experiences of sickness, hunger, change of color and there was even a change in the manner of her speech. After this, no people came to visit any house like they did the house of Zakariyya. The word spread among the Children of Israel and the people were saying, `Verily, her partner (in fornication) was Yusuf, because there was no one else in the temple with her except him.' So she hid herself from the people and placed a veil between herself and them. No one saw her and she did not see anyone else.'' Allah said;
[فَأَجَآءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ]
(And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date palm.) This means that her pains of labor compelled her to go to the trunk of a date-palm tree that was at the place where she had secluded herself. The scholars differed over its location. As-Suddi said, "Her place of seclusion was to the east and that was where she would pray at the Sacred House of Jerusalem.'' Wahb bin Munabbih said, "She ran away and when she reached an area between Ash-Sham and Egypt, she was overcome by labor pains.'' In another narration from Wahb, he said, "This took place eight miles from the Sacred House of Jerusalem in a village that was known as Bayt Al-Lahm (Bethlehem).'' I say, there are Hadiths about the Isra' (Night Journey of the Prophet ) that are reported by An-Nasa'i on the authority of Anas, and Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of Shadad bin Aws, that say that this took place at Bait Al-Lahm. Allah knows best. This is what is well known that the people all relate from each other. The Christians have no doubt held that the place of this occurrence was Bethlehem and this is what all the people relate. It has been related in a Hadith also, if the Hadith is authentic.
Peace.