Sūrat al-Māʾidah
Section 13 of 25 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Messiah, Son of Mary
The final discussion here concerns the Christians once again: We took a covenant with the Banū Isrāʾīl; We sent them their messengers. After that it speaks of the Christians, of al-Masīḥ ibn Maryam, and of how they said certain things, such as:
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ ۘ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُوا۟ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“Surely, disbelievers are those who say, “Allah is the third of the three” while there is no god but One God. If they do not desist from what they say, a painful punishment shall certainly befall such disbelievers.” (5:73)
Those have disbelieved who say that Jesus is one of three, the third of three. Wa-mā min ilāhin illā ilāhun wāḥid: there is only one Lord, only one God. Wa-in lam yantahū ʿammā yaqūlūna la-yamassanna alladhīna kafarū minhum ʿadhābun alīm: if they do not desist from what they say, a severe punishment will befall those of them who disbelieve.
مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
“The MasīH, son of Maryam, is no more than a Messenger. There have been messengers before him. His mother was very truthful. Both of them used to eat food. Look how We explain signs to them, then see how far they are turned away. Say, “Do you worship, besides Allah, what has no power to do you harm or bring you benefit?” Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (5:75–76)
Mā al-Masīḥu ibnu Maryama illā rasūl: the Messiah, son of Mary, is no more than a messenger. Many messengers passed away before him. His mother was a woman of great truthfulness — she is, indeed, the Virgin Mary. Kānā yaʾkulāni al-ṭaʿām. The Qur'an — Allah (swt) — gives them practical considerations, practical evidence: they would both eat food. SubḥānAllāh — his mother and himself; and they are said to be parts of God? They would eat food. God has no need to eat food. Unẓur kayfa nubayyinu lahumu al-āyāt: Allah says to the believers, see how We make these signs clear to them. Thumma-nẓur annā yuʾfakūn: yet they do not grasp it; they still disobey. Qul a-taʿbudūna min dūni Allāhi mā lā yamliku lakum ḍarran wa-lā nafʿā: say to them, do you worship, apart from Allah, that which has no power to harm you or benefit you? These are verses 75 and 76. Then, in verse 77, comes: cease exaggerating. Cease going beyond the remit. Cease raising Jesus (peace be upon him) above the status that is his.