3. Aal-i-Imraan

And He will teach him the Book and Al-Hikmah, and the Tawrah and the Injil (48)And will make him a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave; and I heal the blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah's leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe. (49)"(And I have come) confirming that which was before me of the Tawrah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So have Taqwa of Allah and obey me. (50)"Truly, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the straight path. (51)

The Description of 'Isa and the Miracles He Performed

Allah states that the good news brought to Maryam about 'Isa was even better because Allah would teach him,

الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ

(the Book and Al-Hikmah). It appears that the 'Book' the Ayah mentioned here refers to writing. We explained the meaning of Al-Hikmah in the Tafsir of Surat Al-Baqarah.

التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ

(the Tawrah and the Injil). The Tawrah is the Book that Allah sent down to Musa, son of 'Imran, while the Injil is what Allah sent down to 'Isa, son of Maryam, peace be upon them, and 'Isa memorized both Books. Allah's statement,

وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

(And will make him a Messenger to the Children of Israel) means, that Allah will send 'Isa as a Messenger to the Children of Israel, proclaiming to them,

أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ

(I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave). These are the miracles that 'Isa performed; he used to make the shape of a bird from clay and blow into it, and it became a bird by Allah's leave. Allah made this a miracle for 'Isa to testify that He had sent him.

وَأُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ

(And I heal him who is Akmah) meaning, 'a person who was born blind,' which perfects this miracle and makes the challenge more daring.

وَالْأَبْرَصَ

(And the leper) which is a known disease,

وَأُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ

(And I bring the dead to life by Allah's leave).

Many scholars stated that Allah sent every Prophet with a miracle suitable to his time. For instance, in the time of Musa, magic was the trade of the time, and magicians held a high position. So Allah sent Musa with a miracle that captured the eyes and bewildered every magician. When the magicians realized that Musa's miracle came from the Almighty, Most Great, they embraced Islam and became pious believers. As for 'Isa, he was sent during a time when medicine and knowledge in physics were advancing. 'Isa brought them the types of miracles that could not be performed, except by one sent by Allah. How can any physician bring life to clay, cure blindness and leprosy and bring …

Then when 'Isa came to know of their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers in Allah's cause?" Al-Hawariyyun said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims. (52)"Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger ['Isa]; so write us down among those who bear witness. (53)And they (disbelievers) plotted and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of those who plot (54)

The Disciples Give Their Support to 'Isa

Allah said,

فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ

(Then when 'Isa came to know), meaning, 'Isa felt that they were adamant in disbelief and continuing in misguidance. He said to them,

مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ

(Who will be my helper in Allah's cause) Mujahid commented, "Meaning, who would follow me to Allah?" However, it appears that 'Isa was asking, "Who would help me convey the Message of Allah?"

The Prophet ﷺ said during the Hajj season, before the Hijrah,

مَنْ رَجُلٌ يُؤْوِينِي حَتَّى أُبَلِّغَ كَلَامَ رَبِّي؟ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي أَنْ أُبَلِّغَ كَلَامَ رَبِّي

(Who will give me asylum so that I can convey the Speech of my Lord, for the Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Speech of my Lord.) until he found the Ansar. The Ansar helped the Prophet ﷺ and gave him refuge. He later migrated to them, they comforted the Prophet ﷺ and protected him from all his enemies, may Allah be pleased with them all. This is similar to what happened with 'Isa, for some of the Children of Israel believed in him, gave him their aid and support and followed the light that was sent with him. This is why Allah said about them;

قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ - رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(Al-Hawariyyun said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger; so write us down among those who bear witness.")

Hawari in Arabic - means 'support'. The Two Sahihs recorded that when the Prophet ﷺ encouraged the people to fight during the battle of Al-Ahzab, Az-Zubayr came forward, and again, when the Prophet ﷺ asked for fighters a second time. The Prophet ﷺ said,

إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَحَوَارِيِّي الزُّبَيْرُ

(Every Prophet has a Hawari, and Az-Zubayr is my Hawari)

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said about,

فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(so write us down among those who bear witness) "Meaning among the Ummah of Muhammad." This Hadith has a good chain of narration.

The Jews Plot to Kill 'Isa

Allah states that the Children of Israel tried to kill 'Isa by conspiring to defame him and crucify him. They complained about him to the king who was a disbeliever. They claimed that 'Isa was a man who misguided people, discouraged them from obeying the king, caused division, and separated between man and his own son. They also said other lies about 'Isa, which they will carry on their necks, including accusing him of being an illegitimate son. The king became furious and sent his men to capture 'Isa to torture …

Then when 'Isa came to know of their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers in Allah's cause?" Al-Hawariyyun said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims. (52)"Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger ['Isa]; so write us down among those who bear witness. (53)And they (disbelievers) plotted and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of those who plot (54)

The Disciples Give Their Support to 'Isa

Allah said,

فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ

(Then when 'Isa came to know), meaning, 'Isa felt that they were adamant in disbelief and continuing in misguidance. He said to them,

مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ

(Who will be my helper in Allah's cause) Mujahid commented, "Meaning, who would follow me to Allah?" However, it appears that 'Isa was asking, "Who would help me convey the Message of Allah?"

The Prophet ﷺ said during the Hajj season, before the Hijrah,

مَنْ رَجُلٌ يُؤْوِينِي حَتَّى أُبَلِّغَ كَلَامَ رَبِّي؟ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي أَنْ أُبَلِّغَ كَلَامَ رَبِّي

(Who will give me asylum so that I can convey the Speech of my Lord, for the Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Speech of my Lord.) until he found the Ansar. The Ansar helped the Prophet ﷺ and gave him refuge. He later migrated to them, they comforted the Prophet ﷺ and protected him from all his enemies, may Allah be pleased with them all. This is similar to what happened with 'Isa, for some of the Children of Israel believed in him, gave him their aid and support and followed the light that was sent with him. This is why Allah said about them;

قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ - رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(Al-Hawariyyun said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger; so write us down among those who bear witness.")

Hawari in Arabic - means 'support'. The Two Sahihs recorded that when the Prophet ﷺ encouraged the people to fight during the battle of Al-Ahzab, Az-Zubayr came forward, and again, when the Prophet ﷺ asked for fighters a second time. The Prophet ﷺ said,

إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَحَوَارِيِّي الزُّبَيْرُ

(Every Prophet has a Hawari, and Az-Zubayr is my Hawari)

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said about,

فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(so write us down among those who bear witness) "Meaning among the Ummah of Muhammad." This Hadith has a good chain of narration.

The Jews Plot to Kill 'Isa

Allah states that the Children of Israel tried to kill 'Isa by conspiring to defame him and crucify him. They complained about him to the king who was a disbeliever. They claimed that 'Isa was a man who misguided people, discouraged them from obeying the king, caused division, and separated between man and his own son. They also said other lies about 'Isa, which they will carry on their necks, including accusing him of being an illegitimate son. The king became furious and sent his men to capture 'Isa to torture …

And (remember) when Allah said: "O 'Isa! I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [save] you from those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute (55)"As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with severe torment in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. (56)And as for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, Allah will pay them their reward in full. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers (57)This is what We recite to you of the verses and the Wise Reminder (58)

Meaning of 'Take You'

Allah said,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

(I will take you and raise you to Myself) while you are asleep. Allah said in a similar Ayat,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ

(It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep).)[6:60], and,

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep.)[39:42].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the following words when he would awaken;

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

(All the thanks are due to Allah Who brought us back to life after He had caused us to die (sleep), and the Return is to Him).

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا - وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ

(And because of their disbelief and allegations against Maryam and because of their saying "We killed Al-Masih 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, ـ but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared that way to them) until,

وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا - بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا - وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

(For surely; they killed him not But Allah raised him up unto Himself. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Isa] will be a witness against them.)[4:156-159]

His death' refers to 'Isa, and the Ayah means that the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, before 'Isa dies. This will occur when 'Isa comes back to this world before the Day of Resurrection, as we will explain. By that time, all the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, for he will annul the Jizyah and he will only accept Islam from people. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that Allah's statement,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ

(I will take you) is in reference to sleep, for Allah raised 'Isa while he was asleep.

Altering the Religion of 'Isa

Allah said,

وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

(And purify [save] you from those who disbelieve) by raising you to heaven,

وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ …

And (remember) when Allah said: "O 'Isa! I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [save] you from those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute (55)"As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with severe torment in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. (56)And as for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, Allah will pay them their reward in full. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers (57)This is what We recite to you of the verses and the Wise Reminder (58)

Meaning of 'Take You'

Allah said,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

(I will take you and raise you to Myself) while you are asleep. Allah said in a similar Ayat,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ

(It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep).)[6:60], and,

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep.)[39:42].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the following words when he would awaken;

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

(All the thanks are due to Allah Who brought us back to life after He had caused us to die (sleep), and the Return is to Him).

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا - وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ

(And because of their disbelief and allegations against Maryam and because of their saying "We killed Al-Masih 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, ـ but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared that way to them) until,

وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا - بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا - وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

(For surely; they killed him not But Allah raised him up unto Himself. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Isa] will be a witness against them.)[4:156-159]

His death' refers to 'Isa, and the Ayah means that the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, before 'Isa dies. This will occur when 'Isa comes back to this world before the Day of Resurrection, as we will explain. By that time, all the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, for he will annul the Jizyah and he will only accept Islam from people. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that Allah's statement,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ

(I will take you) is in reference to sleep, for Allah raised 'Isa while he was asleep.

Altering the Religion of 'Isa

Allah said,

وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

(And purify [save] you from those who disbelieve) by raising you to heaven,

وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ …

And (remember) when Allah said: "O 'Isa! I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [save] you from those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute (55)"As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with severe torment in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. (56)And as for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, Allah will pay them their reward in full. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers (57)This is what We recite to you of the verses and the Wise Reminder (58)

Meaning of 'Take You'

Allah said,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

(I will take you and raise you to Myself) while you are asleep. Allah said in a similar Ayat,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ

(It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep).)[6:60], and,

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep.)[39:42].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the following words when he would awaken;

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

(All the thanks are due to Allah Who brought us back to life after He had caused us to die (sleep), and the Return is to Him).

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا - وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ

(And because of their disbelief and allegations against Maryam and because of their saying "We killed Al-Masih 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, ـ but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared that way to them) until,

وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا - بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا - وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

(For surely; they killed him not But Allah raised him up unto Himself. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Isa] will be a witness against them.)[4:156-159]

His death' refers to 'Isa, and the Ayah means that the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, before 'Isa dies. This will occur when 'Isa comes back to this world before the Day of Resurrection, as we will explain. By that time, all the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, for he will annul the Jizyah and he will only accept Islam from people. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that Allah's statement,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ

(I will take you) is in reference to sleep, for Allah raised 'Isa while he was asleep.

Altering the Religion of 'Isa

Allah said,

وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

(And purify [save] you from those who disbelieve) by raising you to heaven,

وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ …

And (remember) when Allah said: "O 'Isa! I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [save] you from those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute (55)"As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with severe torment in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. (56)And as for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, Allah will pay them their reward in full. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers (57)This is what We recite to you of the verses and the Wise Reminder (58)

Meaning of 'Take You'

Allah said,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

(I will take you and raise you to Myself) while you are asleep. Allah said in a similar Ayat,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ

(It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep).)[6:60], and,

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep.)[39:42].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the following words when he would awaken;

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

(All the thanks are due to Allah Who brought us back to life after He had caused us to die (sleep), and the Return is to Him).

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا - وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ

(And because of their disbelief and allegations against Maryam and because of their saying "We killed Al-Masih 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, ـ but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared that way to them) until,

وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا - بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا - وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

(For surely; they killed him not But Allah raised him up unto Himself. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Isa] will be a witness against them.)[4:156-159]

His death' refers to 'Isa, and the Ayah means that the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, before 'Isa dies. This will occur when 'Isa comes back to this world before the Day of Resurrection, as we will explain. By that time, all the People of the Book will believe in 'Isa, for he will annul the Jizyah and he will only accept Islam from people. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that Allah's statement,

إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ

(I will take you) is in reference to sleep, for Allah raised 'Isa while he was asleep.

Altering the Religion of 'Isa

Allah said,

وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

(And purify [save] you from those who disbelieve) by raising you to heaven,

وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ …

Verily, the likeness of 'Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be!" and he was (59)(This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt (60)Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then we pray and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars. (61)Verily, this is the true narrative, and there is no god except Allah. And indeed, Allah is the Almighty, the All-Wise (62)And if they turn away, then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief (63)

The Similarities Between the Creation of Adam and the Creation of 'Isa

Allah said,

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(Verily, the likeness of 'Isa before Allah) regarding Allah's ability, since He created him without a father,

كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ

(is the likeness of Adam), for Allah created Adam without a father or a mother. Rather,

خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

(He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" and he was.)

Therefore, He Who created Adam without a father or a mother is able to create 'Isa, as well, without a father. If the claim is made that 'Isa is Allah's son because he was created without a father, then the same claim befits Adam even more. However, since such a claim regarding Adam is obviously false, then making the same claim about 'Isa is even more false.

Furthermore, by mentioning these facts, Allah emphasizes His ability, by creating Adam without a male or female, Hawa' from a male without a female, and 'Isa from a mother without a father, compared to His creating the rest of creation from male and female. This is why Allah said in Surah Maryam,

وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ

(And We made him a sign for mankind)[19: 21].

Allah said in this Ayah,

الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

((This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.) meaning, this is the only true story about 'Isa, and what is beyond truth save falsehood? Allah next commands His Messenger ﷺ to call those who defy the truth, regarding 'Isa, to the Mubahalah (the curse).

The Challenge to the Mubahalah

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ

(Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves") for the Mubahalah,

ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ

(then we pray), supplicate,

فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ

(and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars) among the two of us.

The reason for the call to Mubahalah and the revelation of the Ayat from the beginning of this Surah until here, is that a delegation from the Christians of Najran (in Yemen) came to Al-Madinah to argue about 'Isa, claiming that he was divine and the son of Allah. Allah sent down the beginning of this Surah until here, to refute their claims, as Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar and other scholars stated. …

Verily, the likeness of 'Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be!" and he was (59)(This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt (60)Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then we pray and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars. (61)Verily, this is the true narrative, and there is no god except Allah. And indeed, Allah is the Almighty, the All-Wise (62)And if they turn away, then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief (63)

The Similarities Between the Creation of Adam and the Creation of 'Isa

Allah said,

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(Verily, the likeness of 'Isa before Allah) regarding Allah's ability, since He created him without a father,

كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ

(is the likeness of Adam), for Allah created Adam without a father or a mother. Rather,

خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

(He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" and he was.)

Therefore, He Who created Adam without a father or a mother is able to create 'Isa, as well, without a father. If the claim is made that 'Isa is Allah's son because he was created without a father, then the same claim befits Adam even more. However, since such a claim regarding Adam is obviously false, then making the same claim about 'Isa is even more false.

Furthermore, by mentioning these facts, Allah emphasizes His ability, by creating Adam without a male or female, Hawa' from a male without a female, and 'Isa from a mother without a father, compared to His creating the rest of creation from male and female. This is why Allah said in Surah Maryam,

وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ

(And We made him a sign for mankind)[19: 21].

Allah said in this Ayah,

الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

((This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.) meaning, this is the only true story about 'Isa, and what is beyond truth save falsehood? Allah next commands His Messenger ﷺ to call those who defy the truth, regarding 'Isa, to the Mubahalah (the curse).

The Challenge to the Mubahalah

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ

(Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves") for the Mubahalah,

ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ

(then we pray), supplicate,

فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ

(and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars) among the two of us.

The reason for the call to Mubahalah and the revelation of the Ayat from the beginning of this Surah until here, is that a delegation from the Christians of Najran (in Yemen) came to Al-Madinah to argue about 'Isa, claiming that he was divine and the son of Allah. Allah sent down the beginning of this Surah until here, to refute their claims, as Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar and other scholars stated. …