5. Al-Maaida

(Remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Remember My favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with Ruh - il-Qudus [Jibril] so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you the Book, the Hikmah, the Tawrah and the Injil; and when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My permission, and you healed those born blind, and the lepers by My permission, and when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from you since you came unto them with clear proofs, and the disbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.' (110)"And when I Awhaytu [put in the hearts of] Al-Hawariyyin to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: 'We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.' (111)

Reminding 'Isa of the Favors that Allah Granted him

Allah mentions how He blessed His servant and Messenger, 'Isa, son of Maryam, and the miracles and extraordinary acts He granted him. Allah said,

اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ

(Remember My favor to you) when I created you from your mother, without male intervention, and made you a sign and clear proof of My perfect power over all things.

وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِكَ

(And to your mother) when I made you testify to her chastity and you thus absolved her from the sin that the unjust, ignorant liars accused her of,

إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ

(when I supported you with Ruh-il-Qudus) the angel Jibril, and made you a Prophet, calling to Allah in the cradle and manhood. I made you speak in the cradle, and you testified that your mother was free from any immoral behavior, and you proclaimed that you worship Me. You also conveyed the news of My Message and invited them to worship Me.

تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا

(so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity;) Meaning you called the people to Allah in childhood and in maturity.

And the word Tukallim means invited, because his speaking to people while a child is nothing strange by itself. Allah's statement,

وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ

(And when I taught you the Book and the Hikmah,) the power of writing and understanding,

وَالتَّوْرَاةَ

(and the Tawrah,) which was revealed to Musa, son of 'Imran, who spoke to Allah directly. Allah's statement,

وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي

(and when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My permission,) means: 'you shaped it in the figure of a bird by My permission, and it became a bird with My permission, after you blew into it'. Then, it became a flying bird with a soul by Allah's permission. Allah said;

وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي

(and you healed those born blind, and the lepers by My permission,) This was explained before in Surah Āl-'Imrān (chapter 3) and we do not need to repeat it here. Allah's statement,

وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِي

(And when you brought forth the dead by My permission,) meaning, you called them and they rose from their graves by Allah's leave, …

(Remember) when Al-Hawariyun said: "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven?" 'Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers. (112)They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses. (113)'Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers. (114)Allah said: "I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among the 'Alamin. (115)

Sending Down the Ma'idah

This is the story of the Ma'idah, the name of which this Surah bears, Surat Al-Ma'idah. This is also among the favors that Allah granted His servant and Messenger, 'Isa, accepting his request to send the Ma'idah down, and doing so as clear proof and unequivocal evidence. Allah said,

إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ

((Remember) when Al-Hawaryun said...) the disciples of 'Isa said,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven)

The Ma'idah is the table that has food on it. Some scholars said that the disciples requested this table because they were poor and deprived. So they asked 'Isa to supplicate to Allah to send a table of food down to them that they could eat from every day and thus be more able to perform the acts of worship.

قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

('Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers.")

Isa answered them by saying, 'Have Taqwa of Allah! And do not ask for this, for it may become a trial for you, but trust in Allah for your provisions, if you are truly believers.'

قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا

(They said: "We wish to eat thereof.") we need to eat from it,

وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا

(and to be stronger in faith,) when we witness it descending from heaven as sustenance for us,

وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا

(and to know that you have indeed told us the truth,) of your Message and our faith in you increases and also our knowledge,

وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(and that we ourselves be its witnesses.) testifying that it is a sign from Allah, as proof and evidence that you are a Prophet, and attesting to the truth of what you brought us,

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا

('Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival...")

As-Suddi commented that the Ayah means, "We will take that day on which the table was sent down as a day of celebration, that we and those who come after us would consider sacred." Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that it means, "A day of prayer."

وَآيَةً مِّنكَ

(and a sign from You.) proving that You …

(Remember) when Al-Hawariyun said: "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven?" 'Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers. (112)They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses. (113)'Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers. (114)Allah said: "I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among the 'Alamin. (115)

Sending Down the Ma'idah

This is the story of the Ma'idah, the name of which this Surah bears, Surat Al-Ma'idah. This is also among the favors that Allah granted His servant and Messenger, 'Isa, accepting his request to send the Ma'idah down, and doing so as clear proof and unequivocal evidence. Allah said,

إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ

((Remember) when Al-Hawaryun said...) the disciples of 'Isa said,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven)

The Ma'idah is the table that has food on it. Some scholars said that the disciples requested this table because they were poor and deprived. So they asked 'Isa to supplicate to Allah to send a table of food down to them that they could eat from every day and thus be more able to perform the acts of worship.

قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

('Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers.")

Isa answered them by saying, 'Have Taqwa of Allah! And do not ask for this, for it may become a trial for you, but trust in Allah for your provisions, if you are truly believers.'

قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا

(They said: "We wish to eat thereof.") we need to eat from it,

وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا

(and to be stronger in faith,) when we witness it descending from heaven as sustenance for us,

وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا

(and to know that you have indeed told us the truth,) of your Message and our faith in you increases and also our knowledge,

وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(and that we ourselves be its witnesses.) testifying that it is a sign from Allah, as proof and evidence that you are a Prophet, and attesting to the truth of what you brought us,

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا

('Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival...")

As-Suddi commented that the Ayah means, "We will take that day on which the table was sent down as a day of celebration, that we and those who come after us would consider sacred." Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that it means, "A day of prayer."

وَآيَةً مِّنكَ

(and a sign from You.) proving that You …

(Remember) when Al-Hawariyun said: "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven?" 'Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers. (112)They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses. (113)'Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers. (114)Allah said: "I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among the 'Alamin. (115)

Sending Down the Ma'idah

This is the story of the Ma'idah, the name of which this Surah bears, Surat Al-Ma'idah. This is also among the favors that Allah granted His servant and Messenger, 'Isa, accepting his request to send the Ma'idah down, and doing so as clear proof and unequivocal evidence. Allah said,

إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ

((Remember) when Al-Hawaryun said...) the disciples of 'Isa said,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven)

The Ma'idah is the table that has food on it. Some scholars said that the disciples requested this table because they were poor and deprived. So they asked 'Isa to supplicate to Allah to send a table of food down to them that they could eat from every day and thus be more able to perform the acts of worship.

قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

('Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers.")

Isa answered them by saying, 'Have Taqwa of Allah! And do not ask for this, for it may become a trial for you, but trust in Allah for your provisions, if you are truly believers.'

قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا

(They said: "We wish to eat thereof.") we need to eat from it,

وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا

(and to be stronger in faith,) when we witness it descending from heaven as sustenance for us,

وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا

(and to know that you have indeed told us the truth,) of your Message and our faith in you increases and also our knowledge,

وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(and that we ourselves be its witnesses.) testifying that it is a sign from Allah, as proof and evidence that you are a Prophet, and attesting to the truth of what you brought us,

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا

('Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival...")

As-Suddi commented that the Ayah means, "We will take that day on which the table was sent down as a day of celebration, that we and those who come after us would consider sacred." Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that it means, "A day of prayer."

وَآيَةً مِّنكَ

(and a sign from You.) proving that You …

(Remember) when Al-Hawariyun said: "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven?" 'Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers. (112)They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses. (113)'Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers. (114)Allah said: "I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among the 'Alamin. (115)

Sending Down the Ma'idah

This is the story of the Ma'idah, the name of which this Surah bears, Surat Al-Ma'idah. This is also among the favors that Allah granted His servant and Messenger, 'Isa, accepting his request to send the Ma'idah down, and doing so as clear proof and unequivocal evidence. Allah said,

إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ

((Remember) when Al-Hawaryun said...) the disciples of 'Isa said,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a Ma'idah from heaven)

The Ma'idah is the table that has food on it. Some scholars said that the disciples requested this table because they were poor and deprived. So they asked 'Isa to supplicate to Allah to send a table of food down to them that they could eat from every day and thus be more able to perform the acts of worship.

قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

('Isa said: "Have Taqwa of Allah, if you are indeed believers.")

Isa answered them by saying, 'Have Taqwa of Allah! And do not ask for this, for it may become a trial for you, but trust in Allah for your provisions, if you are truly believers.'

قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا

(They said: "We wish to eat thereof.") we need to eat from it,

وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا

(and to be stronger in faith,) when we witness it descending from heaven as sustenance for us,

وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا

(and to know that you have indeed told us the truth,) of your Message and our faith in you increases and also our knowledge,

وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(and that we ourselves be its witnesses.) testifying that it is a sign from Allah, as proof and evidence that you are a Prophet, and attesting to the truth of what you brought us,

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا

('Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival...")

As-Suddi commented that the Ayah means, "We will take that day on which the table was sent down as a day of celebration, that we and those who come after us would consider sacred." Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that it means, "A day of prayer."

وَآيَةً مِّنكَ

(and a sign from You.) proving that You …

And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'" He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. (116)"Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelled amongst them, but when You took me [up], You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (117)"If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the Almighty, the All-Wise. (118)

Isa Rejects Shirk and Affirms Tawhid

Allah will also speak to His servant and Messenger, 'Isa son of Maryam, peace be upon him, saying to him on the Day of Resurrection in the presence of those who worshipped 'Isa and his mother as gods besides Allah,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')

This is a threat and a warning to Christians, chastising them in public, as Qatadah and others said, and Qatadah mentioned this Ayah as evidence,

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ

("This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth.")[5:119] Allah's statement,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...) contains Allah's direction for 'Isa to utter the perfect answer. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "'Isa will be taught his argument in reply to what Allah will ask him,

وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')[5:116]."

Abu Hurayrah then narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah taught 'Isa to say,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...)

Ath-Thawri narrated this Hadith from Ma'mar from Ibn Tawus from Tawus. 'Isa's statement,

إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ

(Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it.) means, had I said it, You, my Lord, would have known it, for nothing escapes Your knowledge. Rather, I have not said these words nor did the thought even cross my mind, this why he said,

تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ - مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ

(You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me …

And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'" He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. (116)"Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelled amongst them, but when You took me [up], You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (117)"If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the Almighty, the All-Wise. (118)

Isa Rejects Shirk and Affirms Tawhid

Allah will also speak to His servant and Messenger, 'Isa son of Maryam, peace be upon him, saying to him on the Day of Resurrection in the presence of those who worshipped 'Isa and his mother as gods besides Allah,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')

This is a threat and a warning to Christians, chastising them in public, as Qatadah and others said, and Qatadah mentioned this Ayah as evidence,

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ

("This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth.")[5:119] Allah's statement,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...) contains Allah's direction for 'Isa to utter the perfect answer. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "'Isa will be taught his argument in reply to what Allah will ask him,

وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')[5:116]."

Abu Hurayrah then narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah taught 'Isa to say,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...)

Ath-Thawri narrated this Hadith from Ma'mar from Ibn Tawus from Tawus. 'Isa's statement,

إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ

(Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it.) means, had I said it, You, my Lord, would have known it, for nothing escapes Your knowledge. Rather, I have not said these words nor did the thought even cross my mind, this why he said,

تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ - مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ

(You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me …

And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'" He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. (116)"Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelled amongst them, but when You took me [up], You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (117)"If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the Almighty, the All-Wise. (118)

Isa Rejects Shirk and Affirms Tawhid

Allah will also speak to His servant and Messenger, 'Isa son of Maryam, peace be upon him, saying to him on the Day of Resurrection in the presence of those who worshipped 'Isa and his mother as gods besides Allah,

يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')

This is a threat and a warning to Christians, chastising them in public, as Qatadah and others said, and Qatadah mentioned this Ayah as evidence,

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ

("This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth.")[5:119] Allah's statement,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...) contains Allah's direction for 'Isa to utter the perfect answer. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "'Isa will be taught his argument in reply to what Allah will ask him,

وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

(And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah')[5:116]."

Abu Hurayrah then narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah taught 'Isa to say,

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ

(Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)...)

Ath-Thawri narrated this Hadith from Ma'mar from Ibn Tawus from Tawus. 'Isa's statement,

إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ

(Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it.) means, had I said it, You, my Lord, would have known it, for nothing escapes Your knowledge. Rather, I have not said these words nor did the thought even cross my mind, this why he said,

تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ - مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ

(You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them ought except what You (Allah) did command me …

Allah will say: "This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: Theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (119)To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is able to do all things (120)

Only Truth will be of Benefit on the Day of Resurrection

Allah answers His servant and Messenger 'Isa, son of Maryam, after he disowns the disbelieving Christians who lied about Allah and His Messenger, and when 'Isa refers their end to the will of his Lord,

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ

(This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth.)

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn 'Abbas commented, "This is the Day when Tawhid will benefit those who believed in it."

لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا

(Theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever.) and they will never be removed from it,

رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ

(Allah is pleased with them and they with Him.)

وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ

(But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah.)[9:72] We will mention the Hadiths about this Ayah [9:72] later on. Allah's statement,

ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

(That is the great success.) means, this is the great success, other than which there is no greater success. Allah said in another Ayat,

لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَامِلُونَ

(For the like of this let the workers work.)[37:61], and,

وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ

(And for this let (all) those strive who want to strive.)[83:26] Allah's statement,

لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is able to do all things.) means, He created everything, owns everything, controls the affairs of everything and is able to do all things. Therefore, everything and everyone are in His domain and under His power and will. There is none like Him, nor is there rival, ancestor, son, or wife for Him, nor a lord or god besides Him. Ibn Wahb said that he heard Huyay bin 'Abdullah saying that Abu 'Abdur-Rahman Al-Habli said that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said, "The last revealed Surah was Surat Al-Ma'idah."