Ali 'Imran · Madani · ayah 62 of 200

Ali 'Imran 3:62

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْقَصَصُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

“Indeed, this is the true narration. And there is no deity except Allāh. And indeed, Allāh is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”

Saheeh International

Essence

This is the true account of Jesus: there is no god but Allah, and only He is the Mighty who is never overcome, the Wise.

A reflection

What it takes to be God

A boy keeps a framed photograph of his favourite boxer above his bed. Undefeated, unbeatable, the papers say. At thirty-eight the boxer is knocked down in the first round by someone nobody had heard of. The boy takes the frame down that night.

The ayah ends on two names, and a classical commentator explains why these two. The delegation argued for the divinity of Jesus from his miracles. He gave life to the dead and healed the blind, and he told people what was hidden. The reply is quiet but complete. Power that works by Allah's leave is not enough to make a god. A god must be al-ʿAzīz: never overpowered, never defeated. Knowledge of some hidden things is not enough either. A god must be al-Ḥakīm: knowing every outcome, placing everything where it belongs.

The root of ʿazīz gave the Arabs the eagle nesting on the highest crag, out of every hand's reach. Ḥakīm began with the part of the bridle that holds a horse back from ruin. One is beyond reach; the other governs everything perfectly.

This dismantles more than one theology. It dismantles our own small idolatries. We are dazzled by talent, charisma and success, in others and in ourselves. A few wins and the ego starts to believe it cannot fall. But every human strength has a first-round knockdown waiting somewhere.

Only One is never overcome. Pride is simply forgetting which One that is.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.