An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 171 of 176

An-Nisa 4:171

يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ۚ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion[236] or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.”

Saheeh International

Essence

ʿĪsā is honoured as Allah's messenger, His word and a spirit from Him; in the same breath, Allah is declared One, needing no son.

A reflection

Everything is His, and He is enough

The ayah closes on two short sentences. Lahu mā fī al-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍ: to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Wa-kafā billāhi wakīlā: and Allah is enough as the One who holds every affair.

One classical theologian notices a pattern. Wherever Allah clears Himself of having a son, He mentions that He owns the heavens and the earth. The logic is quiet but complete. Whoever owns everything owns every honoured creature within it, however honoured. What is owned cannot also be offspring.

A major early commentator draws the same point out in terms of need. ʿĪsā, his mother and everyone in the heavens and the earth are His creation. He feeds them, keeps them and runs their affairs, and they are in need of Him. A son would not stand before his father as one in need.

Then wakīl. One classical commentator explains it as the One to whom all creation hands over its affairs. He is free of need of them, and they are all in need of Him. The theologian adds that He alone suffices to run all things. A second god beside Him would have nothing left to do.

That is majesty, and it presses gently on the ego. The ego loves to feel indispensable.

Picture a man who has cut keys and mended shoes in the same kiosk for twenty-two years. He has never taken a holiday, because the town needs him. One winter a fall breaks his wrist, and his daughter runs the kiosk for six weeks. When he returns, the customers have barely noticed. He feels a sting, then something lighter: relief.

Only One is truly indispensable, and He needs no one.

Why, then, would the One who needs nothing insist on being described rightly? The ayah answers in its own words: intahū khayran lakum, desist, it is better for you. The correction is for the listener's good. His glory is not raised by our words, nor lowered by them.

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.