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Al-Baqarah - 2:116
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Refuting the Claim that Allah has begotten a Son
Allah said,
وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ اللّهُ وَلَدًا
And they (Jews, Christians and pagans) say:Allah has begotten a son (children or offspring),
This and the following Ayat refute the Christians, may Allah curse them, and their like among the Jews and the Arab idolators, who claimed that the angels are Allah's daughters. Allah refuted all of them in their claim that He had begotten a son.
Allah said,
سُبْحَانَهُ
Glory is to Him.
Meaning, He is holier and more perfect than such claim;
بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ
Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth,
Meaning, the truth is not as the disbelievers claimed, rather, Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and earth and whatever and whoever is in, on and between them. Allah is the Supreme Authority in the heavens and earth, and He is the Creator, Provider and Sustainer Who decides all the affairs of the creation as He wills. All creatures are Allah's servants and are owned by Him. Therefore, how could one of them be His son The son of any being is born out of two comparable beings. Allah has no equal or rival sharing His grace and greatness, so how can He have a son when He has no wife Allah said,
بَدِيعُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ لَّهُ صَـحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife He created all things and He is the Knower of everything!
(6:101)
وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَلَداً
لَقَدْ جِيْتُمْ شَيْياً إِدّاً
تَكَادُ السَّمَـوَتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ الاٌّرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدّاً
أَن دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَـنِ وَلَداً
وَمَا يَنبَغِى لِلرَّحْمَـنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَداً
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ اتِى الرَّحْمَـنِ عَبْداً
قَدْ أَحْصَـهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدّاً
كُلُّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَرْداً
And they say:"The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son (offspring or children)."
Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing.
Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins.
That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Gracious (Allah).
But it is not suitable for (the majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children).
There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allah) as a servant.
Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.
And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender).
(19:88-95)
and,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ
Say: "He is Allah (the) One,
Allah the Samad (the Self- Sufficient, upon whom all depend),
He begets not, nor was He begotten,
and there is none comparable to Him."
(112:1-4)
In these Ayat, Allah stated that He is the Supreme Master Whom there is no equal or rival, everything and everyone was created by Him, so how can He have a son from among them This is why, in the Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said that the Prophet said,
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى كَذّبَنِي ابْنُ ادَمَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذلِكَ وَشَتَمَنِي وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذلِكَ
فَأَمَّا تَكْذِيبُهُ إِيَّايَ فَيَزْعُمُ أَنِّي لَاأ أَقْدِرُ أَنْ أُعِيدَهُ كَمَا كَانَ
وَأَمَّا شَتْمُهُ إِيَّايَ فَقَوْلُهُ لِي وَلَدًا فَسُبْحَانِي أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ صَاحِبَةً أَوْ وَلَدًا
Allah said, 'The son of Adam has denied Me, and that is not his right. He has insulted Me, and that is not his right.
As for the denial of Me, he claimed that I am unable to bring him back as he used to be (resurrect him).
As for his insulting Me, he claimed that I have a son. All praise is due to Me, it is unbefitting that I should have a wife or a son.'
This Hadith was recorded by Al-Bukhari.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah said,
لَاا أَحَدَ أَصْبَرُ عَلَى أَذًى سَمِعَهُ مِنَ اللهِ إِنَّهُمْ يَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُوَ يَرْزُقُهُمْ وَيُعَافِيهِم
No one is more patient when hearing an insult than Allah. They attribute a son to Him, yet He still gives them sustenance and health.
Everything is within Allah's Grasp
Allah said,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
and all are Qanitun to Him.
Ibn Abi Hatim said that Abu Sa'id Al-Ashaj informed them that Asbat informed them from Mutarrif, from Atiyah, from Ibn Abbas who said that,
قَانِتِينَ
(Qantin) means, they pray to Him.
Ikrimah and Abu Malik also said that,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
(and all are Qanitun to Him), means, bound to Him in servitude to Him.
Sa'id bin Jubayr said that Qanitun is sincerity. Ar-Rabi bin Anas said that,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
(all are Qanitun to Him) means, "Standing up - before Him - on the Day of Resurrection."
Also, As-Suddi said that,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
(and all are Qanitun to Him) means," Obedient on the Day of Resurrection."
Khasif said that Mujahid said that,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
(and all are Qanitun to Him) means, "Obedient. He says, 'Be a human' and he becomes a human."
He also said, "(Allah says,) 'Be a donkey' and it becomes a donkey."
Also, Ibn Abi Najih said that Mujahid said that,
كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
(and all are Qanitun to Him), means, obedient.
Mujahid also said, "The obedience of the disbeliever occurs when his shadow prostrates, while he hates that."
Mujahid's statement, which Ibn Jarir preferred, combines all the meanings, and that is that Qunut means obedience and submission to Allah.
There are two categories of Qunut: legislated and destined, for Allah said,
وَللَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَـلُهُم بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالاٌّصَالِ
And unto Allah (alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the (late) afternoons.
(13:15)
Al-Baqarah - 2:117
The Meaning of Badi'
Allah said,
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ
The Badi' (Originator) of the heavens and the earth.
Which means, He created them when nothing resembling them existed.
Mujahid and As-Suddi said that; this is the linguistic meaning, for all new matters are called Bid'ah.
Muslim recorded the Messenger of Allah saying,
فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَة
every innovation (in religion) is a Bid'ah.
There are two types of Bid'ah, religious, as mentioned in the Hadith:
فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَإلَة
every innovation is a Bid'ah and every Bid'ah is heresy.
And there is a linguistic Bid'ah, such as the statement of the Leader of the faithful Umar bin Al-Khattab when he gathered the Muslims to pray the Tarawih prayer in congregation (which was also an earlier practice of the Prophet) and said, "What a good Bid'ah this is."
Ibn Jarir said, "Thus the meaning of the Ayat (2:116-117)becomes, "Allah is far more glorious than to have had a son, for He is the Owner of everything that is in the heavens and earth. All testify to His Oneness and to their submissiveness to Him. He is their Creator and Maker. Without created precedence, He shaped the creatures in their current shapes. Allah also bears witness to His servants that Jesus, who some claimed to be Allah's son, is among those who testify to His Oneness. Allah stated that He created the heavens and earth out of nothing and without precedent. Likewise, He created Jesus, the Messiah, with His power and without a father."
This explanation from Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy upon him, is very good and correct.
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
When He decrees a matter, He only says to it :"Be! and it is.
Thus, demonstrating His perfectly complete ability and tremendous authority; if He decides a matter, He merely orders it to, 'Be' and it comes into existence.
Similarly, Allah said,
إِنَّمَأ أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْياً أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be! and it is.
(36:82)
إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
Verily, Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it:"Be! and it is.
(16:40)
and,
وَمَأ أَمْرُنَأ إِلاَّ وَحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ
And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye.
(54:50)
So Allah informed us that He created Jesus by merely saying, "Be!" and he was, as Allah willed:
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Verily, the likeness of 'Isa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him:"Be! and he was.
(3:59)
Al-Baqarah - 2:118
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said that; Rafi bin Huraymilah said to the Messenger of Allah, "O Muhammad! If you were truly a Messenger from Allah, as you claim, then ask Allah to speak to us directly, so that we hear His Speech."
So Allah revealed,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ لَوْلَا يُكَلِّمُنَا اللّهُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَا ايَةٌ
And those who have no knowledge say:"Why does not Allah speak to us (face to face) or why does not a sign come to us!"
Abu Al-Aliyah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Qatadah and As-Suddi said that it was actually the statement of the Arab disbelievers:
كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ
So said the people before them words of similar import.
He said, "These are the Jews and the Christians."
What further proves that the Arab idolators said the statement mentioned in the Ayah is that Allah said,
وَإِذَا جَأءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ قَالُواْ لَن نُّوْمِنَ حَتَّى نُوْتَى مِثْلَ مَأ أُوتِىَ رُسُلُ اللَّهِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُواْ صَغَارٌ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَمْكُرُونَ
And when there comes to them a sign (from Allah) they say:"We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah had received." Allah knows best with whom to place His Message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals (polytheists and sinners) for that which they used to plot.
(6:124)
and,
وَقَالُواْ لَن نُّوْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّى تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ الَارْضِ يَنبُوعًا
And they say:"We shall not believe in you (O Muhammad), until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us, until,
قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي هَلْ كُنتُ إَلاَّ بَشَرًا رَّسُولاً
(Say (O Muhammad):"Glorified (and Exalted) be my Lord ((Allah) above all that evil they (polytheists) associate with Him)! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger!"
(17:90-93)
and,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَأءَنَا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْمَلَـيِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا
And those who expect not a meeting with Us (i.e. those who deny the Day of Resurrection and the life of the Hereafter) said:"Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord!"
(25:21)
and,
بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُوْتَى صُحُفاً مُّنَشَّرَةً
Nay, everyone of them desires that he should be given pages spread out.
(74:52)
There are many other Ayat that testify to the disbelief of the Arab idolators, their transgression, stubbornness, and that they asked unnecessary questions out of disbelief and arrogance. The statements of the Arab idolators followed the statements of the nations of the People of the Two Scriptures and other religions before them. Allah said,
يَسْأَلُكَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَـبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَـباً مِّنَ السَّمَأءِ فَقَدْ سَأَلُواْ مُوسَى أَكْبَرَ مِن ذلِكَ فَقَالُواْ أَرِنَا اللَّهِ جَهْرَةً
The People of the Scripture (Jews) ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from heaven. Indeed, they asked Musa (Moses) for even greater than that, when they said:"Show us Allah in public."
(4:153)
and,
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـمُوسَى لَن نُّوْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّى نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً
And (remember) when you said:"O Musa! We shall never believe in you until we see Allah plainly."
(2:55)
Allah's statement,
تَشَابَهَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ
Their hearts are alike.
Means, the hearts of the Arab idolators are just like the hearts of those before them, containing disbelief, stubbornness and injustice.
Similarly, Allah said,
كَذَلِكَ مَأ أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ قَالُواْ سَـحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ
أَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِهِ
Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said:"A sorcerer or a madman!" Have they (the people of the past) transmitted this saying to these (Quraysh pagans)!
(51:52-53)
Allah said next,
قَدْ بَيَّنَّا الايَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
We have indeed made plain the signs for people who believe with certainty.
Meaning, We made the arguments clear, proving the truth of the Messengers, with no need of more questions or proofs for those who believe, follow the Messengers and comprehend what Allah sent them with.
As for those whose hearts and hearing Allah has stamped and whose eyes have been sealed, Allah described them:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ
وَلَوْ جَأءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ ءايَةٍ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ
Truly, those, against whom the Word (wrath) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe.
Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful torment.
(10:96-97)
Al-Baqarah - 2:119
Allah says;
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا
Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) with the truth (Islam), a bringer of glad tidings (for those who believe in what you brought, that they will enter Paradise) and a warner (for those who disbelieve in what you brought, that they will enter the Hellfire).
Allah's statement;
وَلَا تُسْأَلُ عَنْ أَصْحَابِ الْجَحِيمِ
And you will not be asked about the dwellers of the blazing Fire.
Means, "We shall not ask you about the disbelief of those who rejected you."
Similarly, Allah said,
فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ
Your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning.
(13:40)
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَأ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُسَيْطِرٍ
So remind them (O Muhammad) you are only one who reminds.
You are not a dictator over them.
(88:21-22)
and,
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ وَمَأ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِجَبَّارٍ فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
We know best what they say. And you (O Muhammad) are not the one to force them (to belief). But warn by the Qur'an; him who fears My threat.
(50:45)
There are many other similar Ayat.
The Description of the Prophet in the Tawrah
Imam Ahmad recorded; Ata' bin Yasar saying that he met Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As and said to him, "Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah in the Torah."
He said, "Yes, by Allah, he is described by the Torah with the same characteristics that he is described with in the Qur'an with: 'O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good news, a warner, and as safe refuge for the unlettered people. You are My servant and Messenger. I have called you the Mutawakkil (who depends and relies on Allah for each and everything). You are not harsh, nor hard, nor obnoxious in the bazaars. He does not reward the evil deed with an evil deed. Rather, he forgives and pardons. Allah will not bring his life to an end, until he straightens the wicked's religion by his hands so that the people proclaim:There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. By his hands, Allah will open blind eyes, deaf ears and sealed hearts."'
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari only.
Al-Baqarah - 2:120
Allah said,
وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ
Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad) till you follow their religion.
Ibn Jarir commented on Allah's statement, meaning, 'The Jews and the Christians will never be happy with you, O Muhammad! Therefore, do not seek what pleases or appeases them, and stick to what pleases Allah by calling them to the truth that Allah sent you with.'
Allah's statement,
قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى
Say:"Verily, the guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) guidance."
Means, 'Say, O Muhammad, the guidance of Allah that He sent me with is the true guidance, meaning the straight, perfect and comprehensive religion."'
Qatadah said that Allah's statement,
قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى
(Say:"Verily, the guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) guidance) is, "A true argument that Allah taught Muhammad and his Companions and which they used against the people of misguidance."
Qatadah said, "We were told that the Messenger of Allah used to say,
لَاا تَزَالُ طَايِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ ظَاهِرِينَ لَاا يَضُرُّهُمْ مَنْ خَالَفَهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ الله
There will always be a group of my Ummah fighting upon the truth, having the upper hand, not harmed by their opponents, until the decree of Allah (the Last Hour) comes.
This Hadith was collected in the Sahih and narrated from Abdullah bin 'Amr.
وَلَيِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
And if you (O Muhammad) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'an), then you would have against Allah neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper.
This Ayah carries a stern warning for the Muslim Ummah against imitating the ways and methods of the Jews and Christians, after they have acquired knowledge of the Qur'an and Sunnah, may Allah grant us refuge from this behavior.
Although the speech in this Ayah was directed at the Messenger, the ruling of which applies to his entire Ummah.
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