“(Remember) when the angels said: ‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allaah gives you the glad tidings of a Word [“Be!” — and he was! i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allaah’”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:45].
Does the phrase “a word from Him” mean a spirit from Him, as the Christians claim?.
May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and
which pleases Him. The difference between the guidance and true religion
that Allaah has revealed in His Book and what the Christians say about the
Prophet of Allaah ‘Eesa (Jesus – peace be upon him) is the difference
between faith and disbelief (kufr), between Tawheed and shirk, between
guidance and misguidance. It is the difference between darkness and light.
We ask Allaah to illuminate our hearts with Tawheed and faith in Him
alone.
It should be noted that if a person is confused about the
meaning of any ambiguous passage [al-mutashaabuh] in the Book of Allaah, he
must understand it in the light of the definitive passages [[al-muhkamaat],
which form the majority of this clear Book. That is the source to which
reference should be made in order to understand it, know its rulings and
learn its lessons. He should not counter one verse with another, or look for
contradictions in the revelation, or look for the ambiguous passages which
may cause confusion to him or to other people, ignoring the clear and
definitive passages. That is the way of the people of innovation and is
misguidance, may Allaah keep us and you safe and sound. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“It is He Who has sent
down to you (Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan). In it are Verses that are
entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the
Verses of Al-Ahkaam (commandments), Al-Faraa’id (obligatory duties) and
Al-Hudood (laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers)]; and others not
entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from
the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking
Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but
none knows its hidden meanings save Allaah. And those who are firmly
grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and
unclear Verses) are from our Lord.” And none receive admonition except men
of understanding”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:7]
The verse which you quoted does not support the Christian
view in any way whatsoever, rather this verse, when taken in context,
refutes the Christians and clearly demonstrates their misguidance and their
disbelief in the Lord of the Worlds.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“This is a part of the
news of the Ghayb (Unseen, i.e. the news of the past nations of which you
have no knowledge) which We reveal to you (O Muhammad). You were not with
them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be
charged with the care of Maryam (Mary); nor were you with them when they
disputed.
45. (Remember) when the
angels said: ‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allaah gives you the glad tidings of
a Word [“Be!” — and he was! i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)]
from Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam
(Mary), held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one
of those who are near to Allaah.
46. He will speak to the
people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.’
47. She said: ‘O my Lord!
How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: ‘So (it will
be) for Allaah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says
to it only: “Be!” — and it is.
48. And He (Allaah) will
teach him [‘Eesa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the
faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom), (and) the Tawraat (Torah) and the
Injeel (Gospel).
49. And will make him
[‘Eesa (Jesus)] 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
Allaah’s Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I
bring the dead to life by Allaah’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.
50. And I have come
confirming that which was before me of the Tawraat (Torah), 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 fear Allaah and obey me.
51. Truly, Allaah is my
Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:44-51]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said:
This demonstrates in several ways that he was a created being
and was not as the Christians say.
For example, it clearly means that he was a created being, as
it says, “So (it will be) for Allaah creates what
He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” —and
it is”. As Allaah says elsewhere (interpretation
of the meaning):
“Verily, the likeness of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allaah is
the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!”
— and he was”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:59]
And Allaah says in Soorat Maryam (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Such is ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). (It is) a
statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute).
It befits not (the Majesty of) Allaah that He should beget
a son [this refers to the slander of Christians against Allaah, by saying
that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the son of Allaah]. Glorified (and Exalted) be He
(above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only
says to it: “Be!” and it is”
[Maryam 19:35]
And he said: His name is
the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary), so Allaah has told us that
he is the son of Maryam, and that he is held in honour in this world and in
the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allaah. All of these
are attributes of created beings.
Maryam said: “How
shall I have a son…?” This shows that the Messiah, who is the Word, is
the son of Maryam, not the son of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Allaah says in Soorat
al-Nisa’ (interpretation of the meaning):
“O people of the
Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say
of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam
(Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (“Be!” — and
he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by
Him; so believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’
Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allaah is (the only) One Ilaah (God),
glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all
that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allaah is
All‑Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.
172. The Messiah will
never be proud to reject to be a slave of Allaah, nor the angels who are the
near (to Allaah). And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He
will gather them all together unto Himself.
173. So, as for those
who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism) and did deeds
of righteousness, He will give them their (due) rewards — and more out of
His Bounty. But as for those who refused His worship and were proud, He will
punish them with a painful torment. And they will not find for themselves
besides Allaah any protector or helper”
[al-Nisa’ 4:171-173]
So Allaah forbids the
Christians to exaggerate concerning their religion or to say things about
Allaah that are not true, and He states that the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam is
a Messenger of Allaah and His Word which He bestowed upon Maryam, and a
spirit created by Him. He commands them to believe in Allaah and His
Messengers, and tells them that he (‘Eesa) is His Messenger. He forbids them
to say “Three” (i.e., trinity) and says: “Cease! (it is) better for you”.
This is a rejection of their doctrine concerning the Messiah which says that
“he is a true god from a true god, from the essence of his father.”
Then He says: “glory
is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son” – declaring Himself to
be far above having a son as the Christians say. Then He says: “To Him
belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth”,
telling us that all of that is His dominion, in which there is nothing of
His essence.
Then He says: “The
Messiah will never be proud to reject to be a slave of Allaah, nor the
angels who are the near (to Allaah)” i.e., they will never deny that
they are slaves of Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted. After such a clear
statement, can anyone think that what is meant by “His Word” is that he is a
god and creator, or whatever such statements of kufr they make?
Rather ‘Eesa alone is
described as the Word because he was not created in the usual way in which
others are created, rather he was created in an extraordinary way: he was
created by the command of Allaah: “Be!” This is the Word in question; he was
not created by means of a male fertilizing a female, as is the usual way in
which Allaah creates human beings.
The fact that ‘Eesa
(peace be upon him) is a Word from Allaah and a spirit created by Him, as is
indicated in the texts of the clear Revelation, does not mean that he is
part of Allaah who emerged from Him and is connected to His essence:
glorified and exalted be Allaah far about what the wrongdoers say. Rather
what it means is that he came from Allaah, as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“And has subjected to
you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all as a
favour and kindness from Him”
[al-Jaathiyah 45:13]
“And whatever of
blessings and good things you have, it is from Allaah”
[al-Nahl 16:53]
“Whatever of good
reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from
yourself”
[al-Nisa’ 4:79]
And Allaah says
concerning our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) (interpretation of the meaning):
“Those who disbelieve
from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and
Al‑Mushrikoon, were not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to
them clear evidence.
2. A Messenger
(Muhammad) from Allaah, reciting (the Qur’aan) purified pages [purified from
Al‑Baatil (falsehood)]”
[al-Bayyinah 98:1-2]
These are all things
that come from Allaah, and they are all created.
The phrase “a spirit
created by Him (or from Him)” is used only of the Messiah because he was
breathed into his mother by al-Rooh (Jibreel – peace be upon), and she
became pregnant with him from that breath. This is something other than his
rooh (soul) that he shares in common with the rest of mankind. He is
distinguished from them by the fact that his mother became pregnant with him
from this breathing in of the spirit, hence he is called a spirit from Him.
See Daqaa’iq al-Tafseer, 1/324 ff.
Moreover these verses
clearly state that Allaah created him, and that Allaah creates whatever He
will; nothing is beyond Him in the heavens or on earth. And ‘Eesa himself
(peace be upon him) said that the signs and miracles that he brought were
from Allaah and happened by His leave, a sign to them of His Oneness. Then
the verses conclude with a clear statement of what is meant here, which is
the command to worship Allaah, the Lord of ‘Eesa and the Lord of those to
whom ‘Eesa was sent. This clearly indicates that what the Christians say
about ‘Eesa and his mother is false, and it plainly refutes their kufr and
misguidance.
This verse also tells us
that ‘Eesa is a Word from Allaah, and it points to the meaning of that. This
is narrated in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him). Al-Bukhaari (3435) and Muslim (28) narrated from ‘Ubaadah (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever bears witness that there is no god except
Allaah alone, with no partner or associate, and that Muhammad is His slave
and Messenger, and that ‘Eesa is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, His
Word that He bestowed upon Maryam and a spirit from Him, that Paradise is
true and Hell is true, Allaah will admit him to Paradise depending on his
deeds.” According to another version: “… that ‘Eesa is the slave of Allaah
and the son of His female slave.”
Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said: What this hadeeth aims at is to warn against what
the Christians fell into of misguidance concerning ‘Eesa and his mother.
Another scholar said:
Mentioning ‘Eesa is a reference to the misguidance to the Christians,
because their belief in trinity is pure shirk. The same applies to the use
of the word “His slave”. Describing ‘Eesa as “His Messenger” is a reference
to the misguidance of the Jews because they deny that He was a Messenger and
they slandered him and likewise his mother, saying things of which they were
innocent.
The words “son of His
female slave” are intended to honour him.
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