Tafsir

The Contempt of the Quraysh for the son of Maryam, and His true Status with Allah

Allah tells us how the Quraysh persisted in their disbelief and stubborn arguments:وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ(And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) Several others narrated that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Ad-Dahhak said, "They laughed, i.e., they were astounded by that." Qatadah said, "They were repelled by that and they laughed." Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, "They turned away." The reason for this was mentioned by Muhammad bin Ishaq in As-Sirah. He said, "According to what I have heard, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down one day with Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah in the Masjid, and An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came and sat down with them. There were also other men from the Quraysh in the gathering. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke, then An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came up to him and the Messenger of Allah spoke to him until he defeated him in argument.

Then he recited to him and to them,إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up and went to sit with `Abdullah bin Al-Zab`ari At-Tamimi. Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah said to him, `By Allah, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith could not match the son of `Abd Al-Muttalib in argument. Muhammad ﷺ claims that we and these gods that we worship are fuel for Hell.' `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, `By Allah, if I meet with him I will defeat him in argument. Ask Muhammad ﷺ whether everyone that is worshipped instead of Allah will be in Hell with those who worshipped him, for we worship the angels, and the Jews worship `Uzayr, and the Christians worship the Messiah `Isa bin Maryam.' Al-Walid and those who were sitting with him were amazed at what `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, and they thought that he had come up with a good point.

He said this to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said:«كُلُّ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ فَهُوَ مَعَ مَنْ عَبَدَهُ، فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُونَ الشَّيْطَانَ وَمَنْ أَمَرَهُمْ بِعِبَادَتِه»(Everyone who likes to worship something other than Allah will be with the one whom he worshipped, for indeed they are worshipping the Shaytan and whomever told them to worship that person.)" Then Allah revealed the words:إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُمْ مِّنَّا الْحُسْنَى أُوْلَـئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ(Verily, those for whom the good has preceded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell)) (21:101), meaning that `Isa, `Uzayr and rabbis and monks who were also worshipped, who spent their lives in devotion towards Allah. The misguided people who came after them took them as lords instead of Allah. Concerning the notion of worshipping the angels as daughters of Allah, the following words were revealed:وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَلَداً سُبْحَانَهُ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ(And they say: "The Most Gracious has begotten a son (or children)." Glory to Him!

They are but honored servants.) (21:26) Concerning `Isa bin Maryam, the fact that he is worshipped instead of Allah, and to the amazement of Al-Walid and the others who were present at the argument, the following was revealed:وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ(And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) meaning, they take this argument as a basis for rejecting your message. Then Allah mentions `Isa bin Maryam and says:إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلاً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ - وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ مَّلَـئِكَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ(He was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth. And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for the Hour.

) meaning, the miracles and signs that happened at his hands, such as raising the dead and healing the sick, are sufficient as signs of the approach of the Hour.فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ(Therefore have no doubt concerning it. And follow Me! This is the straight path)." Ibn Jarir mentioned that Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on the Ayah:وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ(And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) "This means the Quraysh, when it was said to them:إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!

(Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) The Quraysh said to him: `What about `Isa bin Maryam' He said:«ذَاكَ عَبْدُاللهِ وَرَسُولُه»(He is the servant and Messenger of Allah.) They said, `By Allah, he means that we should take him as a lord just as the Christians took `Isa son of Maryam as a lord.' Then Allah said:مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ(They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people)."وَقَالُواْ ءَأَالِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ(And say: "Are our gods better or is he"). Qatadah said, "They were saying, `our gods are better than him'." Qatadah said; "Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, recited it (أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هذَا) (Are our gods better or is this (person))" they mean Muhammad ﷺ.مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ(They quoted not the above example except for argument.) means, for the sake of stubborn argument, for they knew that he (`Isa ) was not included in the Ayah (21:98), because that would not make sense.

The words,إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!) (21:98) are addressed to the Quraysh, for they used to worship idols and false gods -- they did not worship the Messiah so why should he be included in what the Ayah says What they said was only for the sake of argument; they did not really believe in it. Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:«مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ، إِلَّا أُوْرِثُوا الْجَدَل»g(No people go astray after having been guided, but they resort to (futile) argument.) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this Ayah:مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ(They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people)." It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Jarir.

At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih, we do not know it except from the Hadith of Hajjaj bin Dinar..."إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ(He (`Isa) was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him,) means, `Isa, peace be upon him; he was no more than one of the servants of Allah whom Allah blessed with prophethood and messengership.وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلاً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ(and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.) means, `a sign, proof and evidence of Our power to do whatever We will.'وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ مَّلَـئِكَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ(And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth.) As-Suddi said, "They would have taken your place on (the earth). " Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Qatadah said, "They would have succeeded one another just as you succeed one another." This view is implied by the former veiw.

Mujahid said, "They would have populated the earth instead of you." Allah's saying:وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ(And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) The correct view concerning this phrase is that it refers to his descent before the Day of Resurrection, as Allah says:وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ إِلاَّ لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ(And there is none of the People of the Scripture but must believe in him before his death) (4:159). -- meaning before the death of `Isa, peace be upon him --وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيداًAnd on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them )4:159(. This meaning has the support from an alternate recitation of the Aya0t؛ (وَإِنَّهُ لَعَلَمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ) (And he shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, evidence that the Hour will surely come. Mujahid said:وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ(And he shall be a sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, sign and "One of the signs of the Hour will be the appearance of `Isa son of Maryam before the Day of Resurrection.

" Something similar was also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn `Abbas, `Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Malik, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Many Mutawatir Hadiths report that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that `Isa will descend before the Day of Resurrection as a just ruler and fair judge.فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا(Therefore have no doubt concerning it.) means, do not doubt that it will surely come to pass.وَاتَّبِعُونِ(And follow Me.) means, `in what I tell you about it.'هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌوَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ(This is the straight path. And let not Shaytan hinder you.) means, from following the truth.إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌوَلَمَّا جَآءَ عِيسَى بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِالْحِكْمَةِ(Verily, he (Satan) to you is a plain enemy.

And when `Isa came with (Our) clear proofs, he said: "I have come to you with Al-Hikmah..."), meaning prophethood:وَلأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِى تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ(and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) in which you differ.) Ibn Jarir said, "This means religious matters, not worldly matters." What he said is good.فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ(Therefore have Taqwa of Allah) means, `with regard to what I command you to do.'وَأَطِيعُونِ(and obey me.) means, `in what I bring to you.'إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ(Verily, Allah! He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is the straight path.) means, `you and I are enslaved to Him, in need of Him and we commonly share in the worship of Him Alone, associating none with Him.'هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ(This is the straight path) means, `what I have brought to you is the straight path, which is the worship of the Lord, may He exalted, Alone.'فَاخْتَلَفَ الاٌّحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ(But the sects from among themselves differed.

) means, they differed and became parties and factions, some who stated that he (`Isa) was the servant and Messenger of Allah -- which is true - while others claimed that he was the son of Allah or that he himself was Allah -- glorified be Allah far above what they say. Allah says:فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ(So woe to those who do wrong from the torment of a painful Day)!

Commentaryوَلَمَّا ضُرِ‌بَ ابْنُ مَرْ‌يَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ (And when the example of the son of Maryam was cited, your people started at once shouting at it [ in joy ]...43:57). Exegetes have narrated three events as background of the revelation of these verses. One is that once the Holy Prophet ﷺ had addressed the tribe of Quraish and said, "0 people of Quraish! there is no good in whatever is worshipped beside Allah." The polytheists responded by saying, "The Christians worship Sayyidna ` Isa ﷺ ، although you yourself say that he was a virtuous slave of Allah, and His prophet." These verses were then revealed in reply to this objection (Qurtubi).

The second narration is that the objection of the infidels related to the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ"Surely, you and whatever you worship other than Allah are the fuel of Jahannam." (21:98)When this verse was revealed, 'Abdullah Ibn-uz-ziba'ra claimed that he had the proper answer to this verse which was that the Christians worship Sayyidna Masih (Isa علیہ السلام) and Jews worship Sayyidna ` Uzair (علیہ السلام) ، so will they both become fuel of Hell? Upon hearing this, the polytheists of Quraish became very joyful, and Allah then revealed the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُم مِّنَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ أُولَـٰئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ ﴿101﴾"Surely, those for whom the good (news) from Us has come earlier shall be kept away from it." (21:101)The above verses of Surah Zukhruf was also revealed in this context.

(Ibn Kathir, etc.,)The third narration is that once the pagans of Makkah expressed the absurd thought that the Holy Prophet ﷺ wanted to claim godhead for himself, so that he might be worshipped like Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) is worshipped by the Christians; these verses were revealed in that context.

In reality, there is no conflict between these three narrations. The infidels will have said all the three things, and in reply Allah Ta` ala revealed these verses in such a comprehensive manner that took care of all the three objections. The answer to the last objection is quite clear in these verses as to those who started worshipping Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) did not do so in obedience to any Divine command, nor had Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) ever desired it for himself, nor does the Qur'an support it. Their misconception was based on the miraculous birth of Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) without a father which was, according to them, a sign of his being god or a son of God. The Holy Qur'an has refuted this misconceived argument. How is it then possible that the Holy Prophet ﷺ will claim Godhead in imitation of the Christians?

The gist of the objection mentioned in the first and second narrations is essentially the same. The statement in the Qur'an that all those who are worshipped except Allah will become fuel for Hell or the statement of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that there is no good in whatever is worshipped except Allah, refer to the lifeless objects of worship, such as idols or those living beings who directed their followers towards their own worship, or who liked to be worshipped, such as shaitans, Fir'aun, Namrud, etc.. So Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) is obviously not included in this category, since at no stage did he like to be worshipped. Christians do not worship him because of any direction having being given by Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) ، rather they were misled and started worshipping him by deducing the wrong conclusion from his birth without a father which was a sample of Allah's power to show to the people that Allah does not need even any apparent cause or means to create something.

This worship of Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) by Christians was not only irrational, but also against his own teachings, because he had always preached 'tauhid' (Oneness of Allah); his own disgust against being worshipped simply does not allow his inclusion in the ranks of false gods.

يقول تعالى مخبرا عن تعنت قريش في كفرهم وتعمدهم العناد والجدل : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) قال غير واحد ، عن ابن عباس ، ومجاهد ، وعكرمة ، والضحاك ، والسدي : يضحكون ، أي : أعجبوا بذلك .وقال قتادة : يجزعون ويضحكون . وقال إبراهيم النخعي : يعرضون .وكان السبب في ذلك ما ذكره محمد بن إسحاق في السيرة حيث قال : وجلس رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - - فيما بلغني - يوما مع الوليد بن المغيرة في المسجد ، فجاء النضر بن الحارث حتى جلس معهم ، وفي المجلس غير واحد من رجال قريش ، فتكلم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فعرض له النضر بن الحارث ، فكلمه رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حتى أفحمه ، ثم تلا عليه وعليهم : ( إنكم وما تعبدون من دون الله حصب جهنم أنتم لها واردون ) الآيات [ الأنبياء : 98 ] .

ثم قام رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وأقبل عبد الله بن الزبعرى التميمي حتى جلس ، فقال الوليد بن المغيرة له : والله ما قام النضر بن الحارث لابن عبد المطلب وما قعد ، وقد زعم محمد أنا وما نعبد من آلهتنا هذه حصب جهنم ، فقال عبد الله بن الزبعرى : أما والله لو وجدته لخصمته ، سلوا محمدا : أكل ما يعبد من دون الله في جهنم مع من عبده ، فنحن نعبد الملائكة ، واليهود تعبد عزيرا ، والنصارى تعبد المسيح [ عيسى ] ابن مريم ؟ فعجب الوليد ومن كان معه في المجلس من قول عبد الله بن الزبعرى ، ورأوا أنه قد احتج وخاصم ، فذكر ذلك لرسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال : " كل من أحب أن يعبد من دون الله ، فهو مع من عبده ، فإنهم إنما يعبدون الشيطان ومن أمرهم بعبادته " فأنزل الله عز وجل : ( إن الذين سبقت لهم منا الحسنى أولئك عنها مبعدون ) [ الأنبياء : 101 ] أي : عيسى وعزير ومن عبد معهما من الأحبار والرهبان الذين مضوا على طاعة الله ، عز وجل ، فاتخذهم من يعبدهم من أهل الضلالة أربابا من دون الله . ونزل فيما يذكرون أنهم يعبدون الملائكة وأنهم بنات الله : ( وقالوا اتخذ الرحمن ولدا سبحانه بل عباد مكرمون ) الآيات [ الأنبياء : 26 ] ، ونزل فيما يذكر من أمر عيسى وأنه يعبد من دون الله .

وعجب الوليد ومن حضره من حجته وخصومته : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) أي : يصدون عن أمرك بذلك من قوله . ثم ذكر عيسى فقال : ( إن هو إلا عبد أنعمنا عليه وجعلناه مثلا لبني إسرائيل ولو نشاء لجعلنا منكم ملائكة في الأرض يخلفون وإنه لعلم للساعة ) أي : ما وضعت على يديه من الآيات من إحياء الموتى وإبراء الأسقام ، فكفى به دليلا على علم الساعة ، يقول : ( فلا تمترن بها واتبعون هذا صراط مستقيم ) .وذكر ابن جرير من رواية العوفي ، عن ابن عباس قوله : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) قال : يعني قريشا ، لما قيل لهم : ( إنكم وما تعبدون من دون الله حصب جهنم أنتم لها واردون ) [ الأنبياء : 98 ] إلى آخر الآيات ، فقالت له قريش : فما ابن مريم ؟ قال : " ذاك عبد الله ورسوله " . فقالوا : والله ما يريد هذا إلا أن نتخذه ربا ، كما اتخذت النصارى عيسى ابن مريم ربا ، فقال الله تعالى ( ما ضربوه لك إلا جدلا بل هم قوم خصمون ) .وقال الإمام أحمد : حدثنا هاشم بن القاسم ، حدثنا شيبان ، عن عاصم بن أبي النجود ، عن أبي رزين ، عن أبي يحيى - مولى ابن عقيل الأنصاري - قال : قال ابن عباس : لقد علمت آية من القرآن ما سألني عنها رجل قط ، فما أدري أعلمها الناس فلم يسألوا عنها ، أم لم يفطنوا لها فيسألوا عنها .

قال : ثم طفق يحدثنا ، فلما قام تلاومنا ألا نكون سألناه عنها . فقلت : أنا لها إذا راح غدا . فلما راح الغد قلت : يا ابن عباس ، ذكرت أمس أن آية من القرآن لم يسألك عنها رجل قط ، فلا تدري أعلمها الناس أم لم يفطنوا لها ؟ فقلت : أخبرني عنها وعن اللاتي قرأت قبلها . قال : نعم ، إن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال لقريش : " يا معشر قريش ، إنه ليس أحد يعبد من دون الله فيه خير " ، وقد علمت قريش أن النصارى تعبد عيسى ابن مريم ، وما تقول في محمد ، فقالوا : يا محمد ، ألست تزعم أن عيسى كان نبيا وعبدا من عباد الله صالحا ، فإن كنت صادقا ، كان آلهتهم كما تقولون ؟ ! قال : فأنزل الله : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) . قلت : ما يصدون ؟ قال : يضحكون ، ( وإنه لعلم للساعة ) قال : هو خروج عيسى ابن مريم قبل القيامة .وقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب الدمشقي ، حدثنا آدم ، حدثنا شيبان ، عن عاصم بن أبي النجود ، عن أبي أحمد مولى الأنصار ، عن ابن عباس قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " يا معشر قريش ، إنه ليس أحد يعبد من دون الله فيه خير " . فقالوا له : ألست تزعم أن عيسى كان نبيا وعبدا من عباد الله صالحا ، فقد كان يعبد من دون الله ؟

فأنزل الله عز وجل : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) .وقال مجاهد في قوله : ( ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون ) : قالت قريش : إنما يريد محمد أن نعبده كما عبد قوم عيسى عيسى . ونحو هذا قال قتادة .