Tafseer Surah Al-Imraan (verses 58-68)

These articles are edited transcripts of the classes given by Zaynab Al Kateb based on Shaykh Al Uthaymeen’s explanation.

ذَٰلِكَ نَتۡلُوهُ عَلَيۡكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ وَٱلذِّكۡرِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ (58)

{This is what We recite to you (Oh Muhammad) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an).}

So after Allah tells us about the story of ‘Isa and  Maryam, he then addresses the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying, “This is what We recite to you (Oh Muhammad) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an).” Ayaat here refers to the verses of the Quraan, which are also a dhikr, or remembrance. 

The word dhikr comes from the verb ‘to remember’. The aim of the Quraan is to cause our hearts to remember Allah. Mawaai’idah is when someone preaches in a way which causes one’s heart to shift, respond, and awaken- this is the aim. When the heart remembers, actions spring from that remembrance. 

Thus, if we want to know whether the Quraan is truly a dhikr for us or not then we must ask ourselves if we are benefiting from its Words. We need to look and see how we react to the verses of Quran. Does reading them change our hearts, or do we remain the same? Of course, change is not instantaneous, but when we make the conscious and firm intention to leave off that which Allah hates and to engage in that which He loves, slowly but surely, the changes will come. We must begin to strive to achieve that, and this is the intention that we need to establish while reading the Quran, its explanation, or ahaadeeth. Thus, the Quraan is dhikr al-hakeem – the Reminder full of goodness, blessings and wisdom – for those who truly benefit from it. 

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ (59) 

{Verily, the likeness of ‘Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was.}

Then Allah said, “Verily, the likeness of ‘Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam.” The intention of this ayah is to show the futility of taking ‘Isa as a god to be worshipped. ‘Isa was born without a father but Adam was born without any of the two parents – and so, if it were that any of them were worthy of worship, then Adam would be more viable to be considered a god compared to ‘Isa. But this is definitely not the case. The truth is that Allah creates whatever He wills, however He wishes. Allah said to the dust “be” and it resulted in Adam; and Allah said “be” and Isa was conceived in the womb of Maryam. It is all the same for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, Who is able to do everything. 

ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡمُمۡتَرِينَ (60)

{(This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.}

This is the truth from your Lord. And if you are seeking the truth, then seek it only from Allah, who is Al-Haqq (The Truth or True One) in all His sayings and commandments. Any truth regarding that which has happened in the past or that which will happen in the future, is with Allah alone. If we need to seek the right judgment in some affair, or to understand what is right and what is wrong, what is permissible and what is forbidden, then we must seek it from Allah alone. Therefore, truth is not to be sought from any other source.

Allah then says, “so be not of those who doubt.” Al-Mumtareen are those people who have doubts about that which Allah revealed, such as the fact that ‘Isa did not have a father. Since the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, never doubted the Words of Allah, we know that this verse is directed to all those whose hearts are filled with doubts. Shaykh Uthaymeen said that it is the way of the Quran to address each verse to all those who have been intended by it. Therefore, this verse actually refers to a delegation of Christians from Najraan who went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and argued with him regarding these verses about Isa. That is why Allah subsequently said,

فَمَنۡ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ فَقُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ نَدۡعُ أَبۡنَآءَنَا وَأَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمۡ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمۡ ثُمَّ نَبۡتَهِلۡ فَنَجۡعَل لَّعۡنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ (61)

 {Then whoever disputes with you concerning him [‘Isa] after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, say (Oh Muhammad): “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves – then we pray and invoke the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.}

Al-ibtihaal is derived from al- mubaahala. When someone refuses to believe in the truth when it is presented to him, such as refusing to believe in Allah, Islam, the angels, the prophets etc., one may then make ‘mubaahala’, saying, ‘I will call my husband and my children and you will gather all your family and then I will supplicate to Allah and say; “Oh Allah, send your curses upon whoever of us is a liar”. This practice is still permissible today. The Prophet, peace be upon him, did this. He gathered his family and placed a curse on the liar. The Christians of Najraan refused to take part in al-mubaahalah because they knew they were liars and that Muhammad was truthful. Instead, they came to an agreement with the Muslims and agreed to pay the jizya. (The jizya is a tax which is paid by a person residing in a Muslim land who must either choose between accepting Islam or keeping his faith and paying the jizya). They are, in turn, protected by the Muslim state.

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡقَصَصُ ٱلۡحَقُّۚ وَمَا مِنۡ إِلَٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (62)

{Verily, this is the true narrative [about the story of ‘Isa], and La ilaaha illallaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One and the Only True God, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.}

Allah here reasserts the fact that what He informed about Isa, peace be upon him, is the absolute truth.

“La ilaaha illallaah” Al-ilaah comes from  the same root as uloohiyya and it means ‘the One who is worshipped with love and glorification’. And the truth is that there is none who is worthy of being worshipped with both love and glorification except Allah alone. One may obey a person out of love or fear of him, but not out of glorification of him. 

“And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” When Allah brings one of His Names in a verse, it beautifies it, but when He combines two, then this signifies even more beauty and perfection. In this world, for example, there may be a mighty leader who has huge armies and immense strength, and power, but he may not have wisdom (correct understanding of affairs) and thus, he may ruin everything because without wisdom there is nothing but destruction! If a person is very wise but has no power or status, then his wisdom cannot reach or benefit anyone. So perfection is in having the strength, wisdom, and power and all of these attributes combine only in Allah, the Most High. So we say, Alhamdulillah! Allah is the All-Mighty and the All-Wise. 

فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (63)

{And if they turn away (and do not accept these true proofs and evidences), then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who cause corruption.}

Allah is still addressing the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, with these words. Here Allah does not mention the punishment that He will mete out to these people. Rather, He mentions one of His attributes, Al-Aleem – that He is the All-Knower of everything. This is one of the ways by which Allah threatens the people numerous times in the Quraan. By saying that He knows, sees and hears what is thought, said and done, Allah warns the people that they should be always be aware of this for He knows and records their evil intentions and actions. 

Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen said that if a person refuses to accept the truth, then this is considered corruption, just like each and every act of disobedience. The wrongdoer not only corrupts his own soul, he also corrupts the world outside by spreading his evil and calling others to it. In fact, the world is corrupted and spoiled due to the sins of mankind. Pollution, inflation, poverty, sickness, bad manners and injustice are all corruptions that result from sins and wrongdoings! Every sin committed, whether it be lying, mistreatment of parents, not wearing hijaab, and others, makes a person one of the corruptors mentioned in this verse. 

On the other hand, each and every act of worship and obedience is an antidote for corruption, so our deeds will be either a reason for corruption or reforming. To be a reformer, we must first reform ourselves and then try to reform those around us. However, we must know that there is no rectification except through tawheed, sunnah and obedience to Allah. When man-made laws replace the laws of the All-Knowing, Wise Creator and the adulterer and adulteress are left free instead of being stoned and the thief is imprisoned instead of his hand being cut off, then is not corruption bound to occur? Man-made laws have lead to the destruction of safety, honor, modesty, and justice. Therefore, the law of Allah must prevail if the world is to be cured of corruption. 

قُلۡ يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٖ سَوَآءِۢ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ (64)

{Say (Oh Muhammad: “Oh people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.” Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.”}

It is reported in the sahih of Imam Muslim and the Sunan of Abi Dawud that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to occasionally recite this verse in the second rak’ah of the sunnah of Fajr prayer along with ayah 285 of Surah Al-Baqarah “…آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ”  in the first rak’ah. 

وكان النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم  أحيانا يقرأ بعد الفاتحة في الأولى منهما آية: [قُولُوا آَمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ] (البقرة: 136). إلى آخر الآية، وفي الأخرى: [قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ] (آل عمران: 64). إلى آخرها، وربما قرأ بدلها: [فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَى مِنْهُمُ الْكُفْرَ] (آل عمران: 52). إلى آخر الآية. رواه مسلم وأبو داود.

وأحيانا يقرأ “قل يا أيها الكافرون” في الأولى، و”قل هو الله أحد” في الأخرى. رواه مسلم وأبو داود. 

Also, when the Prophet peace be upon him corresponded with non-Muslim kings, such as the Persian and Roman kings, inviting them to Islam, he used to address them with this verse:  “O people of the Scripture! Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.”

Arbaaban (lords) here means someone whom we obey or give the right to command us. Worshipping Allah alone entails obedience to Him as well as the firm belief that none has the authority to legislate besides Allah, to prescribe the halal and haram except Allah, to guide to acts of worship other than Allah and to differentiate between correct worship and innovation besides Allah. 

“Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” Meaning, ‘you refuse to obey, but I will not refuse to obey. You refuse to submit, but I worship Allah alone, without any partners, so bear witness to this.’ 

One of the powerful effects of this statement is the realisation that indeed, true honor, respect and dignity is only for the Muslims who cling to their religion with pride. One must be proud enough to proclaim his submission to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and His commandments. Today we seldom find a Muslim like this! Most of them feel embarrassed and shy of being a Muslim! Be proud of not wishing “Merry Christmas” to the Christians because it contradicts our belief in tawheed, be proud of your hijaab and be proud of the sunnah. 

The second effect of this statement is upon the enemy. When we reply to the arrogant one by proclaiming our pride in being Muslims, this crumbles their haughtiness and upsets them. And when they see the Muslims manifesting Islam openly, such as by sporting the islamic veil (hijaab), they feel threatened and weakened because they do not desire that Islam should prevail. We should intend to upset and goad the enemies of Islam by acting upon our religion and making it apparent in our everyday lives. 

Sufficient it is as pride that we surrender and submit to none but Allah, and therefore, we must not be afraid to profess it. Indeed, our honour and success lies only with Islam, and our humiliation, destruction and weakness is in abandoning it.

(Sheikh ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that the story of ‘Isa, peace be on him ends with this verse, and a new subject begins from verse 65.)

يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَتِ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةُ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦٓۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ (65) هَٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ حَٰجَجۡتُمۡ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ فَلِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيۡسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (66)

{Oh people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Ibrahim while the Tauraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?}

Ibrahim was sent by Allah before the revelation of the Tauraat and Injeel. So Allah here is censuring the Jews and the Christians for claiming that Ibrahim was a Jew or Christian, when their books did not come until after his time. “Have you then no sense?”

{Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have knowledge. Why do you then dispute concerning that of which you have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.}

Meaning, you [i.e. the Jews and Christians] dispute about the Taurat and Injeel, which were revealed to you, but why do you dispute concerning Ibrahim when you have no knowledge of this matter? Refer that which you have no knowledge of back to Allah for “It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.”

مَا كَانَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيّٗا وَلَا نَصۡرَانِيّٗا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفٗا مُّسۡلِمٗا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (67)

{Ibrahim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islâmic Monotheism – to worship none but Allah Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikoon.}

Meaning, he was neither of what you claim, rather he was a true man of tawheed who would shun shirk. 

Sheikh ibn Uthaymeen said that if Ibrahim had been alive, he would have followed the path of the Prophet Muhammad. He would have followed the Quran that was revealed by Allah to Muhammad, while the Jews and Christians did not do this. They refused to believe in and worship Allah alone and follow the Messenger of Allah. However, Ibrahim would always be a “muslim haneef”, meaning one who is disinclined away from shirk and the people of shirk to tawheed and the people of tawheed. Al Haneefiyya has two meanings: to affirm tawheed and reject shirk.

“and he was not of Al-Mushrikoon” This is a reaffirmation of the praise for Ibrahim عليه السلام, that he, along with being a person of pure Tawheed, did not have any of the attributes from the attributes of the polytheists, including arrogance and refusal to accept the truth.

إِنَّ أَوۡلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَٰذَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (68)

{Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.}

The Christians, Jews and Muslims dispute over which of them is on the way of Ibrahim and no one besides Allah is the best Judge in this affair. 

You, the Jews and Christians, say that you have a claim to Ibrahim, peace be upon him, but rather, the people who have the most truthful claim to him are those who followed his religion of Haneefiyyah, and they are the Prophet peace be upon him, his companions and those who followed their way. 

Allah says “And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers” 

The Name of Allah, Al Wali, means ‘the guardian, protector and nurturer’. This wilaayah of Allah is for the believers, and this increases with our striving in His cause. The stronger our belief in Allah and our obedience to Him, the more we will have His protection and guidance. And from the greatest means by which we can obtain His guidance, support, and love is, as the Prophet peace be upon him, said: 

إِنَّ أَوْثَقَ عُرَى الإِيْمَانِ أَنْ تُحِبَّ فِي اللهِ وَتُبْغِضَ فِي اللهِ 

“Verily the strongest handhold of faith is that you love for the sake of Allah and that you hate for the sake of Allah.” [Ahmad 4/286, authentic]

وعن ابن عباس – رضي الله عنهما – قال: “من أحب في الله وأبغض في الله، ووالى في الله، وعادى في الله، فإنما تُنال ولاية الله بذلك”

رواه الإمام عبدالله بن المبارك في “الزهد” (ص: 120).

Ibn Abbas (Radi Allahu Anhuma) said,”Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah, makes friendship for the sake of Allah, and has enmity for the sake of the Allah, is the only one who will attain the wilaayah of Allah due to it.” [Az-Zuhd of Ibn Mubarak, page 120]

By assessing our hearts for al wala wal baraa (association and dissociation), we can find the truth of our iman. Indeed, loving tawheed and its people, loving Allah’s laws and commands, and feeling upset and angered by disbelief and disobedience to Allah, is a proof of our love for Allah and a means to achieve His wilaayah. Nowadays, we seldom find people like this. The majority of the Muslims want to be like the non-Muslims in their speech, dress and even beliefs, and Allah’s aid is sought. 

We ask Allah to grant us true faith and to make us of those who love Him and all that He loves, and of those who hate what He hates, and those whom He hates. [Ameen]