وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا 4
Translations
And to warn those who say, "Allāh has taken a son".
Transliteration
Wa yundhir alladhīna qālū ittakhadha Allāhu waladan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that the Quran warns those who falsely claim that Allah has taken a son, a grave theological error that contradicts the absolute oneness and transcendence of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this warning addresses both the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and pre-Islamic Arab polytheists who attributed children to Allah, emphasizing that such claims are among the gravest forms of shirk (polytheism). The verse establishes that the primary purpose of the Quranic message includes refuting these false doctrines and clarifying Allah's perfect attributes.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Kahf is a Meccan surah revealed during a period when the Prophet Muhammad faced intense opposition from polytheists and those with corrupted theological beliefs. This particular ayah occurs within the opening verses that establish the Quran's purpose: to warn against major theological errors and affirm strict monotheism. The context reflects the broader Meccan emphasis on correcting fundamental beliefs about Allah's nature and oneness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' - Sahih Bukhari. Additionally, 'Whoever says that Allah has a son has uttered one of the greatest enormities against Allah' - related in various hadith collections emphasizing the severity of this claim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the paramount importance of maintaining pure monotheistic belief and understanding that Allah is beyond human categories like parenthood or familial relationships. For modern Muslims, it serves as a call to actively defend and articulate correct Islamic theology against contemporary misconceptions about Allah's nature.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allāh willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allāh'? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,
وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."
قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
وَكَانَ لَهُۥ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَنَا۠ أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا
And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men."