مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ 35
Translations
It is not [befitting] for Allāh to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
Transliteration
Mā kāna lillāhi ay-yattakhidha min walad; subḥānahu; idhā qaḍā amran fa-innamā yaqūlu lahu kun fa-yakūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphatically refutes the Christian doctrine of Jesus being the son of God, asserting that it is impossible for Allah to have offspring. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah's creation operates through His perfect command alone—He merely says 'Be' (kun) and it becomes (fa-yakūn)—demonstrating His absolute transcendence and uniqueness (tawhīd). The phrase 'Subḥānahu' (Glorified is He) serves as a protective declaration of Allah's purity from such human limitations as reproduction or partnership.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan Surah Maryam, which addresses the miraculous birth of Jesus and clarifies his nature as a servant and messenger of Allah. The surah was revealed during the Meccan period when polytheists and Christian delegations challenged Islamic monotheism. This specific verse contextualizes the previous mention of Jesus' birth, establishing that while his birth was miraculous, he was never Allah's son—a direct response to Christian theological claims.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Do not exceed bounds in praising me as the Christians exceeded bounds in praising the son of Mary. I am only a slave, so say: Allah's slave and messenger.' This hadith reinforces the ayah's rejection of associating offspring or partners with Allah and the proper way to honor the Prophet.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers the importance of maintaining pure monotheism and rejecting any concept that compromises Allah's absolute uniqueness and transcendence. For modern readers, it emphasizes that true faith requires understanding Allah's complete difference from creation, free from human limitations like parenthood or partnership, which should inspire both intellectual conviction and spiritual reverence.