2.116 – They say, “God has taken a son.” Glory to him! No!

Unidentified people are saying that “Allah has taken a son” (walad). The verse does not make clear who “they” are. However, Christians are mentioned in the near context (vv. 111, 113, 120), so it is reasonable to assume that the Quran has their confession in mind.

This is the first mention of an important theme in the Quran. Its concern from the start is theological. Allah is sovereign over the universe. The Quran seems to claim that saying “Allah has taken a son” threatens Allah’s sovereignty. The expression “Allah has taken a son” appears frequently in the Quran, and the response “Glory to him” (subhānahu) repeats as well.