3.62 – Surely this – it indeed is the true account
The Quran’s first extended passage about ‘Īsā ends with an ultimatum (vv. 60–63): this “is the true account” about ‘Īsā (v. 62). Verse 61 seems to command the messenger – if the audience persists in disputing his recitations about the nature of ‘Īsā – to initiate a cursing ceremony in which the punishment of Allah would fall upon those who state falsehood about ‘Īsā. The Quran also seems to insist on the truth of its portrayal of ‘Īsā at 4.174 and 19.34.
Immediately after a denial of the deity of ‘Īsā, the Quran makes a claim that resembles the first part of the Islamic confession of faith: “There is no god except Allah” (mā min ilāhin illā ’llāh). This raises the question of what “god” (ilāha) Muslims have in mind when they recite their shahāda.
Like many Muslim Quran commentaries, the early commentary of Muqātil ibn Sulaymān (d. 767) included the story of the visit of Christians from Najrān to the messenger of Islam (see the comment at v. 35). In Muqātil’s version, the first question the Christians ask Islam’s messenger is, “Why do you abuse and dishonor our master?”