5.72 – Certainly they have disbelieved who say, “Surely God – He is the Messiah, son of Mary”
This verse repeats the Quran’s striking judgment on the Christian confession of the deity of the Messiah at 5.17. Here, as there, those who make this confession are said to “disbelieve.” In addition, this verse connects the act of “associating” (shirk) with the Christian confession, accusing Christians of associating a mere human prophet with Allah. On the name “Messiah,” see the comment at 3.45, and on accusations of “associating” against Christians see the summary at 61.9.
In this verse, the Quran also claims that the Messiah himself commanded people to worship Allah alone (similar to verses 116–17 in this sūra; 3.51; 19.36; 43.64; cf. 4.172). See the analysis of these statements at 43.64.
The passage surrounding this verse is highly polemical – it attacks the beliefs of another faith and promises punishments for those it accuses of “disbelief.” The following verse speaks against belief in the Trinity, and verse 75 continues the denial of the deity of ‘Īsā. There the Messiah is described as nothing but a messenger who proves his human identity by eating. In verse 77 the Quran claims to determine the “limits” of Christianity.
The rhetorical emphasis and apparent confidence of these statements should not distract from the fact that they are merely denials of Christian beliefs. There is no new evidence after the New Testament – written some six hundred years earlier – that would support the quranic denials, nor did anyone hear the speeches that the Quran attributes to ‘Īsā. It is simply a disagreement about the identity of Jesus. See the analysis of the Quran’s denials of the deity of ‘Īsā at 43.59.