Surah 5

Surah 5:73

"Certainly they have disbelieved who say, ‘Surely God is the third of three,’ when (there is) no god but one God. If they do not stop what they are saying, a painful punishment will indeed strike those of them who disbelieve."
The Disbelief of the Christians; 'Isa Only called to Tawhid Verses 5:72-75
Show Full Scripture Context (5:72-75) — 4 Verses
Verse 72

لَقَدۡ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَمَأۡوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَارٖ

Certainly they have disbelieved who say, ‘Surely God – He is the Messiah, son of Mary,’ when the Messiah said, ‘Sons of Israel! Serve God, my Lord and your Lord. Surely he who associates (anything) with God, God has forbidden him (from) the Garden, and his refuge is the Fire. The evildoers have no helpers.’

Verse 73

لَّقَدۡ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَٰثَةٖۘ وَمَا مِنۡ إِلَٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞۚ وَإِن لَّمۡ يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Certainly they have disbelieved who say, ‘Surely God is the third of three,’ when (there is) no god but one God. If they do not stop what they are saying, a painful punishment will indeed strike those of them who disbelieve.

Verse 74

أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَهُۥۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ

Will they not turn to God (in repentance) and ask forgiveness from Him? God is forgiving, compassionate.

Verse 75

مَّا ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٞ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٞۖ كَانَا يَأۡكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَۗ ٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرۡ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ

The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. His mother was a truthful woman. They both ate food. See how We make clear the signs to them, then see how deluded they are.

Allah states that the Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers, those among them who say that Isa is Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. They made this claim in spite of the fact that 'Isa made it known that he was the servant of Allah and His Messenger. The first words that Isa uttered when he was still a baby in the cradle were, "I am 'Abdullah (the servant of Allah)." He did not say, "I am Allah," or, "I am the son of Allah." Rather, he said,
{Verily, I am a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet.}

until he said,
{"And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the straight path."}

He also proclaimed to them when he was a man, after he was sent as a Prophet, commanding them to worship his Lord and their Lord, alone without partners,
{But the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah...} in worship;
{...then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.}

as He will send him to the Fire and forbid Paradise for him. Allah also said;
{Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills} and,
{And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise; "Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provide you with." They will say: "Allah has forbidden both to the disbelievers."}

Allah replied,
{But there is no god but One God.}

meaning there are not many worthy of worship but there is only One God without partners, and He is the Lord of all creation and all that exists. Allah said next, while threatening and admonishing them,
{If they cease not from what they say,} their lies and false claims,
{verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.} in the Hereafter, shackled and tormented. Allah said next,
{Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}

This demonstrates Allah's generosity, kindness and mercy for His creatures, even though they committed this grave sin and invented such a lie and false allegation. Despite all of this, Allah calls them to repent so that He will forgive them, for Allah forgives those who sincerely repent to Him.

'Isa is Allah's Servant and His Mother is a Truthful Believer
Allah said,
{The Messiah, son of Maryam, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.}

'Isa is just like the previous Prophets, and he is one of the servants of Allah and one of His honorable Messengers. Allah said in another Ayah,
{He ['Isa] was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.}

Allah said next,
{His mother was a Siddiqah} for she believed in Allah with complete trust in Him. This is the highest rank she was given, which proves that she was not a Prophet. Allah said next,
{They both used to eat food} needing nourishment and to relieve the call of nature. Therefore, they are just servants like other servants, not gods as ignorant Christian sects claim, may Allah's continued curses cover them until the Day of Resurrection. Allah said next,
{Look how We make the Ayat clear to them.} making them unequivocal and plain,
{yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).}

look at the opinions, misguided ideas, and claims they cling to, even after Our clarification and plain, unequivocal explanation.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.