Quran chapter 9 verse 31 Another noose around the missionaries’ necks. Allah does not say Jesus Is God nor divine.
Quran chapter 9 verse 31 Another noose around the missionaries’ necks. Allah does not say Jesus Is God nor divine.
Jamal Dookhy
Doha Qatar
July 18, 2023
All Praise be to Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be on our dear prophet ﷺ
Chapter 9, verse 31 of the Quran is often cited in discussions about the divinity of Jesus in Christianity. It is important to approach the interpretation of this verse with scholarly rigor and an objective understanding of the context. In this chapter, we will provide a clear translation of the verse, examine various tafsirs, and delve into the linguistic nuances of the Arabic text to gain a comprehensive understanding of its implications.
First, let us start with the translation of Chapter 9, verse 31 from the Pickthall translation:
"They have taken as lords beside Allah their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only One God. There is no god save Him. Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!"
In this verse, the contention lies in the phrase "the Messiah son of Mary," as some Christians interpret it to imply that Jesus is God. However, it is crucial to look at the contextual and linguistic aspects of the verse to arrive at a more accurate understanding. we can see clearly in the verse that is saying that the Christians and jews are said to have taken their rabbis and Monks and Jesus son of Mary lords rather than Allah. It mentions Allah on one side and the rabbis, the monks and Jesus together distinguishing them from Allah the only one to be worshipped (if the Polytheists had read the first chapter of the Quran, they would see that Allah clearly says “You alone we worship, you alone we ask for help” (chapter 1 verses 5—6), so how can then further down Allah claim that Jesus is divine as well. And in the verse in question, it continues to say “there is no God save him (Allah)”. This is cut and dry and no ambiguous. Then is goes further to say “be he glorified from all that they ascribe as partner to him”. Cut and dry I see. No room for ifs, buts or may bes. So how does the Christian then see Jesus mentioned as God there?
The Tafsir of As-Saadi, written by Sheikh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Saadi, provides an insightful analysis of this verse. According to As-Saadi, the phrase "the Messiah son of Mary" is not an indication of Jesus being divine. He states that Christians and Jews mistakenly give undue reverence and worship to their religious leaders, rabbis, monks, and even Jesus himself, despite the fact that they were commanded to worship only Allah, the One God. This verse aims to correct this misbelief and reaffirm the oneness of Allah, emphasizing that there is no god except Him.
Furthermore, other tafsirs provide additional perspectives on this verse, enriching our understanding further. For example, the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, authored by Jalal ad-Din al-Mahalli and Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti, states that the verse criticizes Christians who took their religious leaders and Jesus as gods, deviating from the true monotheistic belief in Islam. Similarly, the Tafsir Ibn Kathir, written by Ibn Kathir, affirms that this verse condemns Christians who deify their leaders and Jesus, explicitly emphasizing the concept of monotheism. So, looking at the verse it actually goes against any claim of divinity to Jesus Pbuh.
To gain a well-rounded understanding, it is important to note that scholars may interpret this verse differently based on their theological perspectives. They assert that it solely rebukes the act of deifying Jesus. However, the majority of Islamic scholars maintain that this verse does not support the claim of Jesus being God but rather condemns associating partners with Allah.
When analyzing the broader context of the Quran, it becomes evident that Islam firmly upholds the belief in the oneness of Allah. Numerous verses reinforce this concept, such as Chapter 9, verse 30, which asks Jews and Christians not to take their religious leaders as gods. Furthermore, Chapter 112, known as Surah al-Ikhlas, explicitly affirms the absolute oneness of Allah and rejects the idea of any partners or equals.
Some Christians interpret this verse as implying that Jesus is God because it mentions him alongside rabbis and monks. However, this interpretation is not consistent with the Islamic understanding of Jesus and monotheism. The verse is aiming to highlight the issue of taking religious figures as lords and associating partners with Allah, rather than establishing the deity of Jesus. Islam vehemently rejects any claim of Jesus being God, and multiple verses and Hadiths reinforce this viewpoint.
Additionally, several Hadiths reinforce the Islamic belief that Jesus is not God but a prophet and servant of Allah. In Sahih al-Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly states, "Jesus, the son of Mary, will descend, and the Muslims will follow him, and he will judge people according to the Islamic law." This Hadith clearly establishes Jesus as a follower of Islam and a servant of Allah, reaffirming his prophethood rather than his divinity.
Now to examine the Arabic text, let us consider the linguistic nuances of the verse. The phrase "the Messiah son of Mary" in Arabic is "al-Masih ibn Maryam." Arabic grammar emphasizes the usage of "ibn" meaning "son of" to establish lineage, not divinity. The word "al-Masih" (the Messiah) refers to the title given to Jesus in Islam, indicating his role as a messenger and anointed one, not his divinity. The “Maseeha Ibn Maryam” indicates the accusative of the verse rather than Saying “Maseehi”. Moreover, understanding the significance of Arabic accusative can also shed light on the verse. The accusative form is used here to indicate the object of worship, not the subject. It is highlighting that these individuals, including Jesus, were taken as objects of worship besides Allah, not that they claimed to be gods themselves. This distinction is crucial in comprehending the verse's true meaning
“Ittakhathoo ahbarahum waruhbanahum arbaban min dooni Allahi waalmaseeha ibna maryama wama omiroo illa liyaAAbudoo ilahan wahidan la ilaha illa huwa subhanahu AAamma yushrikoona”
This is a problem when the Christian missionaries who raise these issues and make a big hoo haa about it, hardly know Arabic and those who do read Arabic deliberately misquote it.
Alternative translations of this verse exist, contributing to the diversity of interpretations. For instance, Yusuf Ali's translation adds the word "or" before the phrase "the Messiah son of Mary," changing the implications slightly. However, regardless of the specific phrasing, the overall message of the verse remains consistent – emphasizing the oneness of Allah and rejecting the deification of anyone, including Jesus.
In conclusion, Chapter 9, verse 31 of the Quran does not support the claim that Jesus is God. It rather critiques the act of deifying Jesus and emphasizes the importance of monotheism. The Tafsir of As-Saadi and other tafsirs provide comprehensive analyses of the verse, highlighting its context and intended message. When examining the Arabic text and its linguistic nuances, we can see that the phrase "the Messiah son of Mary" refers to the title given to Jesus as an anointed messenger, rather than a declaration of his divinity. By exploring various scholarly perspectives and fostering dialogue, a balanced and objective understanding of this verse can be achieved. The verse identifies the problem of taking religious figures as lords and associating partners with Allah. Islamic beliefs reject any claim of Jesus being divine, and multiple verses, including the one in question, affirm monotheism and the oneness of Allah. By analyzing the verse in its linguistic and theological context, referring to Tafsirs like As Saadi, and considering relevant Hadiths, we can arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the verse and refute the claim that it supports the idea of Jesus being God
Many Christian missionaries as deluded as they are, seem to run to the Quran to prove Jesus was God when the Bible itself never says explicitly so. It is kind of a good feeling in the heart to use the Quran to justify something that even the Bible does not explicitly mention. So, it is kind of ironic how the Christians who claim to be monotheist suddenly see in the Quran that Allah is God and Jesus is God too making it 2 gods. For centuries Christianity has hidden it polytheism by claiming to believe in one God but then scour the Quran to find evidence that somehow Jesus is God apart from Allah.
Muslim Apologist blogger, Author.