Al-Ma'idah: 17

Ayah

Word by Word

لَّقَدۡ

Certainly

كَفَرَ

disbelieved

ٱلَّذِينَ

those who

قَالُوٓاْ

said

إِنَّ

Indeed

ٱللَّهَ

Allah

هُوَ

ٱلۡمَسِيحُ

(is) the Messiah

ٱبۡنُ

son

مَرۡيَمَۚ

(of) Maryam

قُلۡ

Say

فَمَن

Then who

يَمۡلِكُ

has power

مِنَ

against

ٱللَّهِ

Allah

شَيۡـًٔا

(in) anything

إِنۡ

أَرَادَ

He intends

أَن

يُهۡلِكَ

destroy

ٱلۡمَسِيحَ

the Messiah

ٱبۡنَ

son

مَرۡيَمَ

(of) Maryam

وَأُمَّهُۥ

and his mother

وَمَن

and whoever

فِي

(is) in

ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

the earth

جَمِيعٗاۗ

all

وَلِلَّهِ

And for Allah

مُلۡكُ

(is the) dominion

ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ

(of) the heavens

وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ

and the earth

وَمَا

and what

بَيۡنَهُمَاۚ

(is) between both of them

يَخۡلُقُ

He creates

مَا

what

يَشَآءُۚ

He wills

وَٱللَّهُ

and Allah

عَلَىٰ

(is) on

كُلِّ

every

شَيۡءٖ

thing

قَدِيرٞ

All-Powerful

Translation

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."

Tafsir

"Explaining the Truth Through the Messenger and the Qur'an

Allah states that He sent His Messenger Muhammad with the guidance and the religion of truth to all the people of the earth, the Arabs and non-Arabs, lettered and unlettered.

Allah also states that He sent Muhammad with clear evidences and the distinction between truth and falsehood.

Allah said,

يَا أَهۡلَ الۡكِتَابِ قَدۡ جَاءكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ الۡكِتَابِ وَيَعۡفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ

O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over much.

So the Prophet explained where they altered, distorted, changed and lied about Allah. He also ignored much of what they changed, since it would not bring about any benefit if it was explained.

In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

“He who disbelieves in stoning (the adulterer to death) will have inadvertently disbelieved in the Qur'an, for Allah said,

يَا أَهۡلَ الۡكِتَابِ قَدۡ جَاءكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ الۡكِتَابِ

(O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture) and stoning was among the things that they used to hide.”

Al-Hakim said, “Its chain is Sahih, and they did not record it.”

Allah next mentions the Glorious Qur'an that He sent down to His honorable Prophet,

قَدۡ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ""

""يَهۡدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلَمِ

Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light and a plain Book. Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His pleasure to ways of peace.

meaning, ways of safety and righteousness,

وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ

and He brings them out of darkness by His permission unto light and guides them to a straight path.

He thus saves them from destruction and explains to them the best, most clear path. Therefore, He protects them from what they fear, and brings about the best of what they long for, all the while ridding them of misguidance and directing them to the best, most righteous state of being.

""The Polytheism and Disbelief of the Christians

Allah says;

لَّقَدۡ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَألُواۡ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الۡمَسِيحُ ابۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ

Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam.

Allah states that the Christians are disbelievers because of their claim that `Isa, son of Maryam, one of Allah's servants and creatures, is Allah. Allah is holier than what they attribute to Him.

Allah then reminds them of His perfect ability over everything and that everything is under His complete control and power,

قُلۡ فَمَن يَمۡلِكُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيۡيًا إِنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُهۡلِكَ الۡمَسِيحَ ابۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الَارۡضِ جَمِيعًا

Say:”Who then has the least power against Allah, if He were to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam, his mother, and all those who are on the earth together.”

Therefore, if Allah wills to do that, who would be able to stop Him or prevent Him from doing it.

Allah then said,

وَلِلّهِ مُلۡكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَاء

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills.

All things in existence are Allah's property and creation and He is able to do everything. He is never asked about what He does with His power, domain, justice and greatness so this refutes the Christian creed, may Allah's continued curses be upon them until the Day of Resurrection.

وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And Allah is able to do all things.

Refuting the People of the Book's Claim that they are Allah's Children

Allah then refutes the Christians' and Jews' false claims and lies""

""وَقَالَتِ الۡيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحۡنُ أَبۡنَاء اللّهِ وَأَحِبَّاوُهُ

And the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His loved ones.”

They claim:”We are the followers of Allah's Prophets, who are His children, whom He takes care of. He also loves us.”

The People of the Book claim in their Book that Allah said to His servant Israil, “You are my firstborn.”

But they explained this statement in an improper manner and altered its meaning. Some of the People of the Book who later became Muslims refuted this false statement saying, “This statement only indicates honor and respect, as is common in their speech at that time.”

The Christians claim that `Isa said to them, “I will go back to my father and your father,” meaning, my Lord and your Lord.

It is a fact that the Christians did not claim that they too are Allah's sons as they claimed about `Isa. Rather this statement by `Isa only meant to indicate closeness with Allah.

This is why when they said that they are Allah's children and loved ones, Allah refuted their claim,

قُلۡ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم

Say, “Why then does He punish you for your sins!”

meaning, if you were truly as you claim, Allah's children and loved ones, then why did He prepare the Fire because of your disbelief, lies and false claims!

بَلۡ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ

Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has created,

Allah states:you are just like the rest of the children of Adam, and Allah is the Lord of all His creation.

يَغۡفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء

He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills.

Allah does what He wills, there is none who can escape His judgment, and He is swift in reckoning.

وَلِلّهِ مُلۡكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them;

Therefore, everything is Allah's property and under His power and control.

وَإِلَيۡهِ الۡمَصِيرُ

and to Him is the return.

In the end, the return will be to Allah and He will judge between His servants as He will, and He is the Most Just Who is never wrong in His judgment""

""Allah says;

يَا أَهۡلَ الۡكِتَابِ قَدۡ جَاءكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ عَلَى فَتۡرَةٍ مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ

O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers,

Allah is addressing the People of the Book -- the Jews and the Christians, saying that He has sent His Messenger Muhammad to them, the Final Prophet, after whom there will be no Prophet or Messenger. Rather, He is the Final Messenger who came after a long time passed between him and `Isa, son of Maryam peace be upon them.

There is a difference of opinion about the length of time between `Isa and Muhammad.

Abu Uthman An-Nahdi and Qatadah were reported to have said that;

this period was six hundred years.

Al-Bukhari also recorded this opinion from Salman Al-Farisi.

Qatadah said that;

this period was five hundred and sixty years,

Ma`mar said;

that it is five hundred and forty years.

Some said that this period is six hundred and twenty years.

There is no contradiction here if we consider the fact that those who said that this period was six hundred years were talking about solar years, while the second refers to lunar years, since there is a difference of about three years between every one hundred lunar and solar years. As in Allah's statement,

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهۡفِهِمۡ ثَلَثَ مِايَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازۡدَادُوا تِسۡعًا

(And they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, adding nine.) (18:25) meaning, nine more lunar years to substitute for the difference between lunar and solar years, thus agreeing with the three hundred years that the People of the Book knew about.

We should assert again that the time period we mentioned here was between `Isa, the last Prophet to the Children of Israel, and Muhammad, the Last Prophet and Messenger among the children of Adam.

In the Sahih collected by Al-Bukhari, Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ أَوۡلَى النَّاسِ بِابۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ لَاَنَا لَيۡسَ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَهُ نَبِي

I, among all people, have the most right to the son of Maryam, for there was no Prophet between Him and I.

This Hadith refutes the opinion of Al-Qudai and others, that there was a Prophet after `Isa called Khalid bin Sinan.

Allah sent Muhammad after a period of time during which there was no Prophet, clear path, or unchanged religions. Idol worshipping, fire worshipping and cross worshipping flourished during this time. Therefore, the bounty of sending Muhammad was the perfect bounty at a time when he was needed the most.

Evil had filled the earth by then, and tyranny and ignorance had touched all the servants, except a few of those who remained loyal to the true teachings of previous Prophets, such as some Jewish rabbis, Christian priests and Sabian monks.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Iyad bin Himar Al-Mujashi said that the Prophet gave a speech one day and said,

وَإِنَّ رَبِّي أَمَرَنِي أَنۡ أُعَلِّمَكُمۡ مَا جَهِلۡتُمۡ مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي فِي يَوۡمِي هَذَا

My Lord has commanded me to teach you what you have no knowledge of and of which He taught me this day,

كُلُّ مَالٍ نَحَلۡتُهُ عِبَادِي حَلَلٌ

`All the wealth that I gave to My servants is permissible.

وَإِنِّي خَلَقۡتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلَّهُمۡ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ أَتَتۡهُمۡ فَأَضَلَّتۡهُمۡ عَنۡ دِينِهِمۡ وَحَرَّمَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مَا أَحۡلَلۡتُ لَهُمۡ وَأَمَرَتۡهُمۡ أَنۡ يُشۡرِكُوا بِي مَا لَمۡ أُنَزِّلۡ بِهِ سُلۡطَانًا

I created all My servants Hunafa (monotheists). But, the devils came to them and deviated them from their religion, prohibited for them what I allowed and commanded them to associate others with Me (in worship), which I gave no permission for.'

ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَظَرَ إِلى أَهۡلِ الاَۡرۡضِ فَمقَتَهُمۡ عَرَبَهُمۡ وعَجَمَهُمۡ إِلاَّ بَقَايَا مِنۡ بَنِي إِسۡرَايِيلَ

Then Allah looked at the people of the earth and disliked them all, the Arabs and non-Arabs among them, except a few from among the Children of Israel.

وقَالَ إِنَّمَا بَعَثۡتُكَ لاَِبۡتَلِيَكَ وَأَبۡتَلِيَ بِكَ

Allah said (to me), `I only sent you to test you and to test with you.

وَأَنۡزَلۡتُ عَلَيۡكَ كِتَابًا لَاأ يَغۡسِلُهُ الۡمَاءُ تَقۡرَأُهُ نَايِمًا وَيَقۡظَانَ

I sent to you a Book that cannot be washed by water (it is eternal), and you will read it while asleep and while awake.'

ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنۡ أُحَرِّقَ قُرَيۡشًا فَقُلۡتُ يَارَبِّ إِذَنۡ يَثۡلَغُوا رَأۡسِي فَيَدَعُوهُ خُبۡزَةً

Allah has also Commanded me to burn (destroy) Quraysh. So I said, `O Lord! They will smash my head and leave it like a piece of bread.'

فَقَالَ اسۡتَخۡرِجۡهُمۡ كَمَا اسۡتَخۡرَجُوكَ واغۡزُهُمۡ نُغۡزِكَ

He said, `I will drive them out as they drove you out, and when you invade them We will help you.

وَأَنۡفِقۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ فَسَنُنۡفِقَ عَلَيۡكَ وَابۡعَثۡ جَيۡشًا نَبۡعَثۡ خَمۡسًا أَمۡثَالَهُ

Spend on them (your companions) and We will spend on you, send an army and We will send five armies like it (in its support).

وَقَاتِلۡ بِمَنۡ أَطَاعَكَ مَنۡ عَصَاكَ

Fight with those who obey you, against those who disobey you.

وَأَهۡلُ الۡجَنَّةِ ثَلَأثَةٌ

And the inhabitants of Paradise are three:

ذوُ سُلۡطانٍ مُقۡسِطٌ مُوَفَّقٌ مُتَصَدِّقٌ

وَرَجُلٌ رَحِيمٌ رَقِيقُ الۡقَلۡبِ بِكُلِّ ذِي قُرۡبَى وَمُسۡلِمٍ

وَرَجُلٌ عَفِيفٌ فَقِيرٌ ذُو عِيَالٍ مُتَصَدِّقٌ

a just, prosperous, and charitable ruler;

A merciful man who has a kind heart toward every relative and every Muslim;

a forgiving, poor man with dependants (who is charitable).

وَأَهۡلُ النَّارِ خَمۡسَةٌ

And the inhabitants of the Fire are five:

الضَّعِيفُ الَّذي لَا دِينَ لَهُ

وَالَّذِين هُمۡ فِيكُمۡ تَبَعٌ أَوۡ تَبَعًا شَكَّ يَحۡيى لَاا يَبۡتَغُون أَهۡلًا وَلَاا مَالاًا

وَالۡخَايِنُ الَّذِي لَاا يَخۡفَى لَهُ طَمَعٌ وَإِنۡ دَقَّ إِلاَّ خَانَهُ

وَرَجُلٌ لَا يُصۡبِحُ وَلَا يُمۡسِي إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يُخَادِعُكَ عَنۡ أَهۡلِكَ وَمَالِكَ

وَذَكَرَ الۡبَخِيلَ أَوِ الۡكَذَّابَ وَالشِّنۡظِيرَ الفَاحِش

the weak one with no religion;

those who follow after you not for family reasons nor wealth;

and the treacherous who does not hide his treachery, acting treacherous in even the most insignificant matters;

and a person who comes every morning and every evening, is cheating your family or your wealth.'

And he mentioned the stingy, or the liar, and the foulmouthed person.”

Therefore, the Hadith states that Allah looked at the people of the earth and disliked them all, both the Arabs and non-Arabs among them, except a few among the Children of Israel, or a few among the People of the Book as Muslim recorded. The religion was distorted and changed for the people of the earth until Allah sent Muhammad , and Allah, thus, guided the creatures and took them away from the darkness to the light and placed them on a clear path and a glorious Law.

Allah said,

أَن تَقُولُواۡ مَا جَاءنَا مِن بَشِيرٍ وَلَا نَذِيرٍ

lest you say, “There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner.”

meaning, so that you, who changed the true religion, do not make it an excuse and say, “No Messenger came to us bringing glad tidings and warning against evil.”

فَقَدۡ جَاءكُم بَشِيرٌ وَنَذِيرٌ

But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner.

There has come to you a bringer of good news and a warner, Muhammad.

وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And Allah is able to do all things.

Ibn Jarir said this part of the Ayah means,

“I am able to punish those who disobey Me and to reward those who obey Me."""