Transliteration:( Laqad kafaral lazeena qaalooo innal laaha huwal maseehub nu Maryam; qul famany-yamliku minal laahi shai'an in araada ai yuhlikal Maseehab na Maryama wa ummahoo wa man fil ardi jamee'aa, wa lillaahi mulkus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa; yakhluqu maa Yashaaa'; wallaahu 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer )
They have certainly become infidels who said: "Messiah son of Mariam is Allah himself" [73]. Please declare: "Who can do anything against Allah if He desires to destroy Messiah, son of Mariam, or his mother and everyone on earth?" [74]. And to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He creates what He pleases. And Allah has the power to do everything.
(Kanzul Imaan Translation)
Different sects among the Nasara (Christians) held divergent but erroneous beliefs:
Some said Hazrat Isa عليه السلام is God Himself.
Others claimed he was the son of God.
Some believed in him as one part of a divine trinity.
The Yaqoobiyyah and Makkaniyyah sects believed that God had penetrated Isa عليه السلام, like fragrance in a flower or heat in fire—thus justifying their worship of him as divine.
This verse categorically declares such beliefs as kufr (disbelief) and repels them by highlighting the human nature and mortality of Hazrat Isa عليه السلام.
The verse employs several powerful logical and theological arguments:
Hazrat Isa and his mother are mortal—If Allah wishes, He can destroy both. God cannot be destroyed; hence, Isa عليه السلام cannot be God.
Isa was born from a woman—a fact that negates the idea of eternal divinity. God is uncreated and self-existing.
All creation belongs to Allah—the heavens, the earth, and everything between. Isa عليه السلام, being a part of creation, is a slave of Allah, not a deity.
Allah is the sole Creator and Omnipotent Being—He alone has the power to create and destroy. If Isa were divine, he would share this absolute power, which he does not.
The concluding words "Allah has the power to do everything" emphasize that ultimate power belongs to Allah alone, and no created being, including Isa عليه السلام, can claim such attributes.
17. Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam. 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” And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills. And Allah is able to do all things. 18. And the Jews and the Christians say: “We are the children of Allah and His loved ones.” Say: “Why then does He punish you for your sins” Nay, you are but human beings of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and to Him is the return (of all).
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,
(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,
(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.
Allah then refutes the Christians’ and Jews’ false claims and lies,
(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 Isra’il, “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 a closeness with Allah. This is why when they said that they are Allah’s children and loved ones, Allah refuted their claim,
(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
(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,
(He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills.) Allah does what He wills, there is none who can escape His judgement, and He is swift in reckoning.
(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,
(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.
(5:17) Indeed those who said: ‘Christ, the son of Mary, he is indeed God’, disbelieved.[39] Say (O Muhammad!): ‘Who could have overruled Allah had He so willed to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, and his mother, and all those who are on earth?’ For to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; He creates what He wills.[40] Allah is All-Powerful.
39. The original mistake committed by the Christians in declaring Jesus to be a combination of human and divine essences turned Jesus into a mystery for them, and the more the Christian scholars tried to solve this mystery by resorting to conjecture and rhetorical extravagance the more involved the whole matter became. Those who were more impressed by the humanity of Jesus stressed his being the son of God and considered him to be one of the three gods. Those who were more impressed by the divinity of Jesus considered him to be none other than God, stressing that he was the human incarnation of God, and worshipped him as God. Those who tried to strike a middle path spent all their efforts hammering out subtle verbal formulations of the Trinity that would allow people to consider the Messiah to be God and man at one and the same time, to affirm that God and the Messiah are independent and simultaneously constitute an inseparable whole see (Surah An-Nisa, ayat 171) note 212, 213, 215. above.
40. This statement hints at the childishness of those who have been misled into believing that the Messiah himself is God either because of his miraculous birth or because of his flawless moral character or because of the miracles which he performed. The Messiah is merely a sign of the innumerable wonders of God’s creation; a sign which somehow dazzled the eyes of those superficial people. Had their perception been wider they would have been able to see that there are even more inspiring examples of His creation and infinite power. If anything their attitude was indicative of the intellectual puerility of those who were so overawed by the excellence of a creature as to mistake him for the Creator. Those whose intelligence penetrates through the excellence of creatures, who look upon them merely as signs of the magnificent power of God, and who are led by such observations to a reinforcement of faith in the Creator are truly wise.
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