Surah Yunus (10) — Ayah 68

(Ayah 68) ➊ {قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللّٰهُ وَلَدًا : } Here, another one of their false beliefs and baseless notions has been refuted. The polytheists used to consider the angels as Allah’s daughters, the Jews considered ‘Uzair (peace be upon him) and the Christians considered the Messiah (peace be upon him) as Allah’s son. Since the foundation of their belief was also based merely on conjecture and assumption, here under {’’ اِنْ يَّتَّبِعُوْنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ ‘‘ } this too has been refuted.

➋ { سُبْحٰنَهٗ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ:} This is an argument to refute their polytheism and to prove that Allah alone is self-sufficient. The meaning is that Allah is not in need of anyone that He would require a son or daughter; He has always existed and will always exist, everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him, whereas a son is not a possession but an heir. Furthermore, acquiring offspring requires desire and pleasure, both of which necessitate a wife, while Allah is not in need of anyone; He alone is self-sufficient and independent of all. In {’’ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ ‘‘}, after {’’ هُوَ ‘‘}, the meaning of the definite article on {’’ الْغَنِيُّ ‘‘} is precisely that there is no one self-sufficient or independent except Him; all are in need. Only one who is mortal acquires offspring, so that after his demise, the offspring may succeed him. Allah’s being is eternal and everlasting, pure and exalted above desire, pleasure, poverty, and need; therefore, attributing offspring to Him is absolutely impossible. See Surah Bani Isra’il (111), Kahf (4, 5), and Maryam (88 to 90).

➌ { اِنْ عِنْدَكُمْ مِّنْ سُلْطٰنٍۭ بِهٰذَا :} After refuting their belief with argument, it is further stated for additional rejection and denial that they have absolutely no evidence for this. From this, it is understood that any statement for which there is no evidence is not worthy of attention. (Shawkani)

➍ { اَتَقُوْلُوْنَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ :} This is a most emphatic refutation of their assumption, meaning you say that of which you have no knowledge. Do you attribute to Allah, the Greatest and Owner of everything, that for which you have neither any evidence nor any knowledge? You are fabricating a slander based solely on ignorance. Al-Alusi said: “In this verse is proof that any statement for which there is no evidence is not knowledge but ignorance, whereas for belief, certain and definitive knowledge is necessary, and that Taqlid has nothing to do with guidance.” The Noble Qur’an has, in several places, demanded evidence from the people of falsehood, saying: «{ قُلْ هَاتُوْا بُرْهَانَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۱۱ ] “Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful.” See also Surah Anbiya (24), Naml (64), and Qasas (75).

68. 1. And whoever is not in need of anyone, he does not need offspring, because offspring are for support, and when He is not in need of support, then what need does He have for offspring?
68. 2. When everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him, then everything is His possession and slave. Then what need does He have for offspring? Offspring is needed by one who needs some help and support. Moreover, a person also feels the need for offspring who wishes or likes to see an heir to his possessions after him. And the Being of Allah is never-ending, so to attribute offspring to Allah is a great crime, as Allah says (تَكَاد السَّمٰوٰتُ يَــتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنْشَقُّ الْاَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا 90 ۝ ۙ اَنْ دَعَوْا للرَّحْمٰنِ وَلَدًا 91۝ۚ) 19. Maryam:90) 'At this statement that they say, "the Most Merciful has offspring," the heavens almost rupture, the earth splits apart, and the mountains collapse in devastation.'

68. They say, “Allah has taken a son.” Glory be to Him! He is Self-Sufficient [82]. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth [83]. You have no proof for this. Do you say about Allah what you do not know?

[82]
Does Allah Need a Son?

There are two ways of having offspring: one is that the offspring is biological, which necessitates that He has a wife and that He is in need of her, and whoever is in need cannot be the True Deity. The very attribute of the True Deity is that He is not in need of anything and is independent of everything. The second way is to adopt someone, and in the world, generally those who are childless adopt, and their purpose in adopting is that the adopted one can become their heir. But Allah Almighty has no need of this either, because He has always existed and will always remain. Thus, in this respect as well, He is independent. Therefore, all those who make such claims are baseless, and Allah Almighty is pure from all such defects.

[83]
Rational Proof of Not Having a Son:

This is the second proof that Allah Almighty does not have offspring, and that proof is that everything that exists in this universe is the property of Allah, and offspring are not the property of their father. Therefore, it is impossible for Allah to have offspring. Thus, those who say such things say so without any proof, and they attribute to Allah things for which they will certainly be punished. In the few days of worldly life, let them say or do what they will, in the end, they will have to return to Us, and We will give them the full punishment for this polytheistic belief.