سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ

Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 73

The Table · Medinan · Juz 6 · Page 120

لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ ۘ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُوا۟ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿73﴾
Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allâh is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no Ilâh (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilâh (God -Allâh). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them.
لَّقَدْ laqad Certainly
كَفَرَ kafara disbelieved
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
قَالُوٓا۟ qālū say
إِنَّ inna Indeed
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
ثَالِثُ thālithu (is the) third
ثَلَـٰثَةٍۢ ۘ thalāthatin (of) three
وَمَا wamā And (there is) no
مِنْ min [of]
إِلَـٰهٍ ilāhin god
إِلَّآ illā except
إِلَـٰهٌۭ ilāhun (the) God
وَٰحِدٌۭ ۚ wāḥidun (the) One
وَإِن wa-in And if
لَّمْ lam not
يَنتَهُوا۟ yantahū they desist
عَمَّا ʿammā from what
يَقُولُونَ yaqūlūna they are saying
لَيَمَسَّنَّ layamassanna surely will afflict
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
كَفَرُوا۟ kafarū disbelieved
مِنْهُمْ min'hum among them
عَذَابٌ ʿadhābun a punishment
أَلِيمٌ alīmun painful

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 73)➊ {لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلٰثَةٍ ……:} That is, those who declare Allah to be the third of three have also become disbelievers, whereas there is only one deity. Now, whether they consider the three hypostases—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as separate gods, or say that these three are not separate but together constitute one God, in any case, those who hold this belief have been declared disbelievers by Allah. Then, those wrongdoers who, under the guise of piety, spread polytheism and say that everything is God, and call it Wahdat al-Wujud or any other name, is there any doubt about their being disbelievers? In fact, with this belief, every matter and every command of the Qur’an and Sunnah and Islam itself becomes invalid, for the one who gives the command is the same as the one who is commanded, Paradise and Hell and those who enter them are all one and the same. In short, this belief has been devised to uproot the very foundation of Islam; then what monotheism and what prayer remains? If everything is one, then what part of the religion remains?

{وَ اِنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَهُوْا ……:} That is, if they do not desist from declaring Allah to be the third of three and do not adopt pure monotheism, to which the prophets have always called, then this is their punishment.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

73. 1. This is a mention of the second sect of Christians who believe in three gods, which they call the Trinity. Although there is disagreement among themselves regarding its interpretation and explanation, the correct view is that, along with Allah, they have also declared Isa (peace be upon him) and his mother Maryam (peace be upon her) as Allah, as the Quran has explicitly stated. Allah, on the Day of Resurrection, will ask Isa (peace be upon him): "ءانت قلت للناس اتخذونی وامی الھین من دون اللہ" (Did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as two gods besides Allah'?) (المائدۃ 112). From this, it is understood that Isa and Maryam (peace be upon them), both were made Allah by the Christians, and Allah became the third god, who is called the third of three (ثالث ثلاثہ). Like the previous belief, Allah has also described this as disbelief.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

Indeed, those who say, "Allah is the third of three [120]," have certainly disbelieved. There is no god except the One God. If they do not desist from what they are saying, a painful punishment will surely befall those among them who disbelieve.

[120]
The Doctrine of Trinity and Its Refutation:

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there is no room for the divinity of Jesus (peace be upon him); Jesus (peace be upon him) himself always presented himself only as a human being. The doctrine of Trinity and the divinity of Christ became prevalent in the fourth century CE. The foundation of this doctrine was laid upon the ideas and philosophies of Greek thought, just as nowadays some Muslims also try to prove Muhammad ﷺ as a part of Allah’s light based on the philosophical concept of the “Ten Intellects.” Such beliefs generally flourish among spiritual leaders and ascetics. Such ideas about the Prophets usually arise due to excess in devotion and love, which leads a person to elevate them to the rank of Allah; this is clear shirk, and Allah Almighty has sometimes called such people disbelievers and sometimes polytheists. Thus, among the very important advices that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave to his Ummah before his passing was this: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about Jesus son of Mary. I am only Allah’s servant and His Messenger.” [بخاري۔ كتاب الانبيائ۔ باب قول الله واذكر فى الكتاب مريم]