سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 171
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ۚ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا ﴿171﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allâh aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allâh and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rûh ) created by Him; so believe in Allâh and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allâh is (the only) One Ilâh (God), glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allâh is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ
yāahla
O People
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
(of) the Book
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تَغْلُوا۟
taghlū
commit excess
فِى
fī
in
دِينِكُمْ
dīnikum
your religion
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
say
عَلَى
ʿalā
about
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ
l-ḥaqa
the truth
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
ٱلْمَسِيحُ
l-masīḥu
the Messiah
عِيسَى
ʿīsā
Isa
ٱبْنُ
ub'nu
son
مَرْيَمَ
maryama
(of) Maryam
رَسُولُ
rasūlu
(was) a Messenger
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ
wakalimatuhu
and His word
أَلْقَىٰهَآ
alqāhā
which He conveyed
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
مَرْيَمَ
maryama
Maryam
وَرُوحٌۭ
warūḥun
and a spirit
مِّنْهُ ۖ
min'hu
from Him
فَـَٔامِنُوا۟
faāminū
So believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۖ
warusulihi
and His Messengers
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
say
ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ۚ
thalāthatun
Three
ٱنتَهُوا۟
intahū
desist
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
(it is) better
لَّكُمْ ۚ
lakum
for you
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
إِلَـٰهٌۭ
ilāhun
(is) God
وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ
wāḥidun
One
سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ
sub'ḥānahu
Glory be to Him
أَن
an
That
يَكُونَ
yakūna
He (should) have
لَهُۥ
lahu
for Him
وَلَدٌۭ ۘ
waladun
a son
لَّهُۥ
lahu
To Him (belongs)
مَا
mā
whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَكَفَىٰ
wakafā
And is sufficient
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
Allah
وَكِيلًۭا
wakīlan
(as) a Disposer of affairs
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
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.
171. 2 The meaning of "ghuluw" is to exceed the limits regarding something. Just as the Christians did concerning Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام and his mother, that they elevated them from the rank of prophethood and servitude to the rank of divinity and began to worship them like Allah. Similarly, they also, in their display of excess, declared the followers of Isa عليه السلام to be infallible and granted them the authority to declare things lawful and unlawful. As Allah Almighty said: "اِتَّخَذُوْٓا اَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ" 9:31 (They took their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah). According to the hadith, making them lords meant considering what they declared lawful as lawful and what they declared unlawful as unlawful. Whereas this authority belongs only to Allah, but the People of the Book also gave this right to their scholars, etc. In this verse, Allah Almighty forbade the People of the Book from this very excess in religion. The Prophet ﷺ, in view of the Christians' excess, also warned his ummah regarding himself. (لاتطرونی کما اطرت النصاری عیسیٰ ابن مریم ! فانما انا عبدہ، فقولوا : عبد اللہ و رسولہ " (صحیح بخاری۔ کتاب الانبیاء مسند احمد جلد 1 صفحہ 23 نیز دیکھئے مسند احمد جلد 1 صفحہ 153) Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about Isa ibn Maryam عليه السلام; I am only Allah's servant, so call me Allah's servant and messenger. But unfortunately, the Ummah of Muhammad was not safe from this excess either, in which the Christians were involved, and the Ummah of Muhammad also attributed divine qualities to their Prophet and even to righteous servants, which was actually the practice of the Christians. Similarly, instead of considering the scholars and jurists as interpreters and explainers of the religion, they were made lawgivers (those with the authority to legislate). The Prophet ﷺ truly said: "Just as one shoe matches the other, in the same way you will follow the previous nations," meaning you will follow them step by step.
171. 1 The meaning of "Kalimatullah" is that he (Isa عليه السلام) was created by the word "Kun" (Be) without a father, and this word was conveyed to Maryam عليه السلام through Jibril عليه السلام. "Ruhullah" means that (the breath) which Jibril عليه السلام, by Allah's command, blew into the collar of Maryam (peace be upon her), which Allah Almighty made to take the place of a father's sperm. Thus, Isa عليه السلام is also Allah's word, which the angel cast towards Maryam (peace be upon her), and he is His soul which Jibril عليه السلام brought to Maryam (peace be upon her). (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
171. 2 There are many sects among the Christians. Some consider Isa (Jesus) to be Allah, some consider him a partner of Allah, and some consider him the son of Allah. Then, those who consider him Allah believe in (three gods) and in Isa being the third of three (one from three). Allah Almighty is saying: refrain from saying three gods; Allah Almighty is only one.
171. 1 The meaning of "Kalimatullah" is that he (Isa عليه السلام) was created by the word "Kun" (Be) without a father, and this word was conveyed to Maryam عليه السلام through Jibril عليه السلام. "Ruhullah" means that (the breath) which Jibril عليه السلام, by Allah's command, blew into the collar of Maryam (peace be upon her), which Allah Almighty made to take the place of a father's sperm. Thus, Isa عليه السلام is also Allah's word, which the angel cast towards Maryam (peace be upon her), and he is His soul which Jibril عليه السلام brought to Maryam (peace be upon her). (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
171. 2 There are many sects among the Christians. Some consider Isa (Jesus) to be Allah, some consider him a partner of Allah, and some consider him the son of Allah. Then, those who consider him Allah believe in (three gods) and in Isa being the third of three (one from three). Allah Almighty is saying: refrain from saying three gods; Allah Almighty is only one.
