سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 59
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَثَلًا لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ﴿59﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He [‘Îsâ (Jesus)] was not more than a slave. We granted Our Favour to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel (i.e. his creation without a father).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنْ
in
Not
هُوَ
huwa
he
إِلَّا
illā
(was) except
عَبْدٌ
ʿabdun
a slave
أَنْعَمْنَا
anʿamnā
We bestowed Our favor
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on him
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ
wajaʿalnāhu
and We made him
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
an example
لِّبَنِىٓ
libanī
for (the) Children of Israel
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
is'rāīla
for (the) Children of Israel
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 59) ➊ { اِنْ هُوَ اِلَّا عَبْدٌ …:} That is, the honor of the Messiah (Isa, peace be upon him) is not because of his being a deity, for he was neither Lord nor the son of the Lord, but only because he was a servant, meaning a slave of Allah and one who worshipped Him. This is an exclusive negation, meaning the Messiah is not what the Christians or other polytheists claim, but he is only a servant upon whom We bestowed favor.
➋ { اَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ:} Among these favors, Allah Almighty has mentioned some in Surah Al-Ma'idah (verses 110 to 115), in Surah Aal-e-Imran (verses 45, 46), and in other verses.
➌ {وَ جَعَلْنٰهُ مَثَلًا لِّبَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ:} Making him an example for the Children of Israel means making him a sign of power for them, as he was created without a father and was given such miracles that no one else in his time received. Seeing these, people became certain of his prophethood.
➋ { اَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ:} Among these favors, Allah Almighty has mentioned some in Surah Al-Ma'idah (verses 110 to 115), in Surah Aal-e-Imran (verses 45, 46), and in other verses.
➌ {وَ جَعَلْنٰهُ مَثَلًا لِّبَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ:} Making him an example for the Children of Israel means making him a sign of power for them, as he was created without a father and was given such miracles that no one else in his time received. Seeing these, people became certain of his prophethood.
