سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 75
مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ ﴿75﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The Messiah [‘Îsâ (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddîqah [i.e. she believed in the Words of Allâh and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allâh does not eat). Look how We make the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them; yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَّا
mā
Not
ٱلْمَسِيحُ
l-masīḥu
(is) the Messiah
ٱبْنُ
ub'nu
son
مَرْيَمَ
maryama
(of) Maryam
إِلَّا
illā
but
رَسُولٌۭ
rasūlun
a Messenger
قَدْ
qad
certainly
خَلَتْ
khalat
had passed
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِهِ
qablihi
before him
ٱلرُّسُلُ
l-rusulu
the Messengers
وَأُمُّهُۥ
wa-ummuhu
And his mother
صِدِّيقَةٌۭ ۖ
ṣiddīqatun
(was) truthful
كَانَا
kānā
They both used to
يَأْكُلَانِ
yakulāni
eat
ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ
l-ṭaʿāma
[the] food
ٱنظُرْ
unẓur
See
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
نُبَيِّنُ
nubayyinu
We make clear
لَهُمُ
lahumu
to them
ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ
l-āyāti
the Signs
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
ٱنظُرْ
unẓur
see
أَنَّىٰ
annā
how
يُؤْفَكُونَ
yu'fakūna
they are deluded
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.
(Ayah75) ➊ {مَا الْمَسِيْحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ …… :} The Messiah (Jesus), peace be upon him, is nothing but a Messenger, that is, whatever you say—God or the son of God—he is by no means that; he is only a Messenger of Allah. This is called exclusive attribution. In this, there is also a refutation of the Jews who, God forbid, used to commit insolence regarding Mary and the Messiah, peace be upon them both.
➋ {وَ اُمُّهٗ صِدِّيْقَةٌ:} That is, she was elevated to the highest rank of servitude, which is the second level after prophethood, meaning she was extremely truthful and greatly affirmed Allah and His Messengers. See Surah Tahrim (12) and Surah Nisa (69). She was not a prophet, as Ibn Hazm and others think, because prophets have only been from among men. See Yusuf (109), Nahl (43), and Anbiya (7). Abu al-Hasan Ash'ari has reported consensus on this. (Ibn Kathir) That is, Mary, peace be upon her, was by no means God, nor even a prophetess; Yes, she was certainly a Siddiqah (truthful woman).
➌ {كَانَا يَاْكُلٰنِ الطَّعَامَ:} That is, both of them were human beings like ordinary people; they possessed all those human characteristics and needs that are found in other people. The speech of Allah is extremely refined and eloquent. The inevitable result of eating food is the call of nature, but Allah did not use that word; He only said that both of them used to eat food. Now, considering all the things a person needs as a result of eating, how great is the ignorance and injustice to declare such a person as God, His wife, or His son! The one who is himself in need—how can he fulfill the needs of others!?
➍ {اُنْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الْاٰيٰتِ ……:} That is, even after such a clear statement of monotheism and such an explicit refutation of the Trinity, if they persist in their false belief due to their sectarian prejudice, then let them persist; otherwise, they have no rational or textual proof whose weakness has not been made as clear as "two plus two equals four." (Ibn Kathir)
➋ {وَ اُمُّهٗ صِدِّيْقَةٌ:} That is, she was elevated to the highest rank of servitude, which is the second level after prophethood, meaning she was extremely truthful and greatly affirmed Allah and His Messengers. See Surah Tahrim (12) and Surah Nisa (69). She was not a prophet, as Ibn Hazm and others think, because prophets have only been from among men. See Yusuf (109), Nahl (43), and Anbiya (7). Abu al-Hasan Ash'ari has reported consensus on this. (Ibn Kathir) That is, Mary, peace be upon her, was by no means God, nor even a prophetess; Yes, she was certainly a Siddiqah (truthful woman).
➌ {كَانَا يَاْكُلٰنِ الطَّعَامَ:} That is, both of them were human beings like ordinary people; they possessed all those human characteristics and needs that are found in other people. The speech of Allah is extremely refined and eloquent. The inevitable result of eating food is the call of nature, but Allah did not use that word; He only said that both of them used to eat food. Now, considering all the things a person needs as a result of eating, how great is the ignorance and injustice to declare such a person as God, His wife, or His son! The one who is himself in need—how can he fulfill the needs of others!?
➍ {اُنْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الْاٰيٰتِ ……:} That is, even after such a clear statement of monotheism and such an explicit refutation of the Trinity, if they persist in their false belief due to their sectarian prejudice, then let them persist; otherwise, they have no rational or textual proof whose weakness has not been made as clear as "two plus two equals four." (Ibn Kathir)
